• This final assignment must be done individually.
• This final assignment must be submitted online through EGSM LMS 

PRESENTATION OF FINAL ASSIGNMENT

• You must include a cover page that lists your name, Student ID and the unit number and title.
• Number all pages sequentially.
• Any published material you refer to must be properly referenced (Harvard Referencing) and included in a reference list at the end of your assignment. 1.1: Critically discern the process of converting data to information, understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Critically review the key features at each stage in the cycle, drawing conclusions and making robust recommendations

FINAL ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Due Date: 30 days from the date of course enrolment

Weighing: 85% of total assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION POLICY Unit 704 Information Management and Strategic Decision Taking

After your enrolment date, you will have 30 days to complete and submit your final assignment.

The assessment submission option will only be available on EGSM LMS Portal for 30 days. If you have not submitted your assessment within 30 days, you will be required to send an email to studentrequest@egsm-edu.com mentioning the reason of non-submission. Late submission penalty may apply.

NOTE: The first page of each final assignment must include the following declaration:

I certify that this assignment is my own work, based on my personal study and/or research, and that I have acknowledged all material and sources used in the preparation of this assignment whether they be books, articles, reports, lecture notes, any other kind of document, electronic or personal communication. The total word count of this assignment is (please write your assignment word count here).

I also certify that the assignment has not previously been submitted for assessment in any other course or at any other time in this Course, unless by negotiation, and that I have not copied in part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of other students and/or persons. I have read the policy on plagiarism and understand its implications.

Final assignments that do not include the above declaration will not be marked.

Plagiarism and Collusion

In submitting the assignment, learner’s must include the above-mentioned declaration confirming that the work submitted for all tasks is their own. The statement should also include the word count.

Your assignment will be run through PlagScan (plagiarism detection software) to ensure that the level of plagiarism is under 20%.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating, by representing someone else`s work as your own or using someone else`s work (another student or author) without acknowledging it with a reference. This is a serious breach of the Academic Regulations and will be dealt with accordingly.

Plagiarism occurs whenever you do any of the following things without acknowledging the original source:

• Copy information from any source (including the study guide, books, newspapers, the internet)
• Use another person`s concepts or ideas
• Summarize or paraphrase another person`s work.

How do I avoid plagiarism?

To ensure you are not plagiarizing, you must acknowledge with a reference whenever you:

• use another person`s ideas, opinions or theory
• include any statistics, graphs or images that have been compiled or created by another person or organization
• paraphrase another`s written or spoken word

A professional approach to work is expected from all learners. Learners must therefore identify and acknowledge ALL sources/methodologies/applications used.

The learner must use an appropriate referencing system to achieve this. Marks are not awarded for English proficiency; however, the learner must express ideas clearly and ensure that appropriate terminology is used to convey accuracy in meaning.

You are required to use the below mentioned referencing system:

The Harvard Referencing System; e.g. `Smith (1985) listed five key factors`

You may include appendices to support your work, however appendices must only contain additional supporting information, and must be clearly referenced in your assignment.

You may also include tables, graphs, diagrams, Gantt chart and flowcharts that support the main report should be incorporated into the back of the assignment report that is submitted. 1.1: Critically discern the process of converting data to information, understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Critically review the key features at each stage in the cycle, drawing conclusions and making robust recommendations

Any published secondary information such as annual reports and company literature, should be referenced in the main text of the assignment, in accordance of Harvard Style Referencing, and referenced at the end of the assignment.

Where a learner is using organisational information that deals with sensitive material or issues, they must seek the advice and permission from that organisation about its inclusion.

Where confidentiality is an issue, learners are advised to anonymise their assignment report so that it cannot be attributed to that particular  organisation.

Learners must comply with the required word count, within a margin of +10%. These rules exclude the index, headings, tables, images, footnotes, appendices and information contained within references and bibliographies.

When an assessment task requires learners to produce presentation slides with supporting notes, the word count applies to the supporting  notes only.

Qualifi uses a standard marking rubric for all assignments, and you can find the details at the end of this document.  Unless stated elsewhere, learners must answer all questions in the Final Assignment Structure & Format file available on the EGSM LMS.

You are requested to strictly follow the sequence of the marking rubric.

Required content for each part of the rubric must be written under its relevant heading.

Content found in irrelevant headings will not be considered for grading.

Few headings and information are required to be written twice during the sequence of the rubric. If you have not written it twice, it will not be considered for marking. 

Students will not be able to pass their course if they have attained an overall passing grade of 40% but less than 50% grade on their final assignment.

Students are required to score a minimum of 50% in their final assignment in order to successfully complete their course.

a) Background

This section sets the context for the report and provides the (brief) background information required for the reader to understand the report

NOTE: Detailed company background should not be included here. It is best discussed in the body of the report

b) Aims/Objectives

This tells the reader what the aims/objectives of the report are. It indicates what key questions the report is trying to answer and what it is trying to achieve. Why was it written?

c) Scope

Tell the reader exactly what areas/ideas are covered in the report. This also helps to explain how the report is organized. Look at your plan and consider your headings and sub-headings.

Final Assignment Questions

Learners may use their own employment context, or that of another organisation with which they are very familiar, to base their assignment. However, in the case that they are not able to do so, please use the below scenario:

You are a manager at a medium sized organisation. You have been asked to develop your organisation’s management information system to ensure it conforms to legislation and provides accurate and relevant data. Analysis of historical data to inform future strategic direction is part of your current role.

1.1: Critically discern the process of converting data to information, understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Critically review the key features at each stage in the cycle, drawing conclusions and making robust recommendations. (250 words)

1.2: When making management decisions determine the criteria to be applied when selecting data and information to support decision making. Consider the validity of sources of information. (250 words)

1.3: Describe the main functions of an organisation’s Management Information System (MIS). Evaluate the impact of a management information system to an organisation in terms of component efficiencies and wider organisational effectiveness. (250 words)

Assessment Criteria Unit 704 Information Management and Strategic Decision Taking

1.1: Critically identify the features of data and information.

1.2: Determine the criteria to be applied when selecting appropriate data and information to support strategic decision making.

1.3: Critically evaluate the impact of a management information system to an organization.

2.1: State the organisation’s responsibilities in sourcing, sharing and storing information to ensure legal compliance. Identify two types of information which may have restricted access within the organisation. (200 words)

2.2: Critically discuss six types of information which an organisation can offer to employees and how this is accessed. (200 words)

2.3: Critically evaluate four formats in which information can be offered and evaluate how effective these formats are within the organisational context. (200 words)

Assessment Criteria

2.1: Determine the legal responsibilities in sourcing, sharing and storing information.

2.2: Critically discuss when information should be offered and access allowed.

2.3: Critically evaluate the formats in which information can be provided and the impact of using various formats.

3.1: Select one form of information from an organisation and critically analyse it to identify any patterns and trends. Consider comparative analysis such as year on year or same month/period over a period of years. Review the impact that such patterns and trends have on the strategic decision making processes. Electronic decision making tools may be considered if appropriate to your scenario. (200 words)

3.2: Critically evaluate four decision making tools. Determine their fitness for purpose from a criterion devised by you, and stated. Explain the importance of valid management information when supporting the decision making process. Make clear judgements from your analysis and, explain how it may assist with future planning activities at strategic level. (225 words)

3.3: Determine two sources which may assist in analysing data and information. Consider the value of internal and external sources. Your source audit should be detailed, and consider all relevant factors, legal, ethical, social, essential to operations. (175 words)

Assessment Criteria

3.1: Critically analyse information to identify patterns, trends and impact on strategic decision making.

3.2: Critically evaluate a range of decision making tools and techniques available to support a strategic decision.

3.3: Determine data and information sources available to assist in strategic decision taking.

4.1: Critically review four methods an organisation can use to develop data collection to inform and support strategic decision making. Consider internal and external sources of information capture and the potential benefits of utilising wider sources for the organisation. Where possible conceptual evaluative techniques should be used, to add validity and robustness to processes. (250 words)

4.2: Describe how an organisation can analyse the impact of information on strategic management decisions. Explain why it is important to have a rigorous process to analyse the impact information can have on strategic decisions. (150 words)

4.3: Review four methods an organisation can use to develop data collection to inform and support strategic decision making. Consider internal and external sources of information capture and the potential benefits of utilising wider sources for the organisation. (150 words)

Assessment Criteria

4.1: Critically identify methods of evaluating management information within an organization.

4.2: Formulate processes and methodologies for analysing the impact of information on the strategic decisions made.

4.3: Determine methods of developing information capture to inform and support strategic decision making.

i) Stating the aim/ context of the assignment again

ii) Followed by a very brief summary of the main points

iii) Final comments often considering the future (for e.g.: what can be done to improve the implementation of a strategy in the future)

Unit 704 Information Management and Strategic Decision Taking