Assignment3 – Academic literature review

Instructions:
You are required to develop an academic literature review that summarises the extent of knowledge in your chosentopic area and discipline, e.g. IMC, marketing, advertising, public relations, international business or related field. This review is underpinned and needs to address themanagerial or academic benefit statement that youidentified and refined in your earlier assignments.

Your review should be structured with the following sections:

Abstract (150 words – not part of the word count)
This is an opportunity to succinctly “sell” the merits of your literature review (i.e. how the work provides the stated benefits in your benefit statement. Use this section to help the reader understand key finding(s) and conclusion of your review.

1.  Introduction to the managerial/academic benefit issue and literature review
(1-2 pages)
This section should introduce yourmanagerial or academic benefit statementof interest, identify points that you have identified regarding the overall trends orthe key directions the research has taken in the topic area, and clarify the importance of the review to address your managerial or academic benefit statement. Ensure the reader knows what managerial or academic benefit statement you are going to address in this major piece of work.

2. Scope and review of the literature
Your review should demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the topic of interest and how each part contributes to addressing the managerial or academic benefit statement.  Note: you should break this major part of the review up into different sections and/or subsections to lead reader through your findings. So headings/sub headings are expected in this body of work. You should also do the following:

•    provide a critical evaluation of the literature, rather than merely describing previous literature;
•    ensure integration of the key concepts from the literature relating to the managerial or academic benefit statementyou have identified, rather than providing an annotated reference list;
•    identify key authors and the key works in the topic area;
•    cite the claims by the original authors’ (usually based on their empirical findings), rather than citations based on unsubstantiated claims or by other authors simply repeating or referring to the original claims;
•    clearlydemonstrate the position that you are taking arising from the evidence in the literature reviewed which is relevant to your stated managerial or academic benefit statement. (Sometimes there are conflicting thinking around a topic area on how best to approach it – if this is the case – you need to decide which side you are on.)

4. Conclusion and research objectives(1-2 pages)

Summarise the key findings of the review and clearly demonstrate how they addressyour stated managerial or academic benefit statement. Indicate evidence in your review, stating the benefits and why – where possible. Where possible address any limitations / omissions / or contradictions in your review  thatmay have importance to your managerial or academic benefit statement.

4.1 Research objectives:
During your review there was probably evidence of key areas that continue to need research (research gap that requires attention). Finaliseyour review with a discussion of how this topic of research could be extendedby identifying and explaining at least three (3) research objectives that could guide a future research project to further addressthebenefit statement and/or go beyond the issue you identified – in a more practical way (e.g. an actual piece of research).

Points to note: Section 4 should:
•    clearly link back to important areas of discussionidentifiedand expanded on in the literature review (use references to indicate links here);
•    clearly discuss any relationships between your findings in the reviewto your managerial or academic benefit statement that you are addressing in the literature review to demonstrate that you have provided information of importance to the target audience (i.e. Marketers, Public Relations Practitioners etc);
•    clearly sets out research objectives that would guide the development of a piece of empirical research tofurther address your managerial or academic benefit statement and/or go beyond the issue you identified in a more practical way.

5. Reference list (separate page): Provide full/correct citations for all articles used.It is expected that you will have used at least 25 references in this report. Can select Harvard or APA – but not a mixture.

Please enclose a copy of the marking criteria with your assignment (do not staple it to your assignment).

Appendices
You may use two (2) appendices to support your work – but each one should not be more than 1 page/single line spacing each in length.

Feedback procedure
The supervisor will provide feedback on the first assessment item for a clear direction of the final review.  The supervisor may provide verbal feedback and advice on the progress of the final review report for its improvement but will NOT make any corrections on the draft report.

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AMN404Readings in IMC                            Criteria Sheet – Assessment3

7    6    5    4    3    2-1
MARK    20 – 17
(100% – 85%)    16.75 – 15
(84% – 75%)    14.75 – 13
(74% – 65%)    13.75 – 10
(64% – 50%)        9.75 – 0
(46% – 24% – 0%)
Problem Identification, Research and Decision-Making

10 marks

Abstract

10 – 8.5    8 – 7.5    7 – 6.5    6 – 5        4.5 – 0
Abstract clearly and succinctly outlines the managerial/academic benefitissue, the key findings of the review, a research gap and research question. Within the word limit.     Abstract provides a good outline, including but might be missing one of the key points. Within the word limit.     In the abstract You have attempted to outline your managerial/academic benefitissue and key findings. Within the word limit.     You have outlined managerial/ academic benefitissue but little else. The section might read more like an introduction. Might not be within the word limit.        You either fail to provide an abstract, or the section is well outside the word limit.

20 marks

Introduction to the managerial/academic benefit issueand literature review
20 – 17    16.5 – 15    14.5 – 13    12.5 – 10        9.5 – 0
You provide a clear, strong,introduction to themanagerial / academic benefitissuefor your topic of interest. You succinctly outline general trends in the literature and define key constructs of importance. There are very good  links to the relevant literature.    You provide a clear introduction to themanagerial / academic benefitissuefor your topic of interest. You outline general trends in the literature and define key constructs of importance. There are good links to the relevant literature.    You provide a sound introduction to the topic of interest although it may not always be clearly linked to the managerial / academic benefitissue. Links to the relevant literature might not be clearly stated.    You attempt to introduce to the topic of interest although the links to your managerial / academic benefitissue are lacking. Links to the relevant literature might be weak and poorly stated.        You fail to introduce yourtopic or managerial / academic benefitissue, or you fail to demonstrate an understanding of how your literature review/variables etc relate to the managerial / academic benefitissueor topic of interest
Application and Evaluation

60 marks

Scope and review of the literature     60 – 51.5    51 – 45    44.5 – 39    38.5 – 30        29.5 – 0
Evidence of a thorough review of relevant academic literature through inclusion of a good range of articles from  the major authors and contributions to the field. Work identifies key issues relevant to the managerial / academic benefitstatement and topic. Your references clearly and consistently support the important points identified in this review. Up to date references are evident in the work.    You provide a broad review of relevant academic literature that identifies key issues relevant to the managerial / academic benefitissue and topic,through inclusion of some of the major contributions to the field. Your references provide good support the points identified in this review. Good attempt to locate up to date references.    While some key authors and contributions are included, the review does not demonstrate evidence of wide reading on issues relevant to themanagerial / academic benefitissueor topic. You might not have citedenougharticles.The focus of the literature may be either too broad or too narrow and not up to date.    The  review does not demonstrate evidence of wide reading on issues relevant to the  topic. You might not have cited the key authors in the area The focus of the literature is too general to address the managerial / academic benefitissueidentified. Yourliterature is not up to date on the topic.        You fail to demonstrate an adequate review of relevant literature to address the managerial / academic benefitissueidentified.  Literature is too general and reviewed at a very superficial level. You have many secondary source citations and/or far too many old references for the topic. May have used inappropriate sources (textbooks, Wiki, blogs, etc).

Continued on next page

(100% – 85%)    (84% – 75%)    (74% -r 65%)    (64% – 50%)        (46% – 24% – 0%)
7    6    5    4    3    2-1
Conclusion and research objectives

30 Marks

Conclusion and research objectives    30 – 25.5    25 – 22.5    22 – 19.5    19 – 15        14.5 – 0
Excellent work that draws the literature review to a conclusion. Work also clearly demonstrates how the review addresses the original managerial issue stated. Clear and logical identification of further research gaps or issues to be addressed. New research questions and future research objectives are very well focused to comprehensively extend the area of enquiry. Your assertions clearly link back to the literature review.    Very good work that draws the literature review to a conclusion. Work also demonstrates how the review addresses the original managerial issue stated. Clear and logical identification of further research gaps or issues to be addressed. New research questions and future research objectives are well focused to comprehensively extend the area of enquiry. Your assertions makesatisfactory links back to the literature review.    Overall, good work that draws the literature review to a conclusion. Work shows some suggestions of how it addresses the original managerial issue stated. Satisfactory identification of further research gaps or issues to be addressed. New research questions and future research objectives suggest ways toextend the area of enquiry. Your assertions generally link back to the literature review.
Satisfactory work that attempts to draw the literature review to a conclusion.  Work could be more explicit as to how it addresses the original managerial issue stated. Ideas for future research might not be clearly identified. Limited development of new research questions and future research objectives toextend the area of enquiry. Limited links back to the literature review.
Work fails to draw the literature review to a conclusion or to address the original managerial issue stated. Lack of Ideas for future research,limited attempt at development of new research questions and future research objectives toextend the area of enquiry. No links back to the literature review.
Professional Written Communication

10 marks

Presentation    10 – 8.5    8 – 7.5    7 – 6.5    6 – 5        4.5 – 0
Excellent work. You organise content clearly using appropriate structures in the work. Follows suggested format precisely. Free of grammatical /spelling errors. Word limit adhered to.Required number of articles used – citations in document and reference list are correct and in APA format.     Very good work. You organise content clearly and make few structural errors. Follows suggested format. Few grammatical/spelling errors. Word limit adhered to. Required number of articles used and citations in document and reference list are correct and in APA format.    Good work. You generally organise content well but make some structural errors.A number of  grammaticaland/or spelling errors, and does not follow suggested format satisfactorily. Word limit adhered to.Required number of articles used and citations in document and reference list are mostly correct and in APA format.    You organise content in a manner that may be difficult for the reader to follow at times. A number of structural and grammatical/spelling errors throughout. Word limit might not be adhered to.Limited articles used, significant errors in citations in document and reference list and/or does not follow the APA format.        You present content in an incoherent way and make frequent structural errors throughout paper.
Grammar and spelling needs attention. Word limit might not be adhered to.Limited articles used referencing in document and reference list is problematic.

Total marks____ / 130            Weighted mark  ____ / 60%                           Marker: ______________
(mark divided by 130 x 60)