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21928 Assignment 1 - Case Study Analysis 45% - Question, Instructions, Assignment Writing Guide and FAQs

Objective(s): This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 4.2

Task

This assignment requires you to identify, analyse, and answer questions about a real-world organization's approach to volunteer management. You will:

1. Identify a suitable organisation/event where volunteers play a role in creating economic or social value

2. Examine volunteer management practices at your chosen organization through desk research and potentially field research (such as interviewing someone who volunteers for that organisation)

3. Analyse the organisation's approach to volunteer management, noting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement

Before answering the assignment questions, it is recommended that you do some desk research where you investigate the recruitment, recognition, retention and day to day management of volunteers in an organisation of your choice. It is recommended that you choose an organisation that reflects the focus of your degree and/or interests e.g. sport management, events or a personal hobby area, e.g.  youth fellowship or the arts. You are required to study the management of volunteers and specifically to identify how volunteers are recruited, motivated on a day-to-day bases, recognised for their efforts and how volunteer retention is promoted by the organisation especially where volunteers are needed cyclically.

Case analysis can help us to identify best practices in use in example organisations. As part of your pre-reading for this assignment you should review the academic and professional literature on volunteer management using the readings and lecture materials provided on Canvas in week 4 and elsewhere. Wider research including field research is encouraged.

Assignment Tasks

1 – Identify an organisation where volunteers play a role in the creation of economic or social value and help the organisation deliver its key services and/or fulfil its mission or purpose. Ideally, the organisation you choose will reflect the course (degree) you are undertaking or your interests and be drawn from one of the following categories:

· Interest Groups, Politics & Advocacy (e.g. Greenpeace)

· Charitable or Service Based Organisations (St John’s Ambulance – first aid - Lifesaving Australia, The Red Cross, Food relief – Turbans for Australia)

· Education (Adult Migrant English Program, voluntary teaching)

· Coproduction (Wikipedia, Mozilla Firefox)

· Community Sport, Arts or Leadership (community sports coaching, fun runs, scouting)

· Major or Community Events (The Olympic Games, Vivid Festival Sydney, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, The Sydney Festival, The Sydney Marathon)

2 – Examine volunteer management at the organisation you have selected. What examples of best practice volunteer management did you identify from your analysis?

3 - What lessons can be learned about the management of both staff and volunteers from your analysis – what are the main take-aways from the things this organisation does well and/or the areas where you feel this organisation needs to improve?

Assessment Criteria

Your report will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Focus/Completeness: Addresses the case clearly, originally, and responds effectively to all aspects of the task.

• Concept application/evidence: Answers to each section of the case study are tied to at least one concept, process, or theory and supported by evidence.

• Analysis: All the concepts, theories, processes, evidence, and examples are specific, and explanations are given that show how they support the author's position. The assignment summarizes the major competing arguments, opposing positions, or biases. Strengths and weaknesses of various arguments are summarised in an unbiased manner.

• Writing Mechanics and adherence to formatting guidelines

• Referencing (APA 7th edition)

Requirements

Assignment Format

· Maximum 2,000 words (+/- 10%), including everything from introduction to conclusion

· Modified report format with the following structure:

o Introduction

o Clearly labelled sections with headings/subheadings for each issue

o Conclusion

o Reference list (using APA 7th edition)

· No need for title page, executive summary or table of contents

· Font: Plain serif (e.g., Times New Roman) or sans serif (e.g., Arial)

· Font size: 12pt for text, 14pt for headings

· Line spacing: Double or 1.5 space for paragraphs

· Leave 1 blank line between paragraphs or indent first word (not both)

· Include your name and student details at the top of page 1

· Include your name and student ID in the footer of all pages

Submission Requirements

· Submit a soft copy of your assignment prior to the cut-off time and date to Turnitin using the link in the case study assignment folder on Canvas

· File format: .doc or .docx recommended

· Save or print a copy of the Turnitin receipt. You can submit multiple times without impacting your originality score

· Late submissions will incur a 10% penalty per 24-hour period

· Assignments more than 5 days late will receive zero marks

· Requests for extensions must be made in writing at least three days before the due date and will only be granted for prolonged illness, misadventure, or circumstances beyond your control

Critical Writing Guidelines

· Avoid excessive description - focus on analysis

· Connect your observations to management theory and literature

· Evaluate claims objectively using scholarly evidence

· Write in a formal, scholarly manner (third person)

· Use direct quotes sparingly (less than 5% of your assignment)

· When including tables or figures, reference them directly in your text to support your analysis. Explain their purpose and significance—don't include exhibits without discussing them in your report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) In the assessment criteria it says the report is to be written in a scholarly manner (third person). What do you mean by third person?

A) For tips on the distinction between First, Second, and Third Person you may want to refer to: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person

Q) Can I use direct quotes from the literature in my report?

A)  Avoid using numerous, lengthy quotations from articles. It is preferable to paraphrase and place the information within the context of the assessment unless the original author's words are the very best way of expressing the idea. With the case study assessment, you are required to demonstrate critical thinking, hence the best way of doing this is to express concepts from your own perspective and in your own words. You should avoid using large quotes but if you do, they certainly should not constitute more than 5% of your assignment.

Q) I am struggling to stay within the word limit; do you have any tips?

A) Strike out as many uses of a, an, the, that, which, and similar words as you possibly can. Sometimes these articles are necessary to smooth out the prose or to make something specifically clear. However, often, they’re just filler and can be safely eliminated if their presence isn’t necessary for clarification. You’d be surprised how many of these words you use–just getting rid of them can significantly bring down your word count.  Look for repetition – edit out sections that appear to be repetitive.

Q) What is the difference between being descriptive and analytical?

A) With descriptive writing it is easy to end up not developing an argument (you merely set the background within which an argument can be developed). Thus, it results in representing the situation as it stands, without presenting any analysis or discussion. Although a certain amount of descriptive writing is needed you need to ensure you provide a balanced presentation of your own evidence and supported argument, leading to your conclusion. Descriptive writing is relatively simple. There is also the trap that it can be easy to use many, many words from your word limit, simply providing description.

In providing only description, you are presenting but not transforming information; you are reporting ideas but not taking them forward by using your management knowledge. An assignment using only descriptive writing would therefore be awarded only a low mark. With analytical writing you are participating in the academic debate by looking for instances where a case is similar to what the literature predicts or consistent with that the theories say should happen. You need to weigh up the evidence and arguments of others, and to contribute your own. You will need to:

•   consider the quality of the evidence and argument you have read.

•   identify key positive and negative aspects you can comment upon.

•   assess their relevance and usefulness to the debate that you are engaging in for your assignment; and

•   identify how best they can be woven into the argument that you are developing.

A much higher level of skill is clearly needed for analytical writing than for descriptive writing, and this is reflected in the higher marks it is given.

Q) I am struggling to reach the word limit; do you have any tips?

A) If you are having trouble meeting their word limit, I would suggest you read more widely, think more critically, and do more research on the issues.

Q) How do I go about taking a critical approach to the case study?

A) Being critical does not mean being purely negative (as in the everyday use of the term to 'criticise'). When analysing a case study, you should read the case materials and evaluate claims made on company websites for example. You should than make judgments based on well-supported evidence. Such evidence should come from scholarly sources and therefore requires you to undertake research beyond the readings allocated for the subject. Below is a sample of some critical writing: [Example missing]

Word limit

(Q) Is there any leeway on the word limit?

(A) The word limit is 2000 words (+/- 10%). Work judged to be in excess of the word limit will incur a marking penalty. Work will be judged as being in excess of the word limit if its length exceeds that word limit by 10% or more.

(Q) What is included in the word limit?

(A) The word limit only applies to the body of your report (from the commencement of your introduction, to the end of your conclusion). All other material such as the reference list etc. fall outside the word limit.

Turnitin

(Q) How do I upload my assignment to Turnitin?

(A) You can find the link to upload your assignment on Canvas under the assignments tab.

(Q) Can I upload my assignment multiple times to Turnitin?

(A) Yes, students who turn in their work early will have a chance to look at their Originality feedback to see if they've adequately integrated their sources and then make changes as appropriate before resubmitting by the due date. There is a 24-hour waiting period between report submissions.

(Q) Do I need to upload the reference list to Turnitin?

(A) Yes, please upload your complete submission minus the cover sheet but including the reference list.

(Q) Why does Turnitin display a higher word count?

(A) Turnitin it will not discriminate between words included in the body of the report and accompanying material. Turnitin will therefore provide you with an overall word count that incorporates everything within the document you upload. Do not be alarmed by this, the teaching staff will be able to manually discriminate between the word count in the body of your report and that included in the accompanying material.

(Q) Do I need to print Originality Report?

(A) No, the teaching staff are able to access the report online.

(Q) Are footnotes allowed?

(A) No, please refrain from using footnotes in this assignment.

(Q) Is it recommended to undertake additional research?

(A) Yes, in fact it is expected (see the assessment criteria)