ACCT2019 Group Assignment
Generic Marking Guide
The following is indicative of how marks will be determined when the group assignment (case study
analysis) is graded.
We will allow some discretion for the integration of the write up. There should be a clear and
consistent narrative from the Executive Summary right through to the Analysis, Findings and
Recommendations and other sections of the report. Your team needs to demonstrate that they can
write to a standard that is appropriate for the company’s Executive Management team.
Note: If more than 7 pages for the report is provided and/or more than 10 pages for the appendices is
provided, the following rule will apply:
Pages over the limit (for each part of the assignment) will not be marked.
1) Executive Summary (10 marks)
An overall succinct and impactful summary of the case including key pieces of information from the
background, analysis, major findings, recommendations and limitations. Upon reading the executive
summary, a manager should have enough detail to be able to get a complete grasp of the whole
situation, without having to read through the rest of the report in detail.
Mark Student Response
17-20 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. Short, to
the point. Identifies the major issues appropriately in 350 words. The first page (out of
7) should be dedicated ONLY to the executive summary.
15-16.9 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound
grasp of content and efficient organisation of material.
13-14.9 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Does not cover all major points
– these are introduced later in the report. Demonstrates a clear grasp of the basic skills
and knowledge.
10-12.9 Presentation has significant weakness and/or is too wordy. A satisfactory attempt –
either cursory or tries to cover everything. Demonstrates a satisfactory understanding
and command of basic skills and core knowledge.
Below 10 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Does not
demonstrate understanding and command of basic skills and core knowledge.
2) Background/context (10 marks)
Introduces the business and the case context. Provides key details about the business and a
description of all the important matters/issues/concerns and their background that is relevant to the
case and the findings. States the specific purpose of the report.
Mark Student Response
8.5 - 10 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. Short, to
the point. Identifies the existing problems and clear linkages to
operational and management issues, as a result of all the analyses.
7.5 – 8.4 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound
grasp of content and efficient organisation of material. Work that is well written.
6.5 – 7.4 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Work that is fairly written. Covers
all major information on background. Demonstrates a clear grasp of the basic
skills and knowledge.
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5 – 6.4 Presentation has significant weakness. A satisfactory attempt – not clearly stated.
Demonstrates a satisfactory understanding and command of basic skills and core
knowledge.
Below 5 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Does not
demonstrate understanding and command of basic skills and core knowledge.
3) Analysis (30 marks)
Provides a critical overview of the analysis undertaken and the results obtained. Supporting
calculations should not be included here (but in the appendices), with this section referencing the
appropriate appendices. Analysis does not involve a simple presentation and interpretation of
calculation results. It involves looking deeply at specific calculation results/methods together with
other results/methods and also quantitative and qualitative pieces of information from the case study.
From this exploration, the purpose is to draw out specific: insights, implications, assessments,
relationships/interconnections, reasons, areas of concern/action, questions that need resolving etc.
that are not manifest. It is acceptable to make some reasonable speculations here.
Mark Student Response
17-20 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. Analysis is
succinct, precise and to the point and flows from the key calculations. Any assumptions
made are clearly identified and explained. Any presentation of
numbers or diagrams from appendices are referred back to the relevant appendix.
15-16.9 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound
grasp of content and efficient organisation of material. Analysis is precise and to the point
and flows from calculations. Work that is well written.
13-14.9 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Work that is fairly written. Very
few obvious errors. Any assumptions made are clearly identified and explained.
10-12.9 A satisfactory attempt – some errors found. A number of assumptions made without
justification or justifications for assumptions are not logical.
Below 10 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Assumptions
made without justification. No understanding of the calculation process.
4) Findings (10 marks)
Highlights and justifies key findings/insights/takeaways that emerge from the analysis undertaken, in
light of the information given in the case. This should not be a simple repetition/rephrasing of the
analysis section. Take care to recognise and describe any assumptions or where additional data may
be necessary to further understand the situation.
Mark Student Response
8.5 – 10 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. All major
findings highlighted – shows a clear understanding of the linkages from the
preceding analysis. Fully considers relevant cost and management issues.
7.5 – 8.4 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound grasp
of content and efficient organisation of material. Most major findings
highlighted. Work that is well written.
6.5 – 7.4 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Writing that clearly communicates
findings.
5 – 6.4 A satisfactory attempt – limited coverage of either cost or management issues.
Limited assumptions made on data that does not exist.
Below 5 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Findings have no
relation to analysis. Major assumptions made that do not originate from data or
analysis.
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5) Recommendations (10 marks)
Details and justifies specific recommendations for the case business. The recommendations need to
be feasible and helpful to the case business. These should be constructed based on a thorough
consideration of the analysis, findings and the case study context. Recommendations may also
include the need for further specific forms of analysis or research on specific identified issues. The
ideas here need to be reasonable/justifiable and should directly address the case and/or the analysis
undertaken. Recommendations should be made by considering the pre-conditions and/or the side-
effects of each idea put forth.
Mark Student Response
8.5 - 10 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. Clear
identification of assumptions (no leaps of faith between analysis and
recommendations). Balanced set of recommendations between cost and management
issues – shows a clear understanding of linkages of recommendations based on the
preceding analysis and findings. Fully considers
relevant cost and management issues.
7.5 – 8.4 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound grasp
of content and efficient organisation of material. Concise recommendations
based on data obtained. Work that is well written.
6.5 – 7.4 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Work that is fairly written. Minor
discrepancies between analysis and recommendations. Limited coverage of either
management or cost issues.
5 – 6.4 A satisfactory attempt – either cursory or tries to cover everything. Presentation has
significant weakness. Recommendations mainly based on cost issues ignoring
management issues. Major discrepancies between analysis and recommendations
(gaps in the argument).
Below 5 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Does not demonstrate
understanding and command of basic skills and core knowledge. Recommendations have
no relation to analysis. Major assumptions made that do
not originate from data or analysis.
6) Implementation plan (10 marks)
Maps out a plan that highlights the actions to be taken by the case business in order to implement any
proposed changes based on the findings and recommendations. This should not be a simple
repetition/rephrasing of the recommendations. This part needs to detail in a concrete, specific and
detailed manner what exactly the next steps should be for the case business – in relation to the
issues/matters raised in the previous sections of the report.
Mark Student Response
8.5 - 10 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. Actions
items well defined and clearly stated as a result of the analysis. Steps that
are logically correct and practically feasible are clearly indicated.
7.5 – 8.4 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound grasp
of content and efficient organisation of material. No discrepancies in action
items.
6.5 – 7.4 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Minor discrepancies in action
items. Action items tend to overlap with each other.
5 – 6.4 A satisfactory attempt – either cursory or tries to cover everything. Limited relevance and
coverage of areas where further analysis is necessary or future
directions to be taken.
Below 5 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Does not
demonstrate understanding and command of basic skills and core knowledge. Only
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minor consideration of both data and analysis for future plans. Unsatisfactory
attempt of explanation.
7) Limitations (10 marks)
Details specific limitations from the analysis such as assumptions made, any missing pieces of
information, limitations/assumptions held behind the data, calculations and case context (and how
these limitations/assumptions have specifically affected the overall analysis etc.).
Mark Student Response
8.5 - 10 Presentation of outstanding quality, demonstrating an excellent standard of written
language, logical argument, interpretation of material and a logical conclusion. Full
acknowledgement and logical explanation of limitations of the data, analysis and
case business – appropriate acknowledgement that further specific information is
necessary.
7.5 – 8.4 Presentation is of superior quality, demonstrating a command of language, sound
grasp of content and efficient organisation of material. Work that is well written.
6.5 – 7.4 A sound performance, competent and appropriate. Fair coverage and explanation
of limitations. Work that is fairly written.
5 – 6.4 A satisfactory attempt – either cursory or tries to cover everything. Presentation has
significant weakness. Partial coverage of limitations.
Below 5 An unsatisfactory attempt to meet the demands of the assignment. Only minor
consideration of limitations of both data and analysis. Unsatisfactory attempt of
explanation.
8) Formatting (10 marks)
The tone of the report is aimed towards a manager – using clear, concise, yet sufficiently informative
and detailed sentences (within bullet points). Correct grammar and sentence syntax is used. All
sections of the report and the report as a whole has a clear and logical narrative. There is consistency
in terms of how information flows within the report.
Words have not been wasted by stating the obvious, the generic, and unnecessary
repetitions/redundancies. Overall, the report has been clearly formatted. There is consistency in
formatting [font style (Verdana), font size (12, except for headings which can be a maximum size of
15), 1.5 line spacing). Use APA 7th style for any referencing.
Mark Student Response
8.5 - 10 Outstanding and consistent formatting with report pitched to the appropriate
audience (i.e. Executive Management). Neat, clear, appropriate use of headings,
clear narrative, page numbers are present, appropriate use of any diagrams, no
use/referencing of text book (unless deemed very appropriate), all referencing is
acknowledged. Correct grammar and syntax.
Appropriate usage of appendices, supporting calculations are placed neatly in
appendices.
7.5 – 8.4 Superior format with usage of appendices, calculations neatly presented in
appendices, page numbers are present, appropriate use of diagrams, the report is
presented clearly to the appropriate person, referencing is acknowledged.
6.5 – 7.4 A sound attempt. Fair usage of appendices, calculations presented, pages
numbered, report presented to the appropriate person, sound grammar.
5 – 6.4 A satisfactory attempt. Needs some work – missing things such as page numbers or
headings (this category used if missing 2 or more items). Is not in a neat and tidy
form. Difficult to read and generally poor grammar.
Below 5 Unsatisfactory attempt – too difficult to follow the narrative of the analysis and
understand grammar. Excessive spelling mistakes automatically receive a mark in this
range.