HND Assignment Brief

Programme title

BTEC HND in Computing and Systems Development (CSD)

Unit number and title

Unit 3

Employability & Professional Development

Assignment number &

title

1 of 1

Employability & Professional Development

Assessor (s)

Mr Gasso W. Mwaluseke

Final submission
Deadline

12 - 17 January 2015
19 - 24 January 2015
Work submitted after the deadline, and within one week of the
deadline, will be marked from Pass grade unless extenuating
circumstances apply- see programme handbook for further
information. Work submitted later than one week after the deadline
will not be accepted.

Late submission
Deadline

Resubmission Deadline

TBA

Feedback

Feedback will be available within 3 to 4 weeks of the submission

date.

Evidence checklist
Check this carefully
to make sure you
hand in the right
work

General
Guidelines

Tick

We need to see:
1. All Tasks answers provided in required
format, word processed, cited with accurate
sources where required.
2. All supportive materials supplied in Appendix,
suitably titled and cross referenced to body of
text.

The work you submit must be in your own words. If you use a quote or
a illustration from somewhere you must give the source.
Include a list of references at the end of your document. You must give
all your sources of information.
Make sure your work is clearly presented and that you use correct
grammar.
Wherever possible use a word processor and its spell-checker.

Internal verifier

Dr M. J. Hasan

Signature (IV of
the brief) *

M. J. Hasan

Department of Information Technology

Date:

07/10/2014

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ICON College of Technology and Management

BTEC HND in Computing and Systems Development
(CSD)
Unit 03: Employability & Professional Development (L4)
Session: September 2014
Coursework

This Unit will be assessed by Assignments, Problem-solving and Presentation.

You are strongly recommended to read Preparation guidelines of the
Coursework Document (section 3) before answering your assignment.
The entire Coursework comprises (a) Assignment and (b) Problem-solving
Study & Presentation.

Assignment:
Case Study/ Scenario
A small IT market research company named APEX IT Solutions, consists of 6 people who are all
adept at dealing with the many and varied problems associated with conducting surveys, such as
designing the necessary computer software, briefing interviewers, etc. The company hires
interviewers for its surveys and the 6 permanent staff never carry out interviews themselves.
Recently, the company was asked to conduct a market research survey for a food manufacturer,
and details of the activities which the survey will involve are given below.
Activity A:
Activity B:

Design a Survey (6 weeks) and (5 number of staff required per week)

Print Questionnaire (2 weeks) and (1 staff required per week). Starts after A

Activity C:

Engage interviewers (2 weeks) and (3 staff required per week). Starts after A

Activity D:

Prepare Interviewer instruction sheets etc.(1 week) and (1 staff pw). Starts

after A
Activity E:

Set up computer software (2 weeks) and (2 staff pw). Starts after A

Activity F:
Activity G:
Activity H:

Brief Interviewers (1 week) and (2 staff pw). Starts after C and D

Test Computer Software (1 week) and (2 staff pw). Starts after E
Supervise field work (5 weeks) and (4 staff pw). Starts after B and F

Activity I:

Analyse results (3 weeks) and (5 staff pw). Starts after G and H

Activity J:

Prepare report (2 weeks) and (5 staff pw). Starts after I

LO1: Be able to take responsibility for own personal and professional development
CW1 Individual Personal & Professional Development
1.1 Reflect on own current skills and competencies against the IT Managers Main
responsibilities, Qualifications and Key Skills as specified in the Job description for
APEX IT Solutions.[P1.1]
1.2 Evaluate own development needs as an IT Manager at APEX IT Solutions and the
activities required to meet them.[P1.2, M1]
1.3 Devise a personal and professional development plan such as current performance,
future needs, SWOT based on identified needs IT Manager at APEX IT Solutions.
[P1.3]
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1.4

Reflects on own development as an IT Manager at APEX IT Solutions against original

aims and objectives set in your personal and professional development plan. [P1.4,
D1]

LO2: Be able to demonstrate acquired interpersonal and transferable skills

CW 2 Interpersonal & Transferrable Skills
2.1 Communicate in a variety of styles such as verbal and non-verbal , openness and
responsiveness , formal and informal feedback to and from colleagues at various level
in an appropriate manner such as personal effectiveness, working with others, use of
initiative, negotiating skills, assertiveness skills, social skills as an IT Manager at APEX
IT Solutions [P2.1]
2.2 Demonstrate effective time management strategies such as adopted prioritizing
workloads; setting work objectives; using time effectively; making and keeping
appointments and reliable estimates of task time as an IT Manager at APEX IT
Solutions [P2.2, D2]
LO3: Understand the dynamics of working with others
CW3 Dynamics of Working with Others
3.1 Analyze team dynamics such as informal and formal settings; discussing the roles
people play in a team specialist roles, such as skill and style/approach mixes and how
they can work together such as team building, identity, loyalty and commitment to
shared beliefs to achieve shared goals as an IT Manager at APEX IT Solutions [P3.1,
M2]
3.2

Discuss alternative ways to complete tasks such as setting standards, motivating,

innovative and responsive and achieve team goals as an IT Manager at APEX IT
Solutions [P3.2]

LO4: Be able to develop strategies for problem solving

CW4 Develop strategies for problem solving
4.1 Review tools and methods such as timescale, stages, resources and critical path
analysis for developing solutions to problems such as completing IT survey for all
levels of end users within the time set at APEX IT Solutions [P4.1]
Problem-solving Study:

Problem-solving Study Specification

4.2

Develop an appropriate strategy (use appropriate tools) for resolving the problem such
as such as stated below for APEX IT Solutions as explained in the case Study.

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You have been appointed as an IT project Manager for this project. You are required
to:
1. Determine the maximum number of weeks this project will take to complete
2. Determine the number of floats
3. Calculate the number of permanent staff (i.e. excluding interviewers) who will
be required for each week of the project, assuming that each activity starts as
early as possible.
4. Given the number of staff required, can the project be completed in the time
calculated above?
5. If one member of staff is ill from weeks 7 to 14, would the completion of the
survey be delayed? [P4.2, D3]
4.3

Evaluate whether the problem was solved or not; measure the solution against
specification and desired outcomes such as completing IT survey for all levels of end
users within the time set at APEX IT Solutions [P4.3]

An individual presentation of your work schedules in P4.2 and P4.3 will be required in
order to demonstrate some of the other attributes discussed in the Unit, including
communication skills. [M3]

.
Relevant information
1. General grading criteria of this coursework
Outcomes

Assessment criteria for pass

Questions reflecting
the outcome

LO1: Be able to take

responsibility for own
personal and
professional
development

LO2: Be able to
demonstrate acquired
interpersonal and
transferable skills

1.1 reflect on own current skills and competencies

against professional standards and organisational
objectives
1.2 evaluate own development needs and the
activities required to meet them
1.3 devise a personal and professional
development plan based on identified needs
1.4 reflect on own development against original
aims and objectives set in the personal and
professional development plan
2.1 communicate in a variety of styles and
appropriate manner
at various levels
2.2 demonstrate effective time management
strategies

LO3: Understand the

dynamics of working
with others

3.1 analyse team dynamics, discussing the roles

people play in a team and how they can work
together to achieve shared goals
3.2 discuss alternative ways to complete tasks and
achieve team goals

LO4: Be able to
develop
strategies for problem
solving

4.1 review tools and methods for developing

solutions to problems
4.2 develop an appropriate strategy for resolving
particular problem
4.3 evaluate the potential impact on the business of
implementing the strategy.

CW1/presentation

CW2/presentation

CW3/presentation

CW4/presentation

2. Grading Criteria for Merit and Distinction of this coursework

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Merit (M1, M2, M3)

Descriptors
Indicative characteristics
M1 - Identify and
Pass requirements achieved
apply strategies to
effective judgement have been
made
find appropriate
solution
an effective approach to study
and research has been applied
M2 - Select/design
A range of sources of
and apply
information has been used
appropriate
Appropriate learning
methods/techniques
methods/techniques have
been applied
M3 - Present and
A range of methods of
communicate
presentation has been used
appropriate findings
and technical language have
been accurately used
Communication is appropriate
for familiar and unfamiliar
audiences and appropriate
media have been used

Distinction (D1, D2, D3)

Descriptors
Indicative characteristics
D1 - Use critical
Pass and Merit
reflection to
requirements achieved
evaluate own work
Self criticism of approach
and justify valid
has taken place
conclusions
D2 - Take
Autonomy/independence
responsibility for
has been demonstrated
managing and
Activities have been
organising activities
managed
D3 - Demonstrate
convergent/lateral/c
reative thinking

Ideas have been generated

and decisions taken
Self evaluation has taken
place
Problems have been
solved

3. Preparation guidelines of the Coursework Document

a. All coursework must be word processed.
b. Document margins must not be more than 2.54 cm (1 inch) or less than 1.9cm (3/4 inch).
c. Font size must be within the range of 10 point to 14 point including the headings and body
text.
d. Standard and commonly used type face such as Times new Roman or Arial etc should be
used.
e. All figures, graphs and tables must be numbered.
f. Material taken from external sources must be properly refereed and cited within the text using
Harvard standard
g. Do not use Wikipedia as a reference.
h. Word limit must be strictly followed.
4. Plagiarism and Collusion
Any act of plagiarism or collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations. In
this context the definition and scope of plagiarism and collusion are presented below:
Plagiarism is presenting somebody elses work as your own. It includes copying information
directly from the Web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint coursework as
an individual effort.
Collusion is copying another students coursework; stealing coursework from another student
and submitting it as your own work.
Suspected plagiarism or collusion will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be
dealt with according to the college procedure.(For details on Plagiarism & Collusion please
see the student hand book)
5. Submission
a. Initial submission of coursework to the tutors is compulsory in each unit of the course.
b. Student must check their assignments on ICON VLE with plagiarism software TurnItIn to
make sure the similarity index for their assignment stays within the College approved level. A
student can check the similarity index of their assignment three times in the Draft
Assignment submission point located in the home page of the ICON VLE.
c. All Final coursework must be submitted to the Final submission point into the unit (not to
the Tutor). A student would be allowed to submit only once and that is the final submission.
d. Any computer files generated such as program code (software), graphic files that form part of
the coursework must be submitted as an attachment to the assignment with all
documentation.
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e.

The student must attach a tutors comment in between the cover page and the answer
sheets in the case of Resubmission.

6. Good practice
a. Make backup of your work in different media (hard disk, floppy disk, memory stick etc) to avoid
distress for loss or damage of your original copy.
7. Extension and Late Submission
a. If you need an extension for a valid reason, you must request one using a extenuating
circumstances request form available from the college exam office and ICON VLE. Please
note that the lecturers do not have the authority to extend the coursework deadlines and
therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension. The completed form must be
accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you being sick.
b. Late submission will be accepted and marked according to the college procedure. It is noted
that late submission may result in grading from PASS.
8. Submission deadlines
Initial Submission
Feedback given
Final Submission
Late submission
Submit to:

Week 12
Week 13
12 - 17 January 2015
19 - 24 January 2015

Online to the ICON VLE only

Department of Information Technology

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