Questions:
General Guidance
Your assignment should be MS Word processed (handwritten assignments are not accepted), using Times New Roman size 12 font, double spaced, with numbered pages and your student number printed as a footer on every page. Note this is a report supported by academic research so you should adhere to the appropriate referencing guidance. The word limit stated for this assignment excludes the list of references at the end of the assignment but includes all text in the main body of the assignment (including direct quotations, in-text citations, footnotes, tables, diagrams and graphs). Please be aware that exceeding the word limit will affect the academic judgement of the piece of work and may result in the award of a lower mark.
Appendices are not considered a supplement and will not be assessed as part of the content of the assignment. As such, they will not contribute to the grade awarded; however, it may be appropriate to use an Appendices section for any material which is a useful reference for the reader. Please note that appendices are not included in the word count. The majority of references should come from primary sources (e.g. journal articles, conference papers, reports, etc.) although you can also utilise area specific textbooks. You must ensure that you use the Harvard style of referencing. Please indicate the word count length at the end of your assignment.
Marking and assessment
This assignment will be marked out of 100% and contributes to 50% of the total module mark. The pass mark is 50%. Nevertheless, in order to pass this module, you must both achieve an aggregate mark of 50% and also meet the assignment threshold marks. For the purposes of passing a module each assignment has a threshold mark of 40%. The marking rubric is attached, which offers guidance on the assessment criteria and weighting.
Late Submission
There will be a stipulated deadline date for all assignments. All assignments will need to be submitted by the set time on the stipulated deadline date. Assignments submitted up to 24 hours late will be accepted, but the assignment mark will be subject to a deduction of 5 marks from the mark awarded or a mark of 40% whichever is the greater. 3
Learning outcomes applied in this assessment
LO1. Explain and demonstrate the development of business management theories on international projects. (IC)
LO2. Compare and contrast different project environments for major projects. (PID)
LO3. Demonstrate and be able to analyse cost and financial information for a construction project (CID)
LO4. Assess and compare and contrast various construction contracts and their application for different construction projects (CC)
LO5. Outline the role of organizations and how they are shaped to meet short, medium- and long-term objectives (CID)
LO6. Illustrate how management has developed over time and the relevant connections and influences between key authors and identify why business must cope with change and uncertainty (DP)
LO7. Demonstrate and be able to analyse cost and financial information for a construction project (CID)
LO8. Critically evaluate the selection of contract and risk allocation (SID)
LO9. Evaluate strategic planning models and leadership styles (DP)
LO10. Recognize the importance of resource management on organizational performance, cost, financial management and marketing strategy (CC)
LO11. Critically apply tendering procedures within the construction industry (PID)
LO12. Demonstrate the choice of dispute resolution in construction contracts and critically evaluate it (SID)
LO13. Develop the ability to construct robust arguments whilst drawing upon theory (IC)
LO14. Select & justify the use of construction contracts to manage different construction work within the industry (PID) Assessment guidelines Produce a 4000-word coursework (+/- 10%) (excluding the list of references) which offers students the ability to demonstrate their developing knowledge and application of the teaching and learning material covered in weeks 1 to 11. It also encourages students to develop their thoughts and perspectives on theories and concepts.
Task
You are requested to answer the below three questions. Your answers in order to be completed should count approximately 4000 total for the 3 below questions. Please answer all questions.
1) Local content is defined as benefit brought to a host nation through: a) workforce development: employment and training local workforce, and b) supplier development: procuring supplies and services locally and developing local supplier capacity. Some international forms of contract used for the procurement of construction work have local content clauses requiring a minimum percentage of the project value to reflect local content. You are requested to discuss the benefits and disadvantage of having local content clauses in a construction contract for a project in a developing country.
2) Ethics and corruption is increasingly important in the construction sector. You are requested to discuss the issues involved in ensuring the highest ethical standards, from the perspective of a UK based cost management professional services company planning to open a regional office in Abu Dhabi, to operate in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.
3) Give a detailed description of Dispute Review Boards; Dispute Adjudication Boards; and Combined Dispute Boards. Reference should be made to FIDIC International Standard Form Contracts, and also Case Law, where applicable. Your responses should include a well-researched written account with a clear structure, with references showing you have read around the topic area.
To do well in this assignment:
• Read around the subject – refer to journal papers, reports, and text books.
• Describe what you know and understand in a structured way.
• Use clear plain English.
• If you include images or photos, make sure to include captions and cross reference them to the text.
• Read it through to make sure it makes sense and does not contain syntax, spelling, and grammatical errors.
Submit the work on time.
Appendices
Under this heading you should include all the supporting information you have used that is not published. This might include tables, graphs, questionnaires, surveys or transcripts. Refer to the appendices in the body of your report.
List of References
A key feature of academic writing, the list of references should list - in alphabetical order by author - all published sources referred to in your report. There are different styles of using references so be sure to refer to the study guide and check your departmental handbook for guidelines.
Assessment Criteria
Your assignment will be marked according to the following criteria:
1. Understanding and Reading: The depth of your reading (number, range and quality of sources) and understanding of it. You are expected to read the essential and further readings to support your argument/discussion; you cannot rely on personal opinion or unsupported statements.
2. Critical Analysis: The level of critical analysis in your writing and the quality of the argument developed. You cannot rely on simple description, but have to apply knowledge and theory from the readings to critically engage with the material.
3. Structure: Your ability to develop a clear, logical structure for your coursework which addresses the required points of the task and guides the reader. Your coursework should include a clear introduction, a cogently argued main body, and a conclusion that summarises the argument and answers the overall question.
4. Presentation and Referencing: Your ability to express yourself clearly in English using appropriate terminology, correct spelling and grammar. The extent to which your coursework is correctly referenced using the Harvard system of referencing in-text and with a reference list.
Section/aspect Content to cover Marks available
Introduction
General background on the topic you are going to discuss. Possible definitions for terms relating to the question.
What the essay will include and/or leave out (scope). What themes the essay will discuss and the order they are presented. What the essay will argue / demonstrate (thesis statement).
