Reference no: EM132906887

MGT502 Business Communication - Torrens University

Part A: Annotated Bibliography

Learning Outcome 1: Apply research, academic and communication skills appropriate to the level of study and observe academic referencing requirements
Learning Outcome 2: Critically analyse texts and/or multimedia material in both a business and academic context

Context

The assessment supports students in developing their skills and knowledge in sourcing books, periodicals and other documents, as well as evaluating the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the materials. Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of succinct analytical and reflective skills, as well as informed online and library research. This assessment provides experience and understanding of information literacy and the analysis and synthesis of a range of resources involved in academic research and writing.

Instructions

In this assessment, you will address a contemporary organisational or business issue and apply research skills to identify, select and analyse 10 sources to form an annotated bibliography. The issue and resources used in Assessment 1A will also form the basis for Assessment 1B - Forming an Argument.

A digital communications topic will be selected by your lecturer in week 1. The selected topic will be the basis of student research for all three assessments.
Your lecturer will stipulate the topic in your Announcements on Blackboard.

When examining a topic(decided by the facilitator), consider the following:

• Locate material (books, periodicals, white papers and other documents) that may contain useful information and ideas on your issue.
• Briefly examine and review the items and select 10 that represent a variety of perspectives on the issue.
• Write an annotation of 150 words for each reference summarising the central theme and scope. The annotation should include one or more sentences that,
o evaluate the authority or background of the author
o comment on the intended audience
o compare or contrast this work with another you have cited
o explain how this work illuminates your bibliography topic
• Reference the book, article, or document using APA 7thstyle in the reference list.
o Use at least 1 in-text citation per annotation.

Be sure to review a variety of resources before selecting the 10 most suitable ones. Please include a title page, use the APA 7th referencing style, and list the materials in alphabetical order.

Students are responsible for:
• Staying within the word limit
• Keeping drafts and backups of their assignment
• Submitting the assignment via Blackboard by the due date
• Ensuring their assignment is written and submitted while observing and committing to the Academic Integrity policy

Please note that if you require an extension for this assignment, you must apply using the university application form and provide verifiable evidence of extenuating circumstances before the due date and include your most recent draft. Please also treat the prescribed word limit as a limit not to be breached.

Referencing:

It is essential that you use the appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research.

Assessment - Discussion Forum Report

Learning Outcome 1: Apply research, academic and communication skills appropriate to the level of study and observe academic referencing requirements
Learning Outcome 2: Critically analyse texts and/or multimedia material in both a business and academic context
Learning Outcome 3: Identify and apply effective communication methods within a business and academic environment
Learning Outcome 4: Evaluate the use and importance of technology within a business environment

Context

Business communication can either be internal, within a business organisation, or external, between the organisation and its existing and potential customers. This assessment supports students in developing their skills and knowledge in selected business communication methods, including an examination of the theoretical underpinnings of communication in business.

This assessment has been designed to:

• Appraise students' ability to academically research and evaluate characteristics of effective business communication.
• Apply critical thinking skills utilising supporting evidence to justify arguments.
• Students are expected to demonstrate practical understanding of application of business communication skills and their importance in professional development.

Guidelines
Assessment 2 consists of three (3) parts. For an acceptable result, you must submit all three parts. Students are required to summarise their Discussion Forum Post from Module 2.1, to critique a peer's submission and to reflect on their learnings. The topic is decided by the learning facilitator and posted on the Week 1 announcements.

Part 1: Discussion Forum Post: Analyse characteristics of exemplary business communication (300 words)

Instructions:
Investigate the form of business communication chosen by the facilitator and research what makes it effective. Critically analyse specific characteristics and justify your choices. Consider using examples to back up your statements.
Key points to consider in your initial post:
• Your post should analyse ideal characteristics of a specific type of business communication.
• Include justifications for your chosen characteristics.
• Consider using one or more specific examples to add value to yourpost.
• You must include reference to literature.
o Use at least 2 in-text citations per post.
o Reference the book, article, or document using APA 7th style in the reference list.

Part 2: Discussion Forum Report: Critique one peer post (from Discussion Forum submitted in Module 2.1) (300 words)
Instructions:
Each student is required to critique an original post of a peer. Your critique should include commentary on:
• Whether the original post is comprehensive. Please identify missing components, if any, and provide constructive feedback.
• Have all plausible characteristics been identified?
• Are one or more examples provided? Provide a critique on the examples and their suitability in supporting statements.
• You must include reference to literature.
o Use at least 4 in-text citations per part.
o Reference the book, article, or document using APA 7th style in the final reference list.

Part 3: Discussion Forum Report: Summarise learning (300 words)
Instructions:
Each student is required to reflect on:

• How your views of effective business communication have changed since your original post.
• What are the 3 key points you have learned from the discussions during this course and how you can apply that knowledge in the future.
• Give one or more practical examples of how to apply peer review in your professional development.
• You must include reference to the literature.
o Use at least 4 in-text citations per part.
o Reference the book, article, or document using APA 7th style in the final reference list.

PROJ6000 Principles of Project Management - Torrens University

Assessment - Project Management Lifecycle (PML):

Opinion Post and Peer Response

Learning Outcome 1: Assess the importance of project management concepts within an organisational context.
Learning Outcome 2: Compare and contrast project management methodologies and their application within global project contexts.
Learning Outcome 3: Identify and analyse the key processes of a project lifecycle.

Task Summary

Critically read and interpret both the Project Management Lifecycle and the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK). Engage with other students by posting an initial 600-word discussion forum post and a 200-word critique that details your response to the question below (or the set question).

Context
The Project Management Lifecycle (PML) is an important component of project management methodology. It incorporates several areas of knowledge from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK), and it affects and interacts with the application of PMBoK in a project.
Different stages of the PML may require focusing on different areas of the PMBoK, and project managers need to assess the PML for their project in order to identify possible risks, plans for resourcing, and to commence communicating with stakeholders. This assessment requires that you answer the following question:

"During which project management lifecycle stage(s) do you believe a project management methodology is most impactful, and how do we ensure alignment between the lifecycle of the project and the implementation of a project management
methodology?"

To answer this question, you will need to:

(a) Post a 600-word (+/- 10%) response to this question, based on your informed opinion and demonstrated knowledge of project management concepts, project lifecycles, and PMBoK, to the Discussion Forum on the Learning Portal.
(b) Respond to another student's post by critiquing their opinion and comparing it with
yours in 200 words (+/-10%).

Instructions

1. Read about the PMBoK and the Project Management Lifecycle to familiarise yourself with their fundamental concepts. Critically reflect on your readings to form an opinion of both and how they interact together. Write a 600-word opinion piece responding to the set question. Be sure to cite any source material, including learning resources or other academic or industry literature you research, used to inform your opinion. The word count does not include the reference list.

2. Read another student's post. Think about their opinion and try to compare and contrast it with your own. This approach will allow you to "critique" their view. You can do this by highlighting the aspects you agree with and those you disagree within their post. You need to justify and explain your critique of their opinion. In your response, you will need to refer to industry and academic literature. Your response will need to be 200 words. The word count does not include the reference list.

Assessment - Individual Report: PMBoK versus PRINCE2 or Agile in contemporary projects

Learning Outcome 1: Assess the importance of project management concepts within an organisational context.

Learning Outcome 2: Compare and contrast project management methodologies and their application within global project contexts.

Learning Outcome 3: Identify and analyse the key processes of a project lifecycle.

Task Summary
Following group discussions, individually write a 1,200-word report that discusses the strengths, weaknesses, similarities, and contrasts of PMBoK and PRINCE2 or Agile in contemporary projects.

Context
There are several project management methodologies and approaches that are used in contemporary project management. Among these are PMBoK, PRINCE2, Waterfall, Agile, Extreme Programming (XP), and Adaptive Project Framework (APF). Each of them has certain specific elements that proponents say make it easier to use, more applicable, more robust, or otherwise more appropriate for particular environments or circumstances. Whilst these methodologies are all valid and reliable tools for a project manager to use, it is important to be able to contrast them and to form a view of how they may best be used in a project. This analysis includes their usefulness, application in various types of projects, and how they view project risk. Such context can help project managers identify which methodologies/approaches may be best for specific projects.

Instructions

In this Assessment, you will write a 1,200-word (+/- 10%) report that considers the application of a project management methodology to a project as described in an assigned case study. In particular, you will review the assigned case study, then compare and contrast the application of the PMBoK project management approach to the highlighted project with your choice of one of the following methodologies/approaches:

a) PRINCE2, or
b) Agile

The report must use the following headings:

1. INTRODUCTION: Develop an introduction to PMBoK and the other methodology/approach you have selected (PRINCE2 or Agile) that includes their background and historical context (approximately 200 words)
2. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES: List 2-3 similarities and 2-3 differences between them and why these similarities and differences are relevant to the assigned case study (approximately 200 words combined)
3. RISK: How each method treats project risk and how these approaches to risk are relevant
to the assigned case study (approximately 200 words)
4. PROJECT CONTEXT: The types of projects in which each is used (approximately 200 words)
5. LIFECYCLE IMPLICATIONS: How each differs across different phases of a project's lifecycle
(approximately 200 words)
6. APPLICATION: Explain which methodology you would choose to apply for the project in the assigned case study, and why (approximately 200 words)

Be sure to cite any source material, including learning resources or other academic or industry literature you research, used to inform your analysis.

You will need to consult the literature and use at least 6 references (and not more than 12 references) from academic and industry sources. The word count does not include the reference list. Each reference must be cited in-text in your report.

Assessment - Project Charter Report

Learning Outcome 1: Assess the importance of project management concepts within an organisational context.
Learning Outcome 2: Compare and contrast project management methodologies and their application within global project contexts.
Learning Outcome 4: Identify and analyse the key processes of a project lifecycle.
Learning Outcome 5: Evaluate and apply tools and techniques used in the project initiation phase.
Learning Outcome 6: Critically reflect on the leadership competencies necessary to succeed in global project management environments.

Task Summary
After reading the project case study, use it to develop a 2,000-word Project Charter, describing the entire project in a short, succinct, and professional document.

Context
Project leadership is about inspiring the project team to do their best from the outset. This requires a combination of verbal and written communication skills and a range of applied leadership skills. One of the foundational documents that helps "kick off" a project is the Project Charter. The Project Charter describes the entire project in a short, succinct, and presentable document that can be shared with project staff or other stakeholders and aims to commence the project in earnest. The Project Charter helps to clarify the project context, the project team roles, and the goals of the project.

Instructions

You will be given a project case study to use in order to develop your Project Charter. Though all students will receive the same case study, it is expected that each student will think about the project from their own perspective as an up-and-coming project manager in order to formulate a unique Project Charter. Use your own style based on your critical thinking of what it means for you to lead a project. You may use one of the templates provided in the learning resources or develop your own format.

Please follow the instructions below:

1. Read the case study provided by your lecturer. This will form the basis for your Project Charter, because you will assume that you are the project manager for this project.

2. After reading the case study, begin to develop your project charter. This needs to be a 2,000- word report (+/- 10%) and must use a minimum of six (6) references (academic literature and industry publications-please consider the case study as a 7th reference). Please ensure all references are cited in-text.

3. The Project Charter must include the following headings and should be written as if you are presenting it to the project team that will build this project. You are the project manager. The contents of your Charter should include:
a. Background of the project
b. Reasons for the project
c. Project objectives
d. Proposed project management approach or methodology/methodologies
e. Constraints, limitations, and risks
f. Leadership structure (project manager and his or her senior aides: list their roles and explain what each does in the project. You need to cite four (4) roles)
g. Project risks and their mitigation
h. Project stakeholders and how to interact with them
i. The vision of the project and the type of project team culture you wish to promote in your team
j. Reference list

Attachment:- Business Communication and Principles of Project Management.rar