Assignment Brief Sheet
1
Module Tutor:
Dr Dennis Pepple
Module Name
Study Skills and Personal Development Planning
Module Code
CBU401
Title of Coursework:
Assessment 1: Written Assignment (1500 words)
Weight: 50%
Title of Coursework:
Assessment 2: Reflective (PDP) Report (1500 words)
Weight: 50%
Feedback details
The university policy is that you will receive prompt feedback on your work within 2 weeks of the submission date. Exceptionally where this is not achievable (for example due to staff sickness) you will be notified as soon as possible of the revised date and the reasons behind the change.
Submission Date: Insert date by insert time via VLE
Course Work (CW) 1 – 9 November 2025, 11:59pm
Course Work (CW2) 2 – 27 November 2025, 11:59pm
Feedback Date: Insert date-
CW 1 –24 /11/2025
CW 2 – 11/12/2025
Assignment Brief Sheet
2
Details of how to access the feedback:
Online – Turnitin
ASSIGNMENT TASK 1
Learning Outcomes:
Learning Objectives:
•
Develop skills in presenting to communicate effectively to an audience;
•
Establish clear learning goals through the development of a personal development plan;
•
Develop personal ability to enable on-going review and reflection on their own learning needs through the programme.
Threshold standards
In order to pass the assessment, you will need to achieve a minimum mark of 40%.
Task:
Produce a 1,500-word report based on your research and investigation from the following scenario:
Scenario:
You are a manager at a mid-sized tech company, Innovatech Solutions, which has recently experienced a decline in employee morale and productivity. Employee feedback suggests a lack of clear communication from management, feelings of being overworked, and uncertainty about the company’s future direction. Recently, several key team members have resigned, and your team is struggling to meet project deadlines.
You are required to investigate the problem and present, in writing, your report. The audience for your written report will be the Board of Directors at Innovatech Solutions. Your Report, which should be supported with evidence from theories, concepts, and ideas, is required to address the following:
1.
Problem Identification and Analysis (25 marks)
o
Identify and explain the key issues affecting Innovatech Solutions’ team based on the scenario.
o
Use critical thinking to assess the root causes of these problems, considering both internal and external factors that may contribute.
Assignment Brief Sheet
3
Hint: Consider communication practices, workload management, leadership styles, and employee engagement.
2.
Evaluation of Potential Solutions (30 marks)
o
Propose two possible solutions to address the identified problems.
o
Evaluate each solution using a critical thinking framework. Discuss the potential risks, benefits, and feasibility of each option.
Hint: Consider both short-term and long-term impacts on the team and organization.
3.
Decision-Making and Justification (20 marks)
o
Choose one of the proposed solutions and explain why it is the most appropriate choice for Innovatech Solutions.
o
Justify your decision using logical reasoning.
4.
Critical Reflection (15 marks)
o
Reflect on how using critical thinking in decision-making can improve outcomes in organizational settings.
o
Provide an example from a well-known case where critical thinking played a key role in resolving a complex issues
Suggested format/structure for your Written Report
•
Executive Summary
•
Problem Identification and Analysis
•
Evaluation of Potential Solutions
•
Decision-Making and Justification
•
Critical Reflection
•
Conclusion
•
References
NB: An executive summary gives a short overview of a report. It starts by saying what the report is about and what problem it looks at. Then it explains the goals—what the report wants to achieve. It shares the most important results or findings. After that, it gives advice or priority steps to take based on those findings. Finally, it ends by showing why the advice matters and how it could help.
Assignment Brief Sheet
4
Critical Thinking in decision making – This assignment is designed to assess your ability to apply critical thinking skills in evaluating a real-world scenario, identifying potential problems, and proposing and presenting well-reasoned solutions.
Word limit:
1,500 words
Submission:
An electronic copy is to be submitted to Turnitin
Assessment Criteria:
Assessment will be undertaken using the attached rubric.
Feedback:
Final feedback and provisional grades will be available on Turn-it-in on or before insert date –
ASSIGNMENT TASK 2
Learning Outcomes:
•
Develop skills in presenting to communicate effectively to an audience;
•
Establish clear learning goals through the development of a personal development plan;
•
Develop personal ability to enable on-going review and reflection on their own learning needs through the programme.
Threshold standards
In order to pass the assessment, you will need to
Task:
You are required to write a 1,500-word reflective report that looks back on your learning each week for five weeks during this module. Use Gibb’s 6-stage reflective cycle. This is designed to help you think about what happened, how you thought and felt, what you learned that went well and not so well, what factors contributed to it, what you might do differently next time and what is your next step. You are also required, in your report, to identify areas of improvements for yourself that informs your Personal Development Planning.
Title of Assignment and then week by week reflection as follows
Week No: and Date
Description
Feelings and Thoughts
Evaluation
Analysis
Conclusion
Action Plan
Assignment Brief Sheet
5
Word limit:
1,500
Submission:
An electronic copy is to be submitted to Turnitin
Assessment Criteria:
Assessment will be undertaken using the attached rubric.
Feedback:
Final feedback and provisional grades will be available on Turn-it-in on or before insert date
GUIDANCE NOTES
Section / Title
Details / Guidance
Title page
Include name, student ID number, unit title and code, assessment title, date of submission.
Executive Summary
Contents Page
Introduction
Case study analysis
Conclusion
Recommendations
Reference List and suggested reading
