UK’s implementation of Digital Radio: DAB
BMAN31911 Innovation and Markets
ASSESSMENT: REPORT TOPICS
2021 – 2022
Course Assessment
This course is assessed by individual coursework in the form of a report of 2500 words and a 2 hour exam.
This document explains the requirements for the report
The deadline for submission of the reports will be 15.00hrs on 17th December 2021 @ 3.00pm (before the Christmas break).
The report has to be submitted to Blackboard (Turnitin system).
Topics for the Presentation, Research question and Report
- Topic selection
You may propose a topic of interest to you or choose a topic from the list below (see end of document). The list is long as it provides a very wide variety of topics which range from product innovations to system innovations, from ‘historical’ to recent examples (including: innovation failures, innovations from different sectors, some health services innovations).
- Research question selection
You must then decide upon a ‘research question’ with reference to the topic you choose.
For example, if the topic is an innovation that failed, you could address the question:
“Why did ……. fail as a product innovation?”
Or your innovation question could be:
“Why did …….. overcome its competitors?”
Or, for a new innovation:
“Will ……. be a successful product innovation?”
Or,
“Why were intellectual property rights important in the success of …..?”
“What has been the impact of satellite navigation system on the commercial transport sector in the UK?”
Be very careful about the wording of your question. Does it have a particular regional focus, for example Europe or Asia? Is it based on historical data or looking towards the future? Be very exact in the wording: you will be marked according to how well you answer your own question!
You should discuss your question with the seminar leader and agree on the exact question. Some topics are very broad, so you could narrow the focus.
- Report
You are expected to thoroughly research your topic. You can choose a perspective which you think is appropriate to the case, for example from the viewpoint of companies, users, the general economic, social or environmental impact, or a third-party analyst, etc, or you can compare these perspectives. The word limit is 2500 words (+/-10 percent), excluding references, bibliography, etc. You are encouraged to add diagrams, pictures, graphs, or other appropriate features if they add to the content and quality of the analysis.
You can use authoritative internet sources in addition to the usual types of academic sources (books, journal papers, etc.), but as with all serious academic work you must be careful to verify information, and you must fully reference sources in the normal way. There should be a substantial number of references from academic sources. You should achieve a high level of quality of content and presentation in the written report. The work must all be your own, and copies submitted via Blackboard which will automatically check for plagiarism.
A report should explain the main technical and economic characteristics of the innovation, and analyse the main reasons for its significance. These may be (for example) from a product perspective, from a company perspective, as investments, economic and social impact, systemic effects, etc. You could look for any features that you think are important such as technical successes and failures, other reasons for success or failure (e.g. social, economic, regulatory or political).
You will be expected to connect your study with theories or concepts developed on the course. A good explanation of these concepts and why/how it is suitable to discussing the topic will be a feature of the report. For example the importance of intellectual property rights, standards,etc. If the innovation you have chosen is yet to have its main impacts, you should examine these and, in any case, summarise your main conclusions.
You do not have to include all the concepts/theories covered in the lectures, but your report must be related in a substantial way to one or a small subset of concepts/theories covered. It is also legitimate to use other concepts that are specific to Innovation Studies which you may have come across in your readings (disruptive innovation, creative destruction etc), If you feel they are relevant. If you have any doubt, consult with your seminar leader.
Before you make a definitive choice, you are responsible for making sure that you can find enough information and data by undertaking a preliminary search. If you cannot find empirical information, consider choosing a different topic!
If a particular topic is used during seminars, you should not choose that topic, unless you have a very original approach – again discuss this with your seminar leader!
The UK’s implementation of Digital Radio: DAB
LIST of TOPICS
The list provides many examples but it is not exhaustive. You may choose a topic that is of interest to you
- Flat screen displays and their impact
- The quartz watch, or: the Swatch watch
- A labour-saving innovation in the household (e.g. the microwave oven, the classic vacuum cleaner, the automatic washing machine, robot vacuum cleaners, etc.)
- Language translating software
- Voice recognition software
- Domestic heat pumps
- The development and application of lasers
- The Spreadsheet: the ‘killer app’ which launched the PC?
- The Clothing & Fashion Industry as Innovators
- Innovation in Textiles: A case study
- Lycra
- The Fax machine
- The Pager: a short product life?
- Margarine
- Prefabricated housing
- The impact of plastics on the car industry
- Innovations in bicycle design and manufacture
- Computer printers and innovation
- Networking standards in ICTs
- Innovation in the perfume/fragrance industry
- Fire prevention, detection and extinguishing in industry
- Vehicle tyre technology and products
- The Laser Disc
- High rise housing in post-war Britain
- The failure of the ‘Worldspace’ satellite digital radio system
- The Iridium satellite telephone system
- Music downloading and its impact on the music industry
- Innovation in the Hairdressing Sector
- Organ Transplants
- Electronic book readers, or e-books
- Security and the internet (i.e. financial transactions and personal data, etc.)
- The Credit Card
- Internet travel agencies
- Global Positioning Service: its origins and impacts on products or services (e.g. transport)
- Internet ordering and home delivery of groceries
- The impact of e-mail and the internet on the postal industry
- Innovation in eye surgery
- Bio-medical innovation
- Innovation in dentistry (e.g, dental implants; 3D printing and dentistry)
- Pilkington’s Float Glass Process
- Plastic injection moulding
- Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing
- Innovation in the paper manufacturing industry
- Sensor technology and products
- A Renewable Energy Technology (e.g. photovoltaic systems, wave power, tidal power, hydroelectric stations, …)
- Electronic Banking
- High definition television
- 3-D cinema projection systems in the 21st century
- 3-D television and its future prospects
- 3-D printing as a manufacturing process
- Electric Batteries and Energy Storage
- The UK’s implementation of Digital Radio: DAB
- The transition of the UK from analogue television to digital television
- Ubiquitous computing
- RFID – Radio Frequency IDentification in retail products
- Micro Payment Systems
- Health Services Innovations for the Future
- The potential future for nutraceuticals
- Innovations in Illness Prevention
- Care of older people and innovation in the future
- Genetic databases and health
- Slowing the human ageing process and its implications
- New Technology & High Speed Rail Transport Systems
- Electric cars
- Nano-technology and its applications (or one specific application, for example: cosmetics)
- The Space Elevator
- Artificial limbs and prosthetics: future prospects
- Carbon sequestration
- Cognition Enhancing Drugs
- The commercial prospects resulting from genomics research
- The impact of new materials: ceramics in the future
- The impact of new materials: carbon composites
- Future uses of databases
- Smart homes
- Innovation and the control of terrorism
- Unmanned aerial vehicles
- Autonomous road vehicles
- Genomics and the health industry
- The advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing for organisations
- The oral contraceptive and its economic and social impacts
- Commercial use of space
- Advanced materials in aerospace
- Innovation in the airline business
- Commercial motorcycle technology
- The limits of innovation in F1 racing cars
- Evolution of computer tablets: from iPad to…?
- Emporio Armani and its innovative online store
- Innovative devices for MotoGP racing events
- Carbon fibre and composite materials: use in modern products
- The social advantages and criticisms of applied genetics.
- The future of nuclear power in electricity generation.
- Additive manufacturing
- Innovation in the hotel and hospitality sector.
REPORT
What is a Report? *
The report is 2500 words in length and excludes references, bibliography, etc.
Report structure and style
- A report is always written in the third person (avoiding “I”, “we”, “you”).
- A report is very concise – any background information can be supplied as a separate appendix at the end (but this should be much shorter than the report itself).
- A report is divided into headed, numbered sections (these at least should include: an introduction – telling the reader what the work is about; a main body – describing the topic of your choice with a clear layout while demonstrating awareness of related perspectives and interpretations; and a conclusion – summarising the content of the report clearly and concisely). Other sections can be added if required.
- A report usually generates conclusions, based on the findings of the investigation.
- List of reliable references from academic and/or other sources.
* Source: University of Manchester – Faculty of Humanities Study Skills Website (2011)- with revisions by course leader.
Marking & Feedback: We aim to fair in marking work. The report will be assessed and moderated by seminar leaders and the course co-ordinator. In addition, a further moderation is carried out within the Business School, and a sample is checked by the External Examiner for the course.
In addition to normal feedback throughout the course, feedback on outlines or plan of the report by email or appointment.
Referencing systems: There is no universally adopted referencing system for academic writing. Most scholars and students employ one of the most popular systems currently in use worldwide. In this course we require the use of the Harvard system.
The Harvard referencing system (also known as the ‘Author-Date’) system.***
The citation in the text is given by the author(s)’s surname(s) and year of publication in round brackets. (Pages can also be included for accuracy when appropriate, for example when referring to particular sections or parts of a long book or paper, but are not usually essential).
The full details of the source are given in an alphabetical list at the end of the report.
*** Source: Referencing Systems – Library Guides at Murdoch University (2011).
Class |
Descriptor (which reflects the highest possible mark attainable) | Possible Mark |
| Upper-range first | Your work is exceptional and of sufficient quality to be awarded an upper-range first class mark. Your work is authoritative and amply demonstrates very advanced knowledge and a very advanced ability to integrate the full range of principles, theories, evidence and techniques. The clarity and originality of thought and the way that it is expressed is very impressive for this level of work. | 100 |
| Upper-range first | 95 | |
| Upper-range first | 92 | |
| Mid-range first | Your work is outstanding and of sufficient quality to be awarded a mid-range first class mark. Your response to the question is insightful. You demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of this topic. To improve future marks you should attempt to refine your analysis and arguments even further. | 88 |
| Mid-range first | 85 | |
| Mid-range first | 82 | |
| Lower-range first | Your work is excellent and of sufficient quality to be awarded a lower-range first class mark. You demonstrate a detailed level of understanding of this topic. To improve future marks you should attempt to identify any weaker parts of your argument and/or its presentation, ensure you have addressed opposing viewpoints or evidence decisively, and consider extending the range and use of supporting resources even further. | 78 |
| Lower-range first | 75 | |
| Lower-range first | 72 | |
| 2.1 | Your work is very good and of sufficient quality to be awarded a merit mark. Your work is sound and well-considered. To improve future marks you could integrate a wider range of sources and/or deepen your analysis. You may also need to develop weaker parts of your argument and/or its presentation, ensuring that you have identified and addressed key opposing viewpoints or evidence. | 68 |
| 2.1 | 65 | |
| 2.1 | 62 | |
| 2.2 | Your work is good and of sufficient quality to be awarded a pass mark. Your work is competent and coherent. To improve future marks you could integrate a wider range of sources and should increase your level of critical appraisal and seek to demonstrate a more integrated understanding of the subject and possible opposing viewpoints in your analysis. You could also improve the presentation and structure of your work. | 58 |
| 2.2 | 55 | |
| 2.2 | 52 | |
| 3 | Your work has sufficient knowledge, use of appropriate resources and quality of presentation to warrant a pass. You demonstrate an adequate understanding of the topic. To achieve a higher mark you need to make sure that all your points are fully supported with data or evidence from the literature. You also need to achieve greater analytical depth and take fuller account of opposing viewpoints or evidence in order to provide more substantial, comprehensive and nuanced support for your argument. | 48 |
| 3 | 45 | |
| 3 | 42 | |
| F | Your work demonstrates insufficient knowledge and skills in the specific topic area and does not merit a pass mark. Your work demonstrates some awareness of the topic, although it is a frequently incoherent, or partial, response. To improve future marks you should improve your awareness of the appropriate principles, theories, evidence and techniques and engage more critically with them. You should present and structure your arguments better and make sure that they are substantiated. You should seek to undertake, or demonstrate that you have undertaken, independent work.
|
38 |
| F | 35 | |
| F | 32 | |
| F | Your work is inadequate and does not merit a pass mark. It demonstrates a confused or deficient awareness of the subject matter. To improve future marks you should improve your awareness of the appropriate principles, theories, evidence and techniques and engage critically with them. You should present and structure your arguments and make sure that they are substantiated. You should seek to undertake, or demonstrate that you have undertaken, independent work. | 28 |
| F | 25 | |
| 22 | ||
| F | Your work is severely inadequate and does not merit a pass mark. You demonstrate a very deficient understanding of the topic. To improve future marks you should improve your awareness of the appropriate principles, theories, evidence and techniques and engage critically with them. You should present and structure your arguments and make sure that they are substantiated. You should seek to undertake, or demonstrate that you have undertaken, independent work. | 15 |
| F | Your work is profoundly inadequate and does not merit a pass mark. Your representation or understanding of thinking in the discipline is highly deficient. To improve future marks you should seek to understand thinking in the discipline and engage critically with it. You should present and structure your arguments and make sure that they are substantiated. You should seek to undertake, or demonstrate that you have undertaken, independent work. | 5 |
| F | 0 |
Penalty and Plagiarism Information
LATE COURSEWORK SUBMISSION
Unexcused late submission of assessed work will be penalised in order to avoid the unfair advantaging and disadvantaging of students.
Penalties for any piece of assessed coursework submitted after the designated deadline are as follows:
A penalty of 10 marks per day up to a maximum of 5 days will be deducted from the mark for the piece of assessed work if it is submitted late. After 5 days a mark of zero will be awarded.
A day constitutes the 24 hour period following the submission deadline.
Example
Assuming the maximum number of marks to be gained is 100 and the submission deadline is 3.00pm.
If the coursework would normally be given a mark of 65% and is submitted after 3.00pm (i.e. 3.01pm onwards) on the submission day but before 3.00pm the following day, a penalty of 10 marks will be applied and a mark of 55% would be awarded.
All days including Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays count. This will be regardless of how much the assessed work counts towards the final mark.
Late penalties are determined by the time on the receipt you receive i.e. it is not the time when you click to upload your work. It follows that you should allow yourself sufficient time to submit your work before the deadline and that you don’t leave it until the last minute.
Please note that this is a University policy for Undergraduates and it is not at the discretion of the School or the individual lecturer to abate the policy.
§ If a student has a genuine reason for late or non-submission of an assignment, this should be reported as soon as possible to the Undergraduate Office in their respective Schools
Plagiarism
Please refer to the Plagiarism section on the online undergraduate handbook to see the definition of plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice; https://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Myassessment/Plagiarism.aspx
