A number of different assessment methods will be used to help enhance your learning outcomes of this course. You will receive detailed briefings of the assessment and the marking criteria for each unit. In preparing your work/assignment for each assessment your unit tutor will provide you with support and help you to enhance your learning outcome and assessment performance.

Typical types of assessment for this course includes:

Individual Written Report - Your knowledge and skills are developed when you undertake the task of writing an individual report and the whole process contributes to your improvement when it comes to conducting postgraduate level research and developing your enterprise. The ability to carry out literature-informed research to review and evaluate the relevant sources and to use an appropriate methodology in order to analyse and evaluate the relevant concepts is being assessed.

Case Study Analysis - You will apply relevant theoretical concepts or models covered in the course to analyse given case studies.

Oral Presentation - A number of transferable skills will be developed including the ability to present your findings in a professional clear and concise manner.

Reflective Report: Evaluating your own contribution to a team project is essential in the context of this course but in the workplace as well.

Dissertation / Professional Practice / Business Live Project: Regardless of which masters capstone experience you opt for you will have to produce an individual independent piece of work. The three options are equivalent in weighting however offer three distinct approaches to explore a research problem. The distinction between the three approaches is underpinned by the design of research methodology. You will be asked to identify the research question or problem under investigation review the relevant literature and develop a sound methodology in order to explore the problem proceed with the analysis discuss your findings and make recommendations. It is the capstone of this course and builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in all Units. It will be one of the most challenging but yet enjoyable and rewarding experiences you will encounter ever! Please refer to the unit information form (UIF) of each of the three options for details.

You are expected to make use of the journals professional bodies and the media in order to keep up-to-date with information examples debates discussions and events in procurement logistics and supply chain management practices. Your enquiry skills will be developed through lectures and workshops. You will be introduced to various research methods such as survey interview focus group action research and various quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques. Through the final capstone unit in purchasing logistics and/or supply chain management you will be able to apply some of these methods and techniques to carry out independent research. The notions of accountability and academic integrity will be an integral part of your course. You will be informed about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it during the delivery of each Unit. Where an individual project is required you will be asked to show the different stages of your work or to present it in its entity upon completion. Where collaborative tasks are assigned an individual reflective report or individual viva may be required to indicate your contribution to the team.

All coursework assignments will require a thorough evaluation of the sources used and referencing will be done according to the Harvard Referencing System As mentioned in an earlier section a range of assessment methods will be used throughout the course and students will be required to undertake a variety of assessments including individual reports essays case studies oral presentations reflective report and a final course project - Business Dissertation Professional Practice or Business Live Project.

The assessments are designed to test students' knowledge and understanding of the subject matter but also to demonstrate the range of skills identified in the section above. Students will also experience some formative assessment activities designed to support the development of their knowledge and skills. The purpose of such assessment is to enable them to monitor and improve their performance. For example they will have the opportunity to discuss a report structure before completing the report to present concepts/findings through presentations and receive feedback before producing a final report or presentation. In preparation for exams they will have opportunity to attempt revision questions with guidance on how to address these with appropriate solutions.

The assessment strategy underlines the course's concern with research and independent thinking the ability to make informed decisions and communicate these under time pressure and finally the all-important skills of teamwork and oral communication of ideas. Written assessments will contribute to the learning outcomes focusing on your ability to research and critically evaluate elements of the curriculum in depth. The assessments will allow you to use a variety of named sources to support their viewpoints. At the end of four blocks you will progress to the master's capstone experience stage where you will opt to complete either a dissertation a professional practice an internship or a live project unit. Details of each capstone option will be given in corresponding handbook.

The knowledge and concepts acquired during the four taught periods of block teaching along with a number of highly important transferable skills will be combined and evaluated during the writing of the final piece of work the masters capstone experience unit. Whether the students opt for a traditional research dissertation or an experiential learning option (Professional Practice or Business Live Project) an appropriate research methods element will introduce the students to the idea of postgraduate and/or action-based research. This final unit will enhance your ability to produce an independent piece of work and it will provide them with an opportunity to show the creativity and independence required in the workplace by holders of postgraduate degrees.