ASSESSMENT GUIDE
COMM1170
Organisational Resources
Term 2, 2023
UNSW Business School 1
Assessment Summary
Assessment task Weighting Due Date* Learning Outcomes
Assessment 1: Interview Skills Preparation
10%
Week 3: 4:00 pm Tuesday 13th June (AEST) CLO1, CLO4, CLO6
Mandatory Hurdle Task 0% Week 5: 6:00 pm Monday 26th June (AEST) CL01, CL02, CL03,
CL06
Assessment 2: Interview Skills Video
30% Week 7: 4:00 pm Monday 10th July (AEST)
CLO1, CLO2, CLO3,
CLO5, CLO6
Assessment 3: Exam
60% Exam period – you will be notified closer to the
exam period on the date and time of your exam
CLO1-CLO4
* AEST is Australian Eastern Standard Time. If you are located in a different time-zone, you can use the time and date converter.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)
1. Identify different types of organisational resources and evaluate how an organisation manages its resources. [CLO1]
2. Apply tools and techniques that allow an organisation to source, deploy and manage its financial resources. [CLO2]  
3. Explain how technology is used to manage organisational resources. [CLO3]
4. Identify legal and organisational processes to lead people within changing organisations. [CLO4]
5. Develop and evaluate plausible, innovative solutions [PLO7, CLO5].
6. Demonstrate leadership skills to achieve desired results, including: self-leadership from reflection on experience, and leadership of others with influence
tactics. [PLO7, CLO6]
UNSW Business School 2
Assessment Details
Icon legend
Due Date Weighting Format Length/Duration Submission
Late Submissions
The parameters for late submissions are outlined at UNSW Assessment Implementation Procedure. More specifically,
for COMM1170, if you submit your Interview Skills Preparation and Video after the due date, you will incur penalties for
late submission unless you have Special Consideration (see below). Late submission is 5% per day (including
weekends), calculated from the marks allocated to that assessment (not your grade).
Extensions & Special Consideration
You are expected to manage your time to meet assessment due dates. If you do require an extension to your
assessment, please make a request as early as possible before the due date via the special consideration portal on
myUNSW (My Student Profile > Special Consideration). The Course Coordinator and tutors are unable to provide an
extension. Special consideration is the process for assessing the impact of short-term events beyond your control
(exceptional circumstances), on your performance in a specific assessment task.
What are circumstances beyond my control?
Available here is a list of circumstances that may be beyond your control. These are exceptional circumstances or
situations that may:
• Prevent you from completing a course requirement,
• Keep you from attending an assessment,
• Stop you from submitting an assessment,
• Significantly affect your assessment performance.
You can find more detail and the application form on the Special Consideration site, or in the UNSW Special
Consideration Application and Assessment Information for Students.
Assessment Review of Results
Please read the specific feedback on your assessments in detail, alongside the general feedback provided by the Course
Coordinator. Feedback is optimised if you revisit the assessment question, your completed work, the general feedback
about the assessment provided on Moodle and the marking rubric. It is prudent to reflect on this information for a
period of time (e.g., a day) as insightful analysis takes time to consolidate.
If you still have concerns about your grade, please use the specific criteria in the marking rubric, the assignment
instructions and the marker’s comments to complete the form on page 14.
Please send the completed form to comm1170@unsw.edu.au within 5 business days after the assessment has been
returned. Please note that in a review of results, your mark may go up, though it may also remain the same or decrease.
UNSW Business School 3
ISV C
ISP
Assessment
Shortlist 2
organisations
Hurdle Task
Technology
Solutions
ISV
Assessment
Student A Student B Student C Student D
Use the 4 organisations and issues contributed by the students in the
team to shortlist TWO (2) organisations and issues
All students in the team complete Hurdle Task individually and then
submit document via Turnitin on Monday, Week 5
Organisation 1 and Issue 1 Organisation 2 and Issue 2
Student A Student B Student C Student D
ISV A ISV B ISV D
Solution 2 Solution 1 Solution 4 Solution 3
Org. C Issue C Org. B Issue B Org. A Issue A Org. D Issue D
COMM1170 Assessment Flow
UNSW Business School 4
Assessment 1 Interview Skills Presentation (ISP)
Preparation: Week 3 – 16:00 Tuesday 13th June (AEST)
10%
Complete PowerPoint slides and save as PDF
Seven (7) PowerPoint slides including title page and reference list
Moodle Turnitin
Purpose
The Interview Skills assessment is an opportunity to tailor the course to suit your learning. Building on the Week 1
Moodle section ‘before the lecture’ and tutorial work, you identify an organisation that you are interested in and/or aspire
to work for after graduation. Also refer to the Moodle tab ‘Assessment Hub’ for more guidance. The organisation you
choose does not need to be the ‘perfect fit’; finding out who you do not want to work for is an important part of this
journey too. In selecting your organisation, please ensure you can access information about their people and technology
resources; if this information cannot be found, you may need to choose another organisation for your assessment.
Once the organisation is selected, you will be preparing for an interview. In preparation for the interview, graduates
commonly cover three areas:
(A) whether you can both understand aspects of and contribute to that organisation;
(B) your personal skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving, all the skills being developed in myBCom); and
(C) aspects specific to your profession (e.g., as an accountant or HR professional).
COMM1170 and this assessment assists you in meeting the requirements of A and B as above. This is reflected in
questions A and B of both assessments 1 and 2.
Interview question A. To demonstrate that you can identify issues that hinder or unlock opportunities that could
enhance an organisation’s competitive advantage.
ASSESSMENT 1, INTERVIEW SKILLS PREPARATION focuses on selecting an organisation you would like to
interview for.. You must NOT choose the following organisations: Harvey Norman, Netflix, Qantas, Woolworths
or Coles, as these will be used as examples in lectures. You then engage in research to identify and analyse
organisational issues important for the organisation’s competitive advantage. From your list, you identify one
organisational issue that could be addressed with technology and has implications for people resources. Consider
the current organisational resources that help or hinder that issue.
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• The organisational issue:
o The organisational issue can either be a challenge that is inhibiting the organisation from achieving
competitive advantage, or an opportunity that can be exploited by the organisation to gain competitive
advantage.
o The issue may be external or internal to the organisation; however it MUST be able to be addressed using
the organisational resources studied in COMM1170 and which can be used to provide the solution. Refer
to “How to select your Interview skills organisation” in the Assessment Hub on Moodle. Also, see the
Week 2 pre-lecture material for examples on translating external legal requirements into internal people
issues which in turn may be addressed with technology.
Interview question B. To demonstrate you have the skills to complete work. Specifically, this question focuses on
leadership, self-leadership and leadership of others through informal influence. To answer this question, draw on the
Week 1 material “The uses (and abuses) of influence” as a source of inspiration for leadership skills. Illustrate how you
have applied one (1) influencing tactic to demonstrate leadership within a group in a University or non-University setting
using the ‘STAR’ interview technique.
6
Instructions
Submit seven PowerPoint slides (including title page and reference slide). These slides need text and visual images to
provide the structure of your presentation to cover the following key points.
Title page. Include: name, zID, tutorial day/time and tutor, and organisation selected including their website
(The title page should only contain this information. Any content-related information on the title page will NOT be marked)
Question A.
• A1. What is the organisational issue? Select an organisational issue that could be addressed with technology
and has implications for people. Explain the issue by utilising the 5W problem-solving tool. Demonstrate you have
suitable evidence for the 5Ws from independent sources (e.g., news articles, industry articles, periodicals) and to
gather stakeholder interests (e.g., employee or customer reviews etc).
You must NOT choose the following organisations: Harvey Norman, Qantas, Netflix, Woolworths or Coles, as
these will be used as examples in lectures.
• A2. Why is the issue important for the competitive advantage of the organisation you have selected? Is it
for operational excellence, customer intimacy and/or product leadership?
• A3. Identify the organisational resources that either hinder or offer opportunities to help the organisational
issue:
i.People, specifically employee performance, motivation or both?
ii.Technology, for example, employee management software, live chat customer service, workplace collaboration
tools, mobile applications, point-of-sale systems.
Question B. Thinking about University or non-University experiences, identify one group situation/task and address
each of the following:
(i) Situation;
(ii) Task;
(iii) Actions taken to influence others (link to Cialdini from Week 1 ‘Pre-Lecture’).
(iv) Result of that action? Note that your result does not need to be ‘successful’; the purpose is to show
evidence of self-reflection.
References. Your final slide should include your list of references which were previously cited in text in your content
slides. Please note you are required to use UNSW Harvard style formatting. Note that the references slide is included
in the seven PowerPoint slides.
Formatting and word limit
Please do not use animations or transitions in your slides, as we will be marking a PDF. Other than this, there are no
other formatting or word limit requirements for ISP. However, consider the following:
• Are your slides presented in a professional manner? That is, is there too much/too little text? Is the font easy to
read? Is the font size appropriate for a presentation?
• Are your slides presented in an engaging way? That is, are your slides interesting and will it capture your audience’s
attention?
• You are encouraged to attend/watch the COMM1170 Communication Workshop for more specific guidance on
formatting.
Supporting resources and links
See the Moodle website for supporting resources and links.
7
Hurdle Task
Week 5 – 18:00 Monday 26th June (AEST)
0%
Submit the answers to 3 questions completed in Tutorial 3 & 4
Short-answer responses to 3 questions
Moodle Turnitin
This hurdle task must be completed for the assessment to be finalised. Without this task being competed the
Assessment due in Week 7 (ISV) will not be assessed.
You will be assigned to teams of four (4) in your tutorial commencing Week 2, 5 June 2023.
In the Week 3 tutorial, team members present details of their organisation and organisational issue to their team and
consider how each issue affects people and can be addressed with technology. This takes place after the submission
of individual ISPs and each team member advocates for their organisation to be selected for Assessment 2. This
process provides the opportunity for students to apply Cialdini’s influencing strategies/tactics. It also provides an
opportunity for students to showcase their understanding of the organisational issues that can be addressed with
technology and have implications for people resources. The outcome from this process is that each team selects two
(2) organisations from their team members’ ISP.
In the tutorial, you are provided with instructions for completing an individual questionnaire within a Turnitin portal on
Moodle. This can be completed in class or during the week.
In the Week 4 tutorial the team picks two (2) organisations and the team of 4 then splits into pairs. Each pair then picks
one of the two organisations that the team decided upon to use in completing the Assessment 2 Interview Skills Video
(ISV) submission. (see diagram on page 2 of this document).
The hurdle task comprises the following 4 questions:
1. Names of group members
2. List the four organisations, organisational issues and state how each organisational issue affects people and can
be addressed with technology. (80-100 words)
3. List the 2 shortlisted organisational issues chosen by your group and explain the rationale for those choices.
(80-100 words)
4. Describe the process of eliminating two (of the four) proposed issues. How did you personally impact the decision-
making process? What did you learn about your influencing skills? (100-150 words)
8
Assessment 2 Interview Skills Video (ISV)
Week 7 – 16:00 Monday 10th July (AEST)
30%
Record via platform of your choice (output is an MP4 file)
10-11 mins
The Moodle Assignment Box using a UNSW OneDrive link as on p. 10 of this document*
Purpose
The team is preparing for a group case interview, where collaborative work is conducted to identify technology solutions
to the selected organisational issue. Your section of the interview will be conducted individually.
Interview question A
The focus is on first mobilising a technology solution to address an organisational issue and then measuring the
feasibility of the proposed solution. Note that solving such a problem is a common interview question. When
organisations address organisational issues, select solutions, there is a dedicated team of employees who work on
this for a substantial amount of time. In an interview, organisations are seeking to find out if you know about and can
contribute to the organisation’s competitive advantage, by providing an appropriately structured recommendation.
In a team case interview, each team member is provided the opportunity to showcase their competencies in addressing
various components of the proposed solution. This assessment requires a pair to choose two alternative solutions for
the one organisational issue. Each member will select one solution to present to the organisation.
You must NOT choose the following organisations: Harvey Norman, Qantas, Netflix, Woolworths or Coles, as
these will be used as examples in lectures.
Interview question B
The purpose is to demonstrate you have the skills to complete work. This question focuses on leadership, self-
leadership and leadership of others through informal influence. To answer this question, draw on the Week 1 material
‘The uses (and abuses) of influence’ as a source of inspiration for leadership skills and show how you have applied one
tactic in your Assessment team meetings (this can be within or outside the tutorial between Weeks 3-7). To
communicate this, you will use the ‘STAR’ interview technique.
9
Instructions
Question A
What is your project proposal? Maximum 6-7 mins (comprising the following elements).
i. Identify an issue faced by the organisation. (approx. 1 min)
Briefly outline the organisational issue you identified in your group/pair discussion, including why it was important for
competitive advantage.
ii. Mobilise a solution to resolve the issue (approx. 5-6 mins).
Identify one potential technology solution that could solve the organisational issue. This technology solution will come
from your research and teamwork that takes place in the Week 3, 4 and 5 tutorials. Within your group/pair you would
have identified an organisation and its corresponding organisational issue and possible technology solutions.
These solutions may be a type of software, hardware or application (or a combination of these). What specific features
and functions of the technology help resolve the issue? Although it is helpful to know commercially available products
(i.e., specific technology brands), you are not required to research and recommend specific brands/vendors. What is
important is to demonstrate how such solutions or innovations could help resolve the issue you have chosen to address.
Clearly explain how the technology solution will resolve the issue by drawing on the information systems five component
framework (Week 5). Justify your answer with specific examples in the context of the organisation’s resources.
• Apply the Technological Organisational - Economic (TOE) Feasibility tool.
- Technological feasibility addresses compatibility, complexity, and security.
- Organisational feasibility addresses one of the following: training and development, compensation, and/or
work design (2 dimensions of SMART).
- Economic feasibility covers broad issues explained in the technology lecture
Based on your TOE feasibility, discuss the advantages of adopting the technology solution, the inherent limitations of
the solutions.
Question B
Implementing solutions in organisations requires the ability to influence others. Select and explain one influencing skill
you demonstrated in your assessment team. Maximum 4 mins.
Answer this using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) interview technique and the assessment team situation you
have experienced.
For the A in STAR, focus on one of Cialdini’s influencing tactics that you implemented. Even if you are not successful in
your attempts to influence, it is important to include what you have learned and reflected on, to improve for the future.
Employers value the ability to continuously learn, so it’s important to show you are able to reflect on your experiences
and use that knowledge to become more effective.
Supporting resources and links
See the Moodle website for supporting resources and links.
Instructions for video submission are on the following page.
10
How to submit video to Moodle Assignment using OneDrive
OneDrive
Step 1: Log into https://login.microsoftonline.com/ using zid@ad.unsw.edu.au and zpass
(same as Moodle login)
Step 2: Click on OneDrive
Step 3: Upload and/or access video file
Step 4: Once the file is uploaded, select copy link
Note: Ensure editing rights is set to ‘People in UNSW with the link can edit’
Moodle Assignment
Step 5: Select Moodle assignment submission box in the course Moodle site
Step 6: Select Add Submission
Step 7: Tick Individual Submission declaration statement
Step 8: Paste copied OneDrive link in the text box
Step 9: Select Save changes button.
Successful submission will update your status to: Submitted for grading
Note: The system allows you to edit/make changes to your submission up until the due date.
11
Assessment 3: Exam
Exam period
60%
Moodle Quiz
3.5 hours. This exam will have 2 sections. Section 1 will be 1.5. hours followed by break. Section 2 will be 1
hour. Sections 1 and 2 will take place on the same day.
Submit within the exam platform
Description of assessment task
Part 1: Capital and Accounting
Expected length: 1.5 hours.
This comprises of quantitative calculations and multiple-choice questions from the capital and accounting Weeks 7 to
10. Some questions will test fundamental knowledge, other questions require application of key concepts and/or
computation.
The supporting resources and links for this section of the exam will come from the asynchronous material, lecture,
tutorial and allocated textbook reading. Additional practice problems will also be made available.
Part 2: Combining organisational resources
Expected length: 1 hour
There will be a couple of short answer questions that ask you to showcase your knowledge about combining
organisational resources. These questions are based on Weeks 2-10 ‘Integration theme’ material in the lectures. You
will be required to be familiar with the entirety of the course materials across all four themes. Each question is
expected to have a response of between a paragraph and one page.
Submission instructions
More instructions will be provided during the final exam period on how to access and submit your exam.
UNSW Business School 12
Marking Rubrics
Assessment 1: Interview Skills Preparation
Note: Reflecting what occurs with job applications where communication is crucial, the materials will be read only once for marking.
Criteria % Fail
0% to 49%
Pass
50% to 64%
Credit
65% to 74%
Distinction
75% to 84%
High Distinction
85% to 100%
Question A answered with
COMM1170 knowledge
40% Does not choose an issue or it is
irrelevant, insignificant,
or unclear.
Chooses an internal issue, but
link to technology, people
and/or competitive advantage is
not clear.
Chooses an internal issue that is
linked to technology, people and
competitive advantage.
Chooses an internal issue that is
clearly linked to technology,
people and competitive
advantage.
Chooses an internal issue that is
clearly linked to technology,
people, competitive advantage
and global business trends.
Evidence based analysis
20% Very poor/no attempt to analyse
the issue; may omit or
misunderstand elements of the
5Ws or evidence missing.
Attempts to analyse the
issue but may miss
some components of the
5Ws or evidence. Further, may
lack evidence to influence.
Analysis of the issue using the
5Ws and evidence, though may
be lacking evidence to influence.
Attempts to appropriately
reference.
Clearly analyses the issue using
the 5Ws and reputable evidence.
Appropriately references.
Clearly and
persuasively analyses the
issue using the 5Ws with
reputable and varied evidence
that considers multiple
stakeholders. Provides
adequate references.
Communication
Clarity and balance of visual and
written communication for
influencing.
20% Unclear communication mainly
reliant on only visuals or text.
Incorrect spelling and/or poor
expression may frequently
hinder understanding of ideas
Unclear communication with
unbalanced approach to text
and visuals so unable to
understand the message.
Incorrect spelling and/or poor
expression at times.
Communication has a balance
of text and visuals.
Accurate spelling and
expression.
Communication has a balance
of text and visuals, is concise
and has limited persuasion.
Accurate spelling and
expression.
Concise and persuasive
communication of ideas with
text and visuals.
Accurate spelling and
expression.
Question B answered
Engaged in self-reflection with
COMM1170 tutorial experience
and knowledge of the STAR tool
20% Does not describe a relevant
influencing action taken or
result achieved.
Vaguely describes an
influencing action taken and
reflects on results
but reflection may be limited or
underdeveloped.
Adequately applies the STAR
technique to explain evidence
of a Cialdini influencing tactic
used in assessment team,
though it may
be somewhat unclear or
misinterpreted. Some
evaluation of outcomes from
influencing tactic employed.
Accurately applies the STAR
technique to explain relevant
evidence of a Cialdini
influencing tactic used in
assessment team. Balanced
evaluation of outcomes from
influencing tactic employed.
Persuasively applies the STAR
technique to explain specific,
relevant evidence of a Cialdini
influencing tactic used in
assessment team. Balanced
evaluation of outcomes from
influencing tactic employed.
Identifies personal limitations.
13
Assessment 2: Interview Skills Video
Note: Reflecting what occurs with job applications where communication is crucial, the video will be watched only once for marking.
Criteria % Fail
0% to 49%
Pass
50% to 64%
Credit
65% to 74%
Distinction
75% to 84%
High Distinction
85% to 100%
Application
of Technology toolkit
30%
Does not apply the Technology
resources toolkit to the case, or
application is inaccurate. May not
include a solution or it is irrelevant,
unclear, or confusing.
No supporting references are
provided
Applies the Technology resources
toolkit to the case with a solution,
but may be generic, vague, or
somewhat confusing.
Supporting references are lacking
Accurately applies the Technology
resources toolkit to the case with a
clear solution, though may lack
specificity.
Supporting references are limited
Accurately and insightfully applies
the Technology resources toolkit
to the case with a specific
solution.
Accurately and insightfully applies
the Technology resources toolkit
to the case with a specific solution,
demonstrating breadth and depth
of analysis.
Application of TOE
tool to assess
feasibility of
solution, with a
focus on the
People toolkit
30%
Does not apply the TOE feasibility
tool and People tools to their
specific solutions, or application is
inaccurate. Application may be
missing, or it is irrelevant, unclear,
or confusing.
Applies the TOE feasibility tool and
People tools to their specific
solutions but may be
generic, vague, or somewhat
confusing.
Accurately applies the TOE
feasibility tool and People tools to
their specific solutions, though
may lack specificity.
Accurately and insightfully applies
the TOE feasibility tool and People
tools to their specific solutions
Accurately and insightfully applies
the TOE feasibility tool and People
tools to the case to their specific
solutions, demonstrating breadth
and depth of analysis.
Communication 20% Unclear communication mainly
reliant on only visuals or text, or
unsupported by slides.
Incorrect spelling and/or poor
expression may frequently hinder
understanding of ideas.
Communication of spoken ideas
is confusing, and/or student may
be reading directly from the screen
throughout. No use of non-verbal
communication skills.
Unclear communication with
unbalanced approach to text and
visuals so unable to understand
the message.
Incorrect spelling and/or poor
expression at times.
Communication of spoken ideas m
ay be hesitant, lacking expression,
or evidently heavily reliant on a
script off-screen. Basic use of non-
verbal communication skills.
Communication has a balance of
text and visuals.
Accurate spelling and expression.
Mostly
professional communication
of spoken ideas though may lack
confidence or rely frequently on a
script. Some use of non-verbal
communication skills. Attempts to
appropriately reference.
Communication has a balance of
text and visuals, is concise and has
some persuasion.
Accurate spelling and expression.
Generally
confident and professional commu
nication of spoken ideas. Any
script reading is not obvious. Good
use of non-verbal communication
skills. Appropriately references.
Persuasive communication of
ideas with text and visuals.
Accurate spelling and expression.
Consistently confident,
convincing, and professional com
munication
of spoken ideas. Effective use of
non-verbal communication skills.
Provides adequate references.
Question B answered
Engaged in self-
reflection with
COMM1170
knowledge
20%
May not provide clear evidence, fail
to use the STAR technique, or no
reference to Cialdini influencing
skills.
Response does not demonstrate
any application of lessons learned
in assessment team.
Attempts to apply the STAR
technique to explain evidence of
influencing skills , but may be
vague, confusing, or not related to
a Cialdini influencing tactic.
Adequately applies the STAR
technique to explain evidence
of a Cialdini influencing tactic used
in assessment team, though it may
be somewhat unclear or
misinterpreted. Balanced
evaluation of outcomes from
influencing tactic employed.
Accurately applies the STAR
technique to explain relevant
evidence of a Cialdini influencing
tactic used in assessment team.
Balanced evaluation of outcomes
from influencing tactic employed
and identifies personal limitations.
Persuasively applies the STAR
technique to explain specific,
relevant evidence of a Cialdini
influencing tactic used in
assessment team. Balanced
evaluation of outcomes from
influencing tactic employed.
Identifies personal limitations and
steps for future self-development.
14
REVIEW OF RESULTS FORM
NAME:
ZID:
TUTORIAL AND TUTOR NAME:
CRITERIA (FROM MARKING
RUBRIC)
GRADE
RECEIVED
PROPOSED
GRADE
CORRESPONDING CRITERIA FOR PROPOSED
GRADE (COPY AND PASTE DIRECTLY FROM
MARKING RUBRIC)
JUSTIFICATION LINKED TO RUBRIC CRITERIA