MCD2040
Worth: 25%
Instructions to Students: MCP Report Due:
Week 10 Friday 11.55pm
© Monash College
Page 1 of 5
Last updated August 2022
Instructions to Students for the MCD2040
Management Consulting Project – Part 2
Business Report
In a Business Report that analyses a case study, it is crucial that you integrate relevant theory
from the course (MCD2040) and evidence from the case. Failure to attempt to integrate theory
will lead to severe mark reduction. Integration refers to having a strong connection between
your theory and evidence to help justify your ideas of why it is a problem or why it will solve
the problem.
Referencing is also critical with a requirement of 3 peer-reviewed journal articles needed to be
cited (published in the last 10 years) AND the MCD2040 Textbook as a minimum. Students
are expected to additionally use further resources from a range of sources including other
textbooks, articles, magazines and websites.
Marks will be lost for incorrect referencing or poor research. Therefore, it is critical to use the
Monash University Q Manual in regards to how to reference and how to write for Business
Reports. This can be found under the Moodle MCP folder.
Being a business report, third person tense must be used (for example you should say: This
report recommends…. NOT: I recommend). Students must check to ensure the correct tense
is used throughout the entire report while also checking for inconsistencies such as stating the
problem is X but then analyzing a different problem of Y
Try not to be overly descriptive. Remember the MCP (Part 1+Part 2+Presentation) is about
trying to identify, analyse and solve the problems of the case using the relevant theories from
the unit, NOT just repeating what the text book or case study says. Simply repeating the case
study evidence tells your marker you can repeat – not that you understand or are able to
analyses.
Your report will be checked on word matching software Turnitin and will be compared to other
available assignments. Note: previous students have been excluded (expelled) or failed the
course as a result of cheating on the MCD2040 assignment including purchasing assignments
online and using past students’ work.
Your Task
As a leading Management Consultant who specializes in business process improvement, ,
you have been hired to provide expert advice to the client by providing a 1000 (+/- 10%) word
report.
Your report must identify 1New Major problem and analyze it with relevant Management
theory permitted. This is due by Friday Week 10 at 11.55pm to be submitted online.
MCD2040
Worth: 25%
Instructions to Students: MCP Report Due:
Week 10 Friday 11.55pm
© Monash College
Page 2 of 5
Last updated August 2022
CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS:
WORD COUNT & FORMATTING
• The word count requirement is 1000 words. Students may go 10% over and 10%
under. The Executive summary is included in this word count.
• The Reference list does NOT count for the word count.
• Make sure to minimize quotes, instead you should paraphrase then cite (reference)
the original source. Quotes should be saved for definitions.
• As it is a report, use third person not first person. For example, use: This
report… don’t use: I think….
• Every page must have a page number and header/footer.
REFERENCING
• Must use APA 6th ed. style
• See the Q Manual on how to reference
• The reference list must be in alphabetical order
• Only use page numbers when citing when it is a direct quote
• A minimum three peer reviewed journal articles AND your textbook must be
used in the assignment. This is a minimum, meaning students should use more than
this. Websites and other sources that are not academic do not count for this 4
• Research is key to have a strong problem analysis.
FORMATTING APA STYLE
For all text except title and within figures (refer to Q Manual):
• Times New Roman 12pt Font
• Double line spacing
• ONLY Executive Summary can be 1.5 spacing
• Standard margins
• Typing is left justified only (ragged right)
• Indent first line of every paragraph
• Being a Business Report – every section from Problem Identification onwards MUST
use numbers as part of the heading. This will help a correct contents page to be
created.
NOTE: THERE IS NO INTRODUCTION OR CONCLUSION IN THE ASSIGNMENT.
MCD2040
Worth: 25%
Instructions to Students: MCP Report Due:
Week 10 Friday 11.55pm
© Monash College
Page 3 of 5
Last updated August 2022
Report Format
NOTE: The following formatting must be followed otherwise marks will be penalized
The headings below are in the order the report should be in.
Title Page
Create a title page which states: who is the case study report for, prepared by whom,
you could even create your own business name. It must also include:
• Your official name (that you’re enrolled as) and may include your preferred name
• Student number
• Teacher’s name
• Word count
Table of Contents
Using Microsoft Word, auto generate (optional) your table of contents or manually create this
section.
1.0 Executive Summary
This section is written last after you finish your assignment but is the first section at the
beginning of the report. NOTE: It needs to be on its OWN page and is only one-page long
maximum. You are allowed to use 1.5 spacing ONLY for this section of your report. The rest
needs to be double spacing.
It is a critical section where the reader gets told all the important points the report makes. It
should comprise of a concise overview of the case by giving a summarized background of the
current situation to set the scene for the report and noting any important assumptions made.
(You will not have all the information you would like - so you may need to make some
assumptions).
A statement which states the ‘purpose of the report’ must be provided, followed by a
synopsis of your report. This outlines the major problem identified, the theory being used to
analyse them, and why these must be solved. It is important to be brief but also specific.
Simply stating ‘the major problem will be analysed in this report’ is not sufficient for a pass
mark. Ensure you use your whole page length well. Writing a short executive summary of half a
page generally is not sufficient to pass this section.
MCD2040
Worth: 25%
Instructions to Students: MCP Report Due:
Week 10 Friday 11.55pm
© Monash College
Page 4 of 5
Last updated August 2022
2.0 Problem Identification and Analysis
This overall section is where you identify the major problem you’re going to focus on then
analyse why it is the problem and the impact on the organisation by integrating theory from
MCD2040 (not from other subjects) AND evidence from the case study itself.
You can also have a separate heading if preferred as the following,
2.1 Major Problem – give it a name
This section will have at least one to two paragraphs although more will be required if a
thorough analysis is to be conducted. The sections each should be 500-700 words long. Every
problem MUST be integrated with the relevant theory. To have a strong argument, it is
recommended that you choose only ONE theory per problem identification and analysis. For
example: If you’re discussing demotivation and using early motivation theories, don’t do one
paragraph using Maslow’s then another paragraph using Herzberg’s, rather focus only on how
Maslow’s connects with the problem in every paragraph of that section.
You should use the TEEL format (NOT bullet points). One way you can do this is outlined
below (NOTE: below is the example of the first paragraph of the section, second and third
paragraphs should have a Topic Sentence rather than a Problem Statement):
T – Problem Statement
E – Explain the theory which is mentioned in your problem statement
E – Using evidence from the case, show how this is a problem where the theory is not being
done/done incorrectly/incorrect way of doing it. To make this strong you will want to perhaps
integrate/connect theory after each evidence you mention.
L – To close off your paragraph, state the impact of this problem for the organisation (the
overall consequence). Make sure though you’re not repeating here the evidence you have
already stated.
NOTE: You do not need an INTRODUCTION or a CONCLUSION in any section. This
is why Business reports use numbered headings to show the reader it is a new
area and that area is now concluding.
MCD2040
Worth: 25%
Instructions to Students: MCP Report Due:
Week 10 Friday 11.55pm
© Monash College
Page 5 of 5
Last updated August 2022
3.0 Appendices (if any)
Include any tables or diagrams etc. that would add value to your case study report.
Ensure that it is referenced accordingly and that it is referred to in the discussion.
4.0 (or 3.0 if there were no Appendices) Reference List
This will contain an alphabetical list of all the references you have cited in the body of the
report. Do not include details of any sources you have not used. Ensure the style used
is correct and consistent with the APA system which is the required format for Business &
Economic students. Make sure you consult the Q Manual if you are uncertain how to do it
correctly.
Do not underestimate how long it takes to complete an ACCURATE reference list. If you’re
new to referencing and you have 10 sources to place in the list, it can easily take you two
hours to do the list correctly (sometimes longer). The good news is in future assignments you
will become quicker and quicker with referencing as you becoming an expert in this area.
If students have sources in the reference list that were NOT used in the assignment, or
sources in the assignment NOT in the reference list then students will lose marks.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
• After you finish writing your assignment, review the marking guide – this is how you
will be marked. Make sure you meet all the requirements especially in the criteria
column you want to achieve e.g. HD or D. Note the marking guide is similar to what is
used for Section A of the Final Exam.
• TURNITIN: Students will be able to submit up to 3 drafts on Turnitin. This is not
reviewed by the teachers but is simply there to assist you to check your word
matching against other sources. Final Submission is due in Step 2 in the Moodle
Folder – Assignment on Friday Week 10 by 11.55pm. Students can only submit
ONCE as their Final Submission.
• Assignments submitted late will attract a 5 marks penalty per day so ensure you
do not leave it until the last minute.
• Don’t write your assignment then research. This will show in the disconnection
between your discussion and theory. Research BEFORE you start writing.
• Use your feedback from your teachers from the MCP report part 1 to help you
with writing a strong report.
• Do not leave getting help to the last minute.
Good luck & get help early!