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Weighting: 60%
Objective: Critically examine if firms influence cultures and institutions more positivelyor negatively. Your essay should present a well supported argument based on theory and empirical evidence, highlighting the broader societal implications of firms’ actions.
Task: For this essay, you will:
Choose two organisational practices from the list provided. Ensure that one practice exemplifies a positive influence, and the other, a negative influence on culture and institutions.
Week 5: Corporate Social Responsibility
Week 7: Corporate Governance
Week 8: Human Resource Management
Week 9: Innovation Management
Week 10: International Strategy
Your essay should include the following components. Please note that the order below is not mandatory; please arrange them in a manner that best supports your argument and presentation.
Introduction: Define your objective, highlight the importance of firms, culture and institutions, introduce the two chosen practices, offer a preview what you will discuss.
Theoretical Argumentation: Offer a theoretical background, presenting arguments both for and against the notion that firms influence culture and institutions. Link to your organisational practices as well.
Practical Application: Detail the real-world application of your chosen practices. For each practice, provide business/industry specific examples demonstrating its impact on culture and institutions.
Critical Analysis: Further explore the chosen practices, discussing both the potential advantages and pitfalls when firms utilise these to shape culture and institutions.
Critical Evaluation: Position yourself within the debate – are you team negative or team positive Explain the rationale behind your stance, considering the evidence and analysis provided.
Conclusion: Reiterate your main objective and offer a concise summary of your findings, concluding with a final evaluation of the presented evidence.
Word count: 2500 +/- 10% and a maximum of 3 pages of appendices Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
Line spacing: 1.0
Margins: Normal (2.54 cm)
Due date: Thursday 7 December, 2pm
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Assessment criteria:
Your essay will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Content Mastery & Integration (20%): Evaluation of the students’ understanding of the topic, including the integration of the chosen organisational practices, theoretical frameworks, and empirical evidence.
Research & Originality (20%): Consideration of the depth and breadth of research, its relevance to the topic, and the presence of original insights or perspectives.
Critical Depth (30%): A holistic assessment of the analytical and evaluative depth present in the essay, which includes both analysis and evaluation sections.
Structure & Flow (10%): Evaluation of the overall organisation, coherence, and logical progression of the essay from introduction to conclusion.
Engagement & Relevance (5%): The effectiveness of the essay in capturing reader interest and the relevance of the examples and arguments to real-world contexts and the central theme.
Presentation & Acknowledgement (10%): The clarity of writing, the quality of sources.
Word count (5%): Extent to which the student adheres to the word count. Due date: Monday 4, December, 1pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Topic and Content
Can we touch upon both positive and negative influences of one organisational practice, or do we strictly need to choose one for each
Select one influence (either positive or negative) for each practice. However, during the critical analysis sections, you should delve into both advantages and pitfalls associated with each practice.
Are we restricted to the list provided or can we explore other organisational practices not mentioned
Please stick to the organisational practices provided in the list.
What if I believe that both practices I have chosen have a mixed influence (both positive and negative)
It’s acceptable to recognise mixed influences in the practices you choose.However, you must still articulate a clear stance in the debate.
Structure and Components
Can I combine certain sections if it fits my essay’s flow better, such as theoretical argumentation and critical analysis
Yes, you may combine sections if it enhances your essay’s flow. The sections provided are merely guidelines.
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How detailed should the introduction be
The introduction should be concise and to the point.
Should the theoretical background focus only on the practices I’ve chosen or be more general about firms influencing culture and institutions
Your theoretical background should intertwine both specific practices you have chosen and a broader understanding of firms’ influence on culture and institutions.
Research and Originality
How many sources are recommended for this essay
Aim for at least 10 sources.
Are there any recommended resources or databases we should use for our research
Use Google Scholar or the library website for your research. It’s essential to ensure you’re sourcing information from reputable and credible sources. Please refer to the Financial Times 50 list of top journals in business for an overview. This list should provide a solid foundation for your research efforts.
I’m having a hard time finding relevant research. Please help.
A good place to start is the list of course readings. You can use Google Scholar to find other articles that have cited them. You can also do a search that combines an organisational practice e.g., “Corporate Social Responsibility” with;o Institutional Change, Institutional Entrepreneurshipo Culture Influence, Cultural Impact, Cultural Change, Cultural Evolution o Social Change, Social Impact, Social Development o Economic Development, Economic Change, Economic Impact o Corporate Change, Corporate Impact
Can I use sources that are not from the course materials
Absolutely, and it’s highly encouraged to incorporate external sources.
Format and Presentation
Can diagrams or charts be included in the main essay or should they be placed in the appendices
Please place diagrams or charts in the appendices.
Do the appendices count toward the word limit
No, the content in the appendices does not count toward the word limit.
Grading
What are the primary criteria on which our report will be evaluated Is there a breakdown of marks for each section
Please refer to the grading criteria provided. Marking is based on the merit of the individual work, not in comparison to others, and component marking isn’t used at the Business School.
Feedback and Iteration
Will we have an opportunity for feedback before the final submission, perhaps in the form of a draft review
No feedback on a draft will be provided unless the University has determined you have special circumstances.
Are there any areas where you’ve observed past students typically struggle and should pay extra attention to
Critical analysis and evaluation. Please review the weighting assigned to each criterion in the grading rubric.
Group Work and Collaboration
Is this strictly an individual assignment, or can we collaborate with peers for feedback
This is an individual assignment.
If we use AI to help us craft our report, how should we acknowledge their input
Please refers to the School’s AI policy. https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-
services/students/conduct/academic-misconduct/what-is-academic-misconduct