MBA622Comprehensive Healthcare Strategies
Table of Contents
Assessment 1 Information
Subject Code: | MBA622 |
Subject Name: | Comprehensive Healthcare Strategies |
Assessment Title: Assessment Type: Length: | Industry Sector Analysis Individual written report 1500 words (+/- allowable range) |
Weighting: | 25% |
Total Marks: Submission: | 100 Online |
Due Date: | Week 5 |
Your task
Students are to write a 1500-word report that analyses an industry segment of the Australian Healthcare sector based on the below selection of sectors.
Assessment Description
This assessment provides students with an opportunity to research and analyse a particular healthcare segment to gain an initial insight into the opportunities and challenges that currently exist for organisations that deliver healthcare services in Australia in that segment. Students will present that research and analysis in the form of a formal report which requires students to adhere to a report structure including an Executive Summary.
Assessment Instructions
Students are to investigate an industry segment of the Australian healthcare sector and examine and evaluate its model of operations and growth over the last ten years. Recommended industry segments include:
- General public hospitals
- General practices
- Private hospitals
- Specialist medical services
- Pathology or diagnostic imaging services
- Dentistry or other related services
- Oncology services
- Mental health services
- Allied healthcare services
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Aged care
However, students are encouraged to determine the scope of their analysis in consultation with their lecturer. Assessments 2 and 3 will build on the initial analysis undertaken in Assessment 1.
This consultation should take place to help guide students to think ahead. Choosing an industry segment where information cannot be easily found will make the task of analysis much more difficult not only for this assessment but may require students to change their chosen industry for the subsequent Assessments 2 and 3.
The industry analysis must be in report form and should present appropriate criteria or business analysis tools as a framework in which to identify and analyse the challenges and opportunities confronting the segment. It should draw from a range of government and academic sources, as well as industry reports. It should cover:
- A definition of the industry, outlining its main activities
- An overview of the competitive landscape, identifying and describing major competitors or organisations within the segment and their business models
- Industry trends, presenting an overview of operating conditions and factors influencing operating conditions
- Ethical issues faced within the industry
Your analysis should focus on the broader environmental factors influencing operations within the sector. The report may also include charts or diagrams, which are not included in the word count.
The findings presented in this report must be based on scholarly and peer-reviewed sources of information that were published no longer than 5 years ago and relevant to the field of strategic healthcare. These sources must be presented in the report in the form of in-text citations and a reference list adhering with Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style. Wikipedia and other ‘popular’ sites are not to be used.
Assessment Submission
This file must be submitted as a ‘Word’ document to avoid any technical issues that may occur from incorrect file format upload. Uploaded files with a virus will not be considered as a legitimate submission. MyKBS will notify you if there is an issue with the submitted file. In this case, you must contact your workshop facilitator via email and provide a brief description of the problem and a screenshot of the MyKBS error message. You are also encouraged to submit your work well before the deadline to avoid any possible delay involving the Turnitin similarity report or any other technical difficulties.
Late assignment submission penalties
Penalties will be imposed on late assignment submissions in accordance with Kaplan Business School “late assignment submission penalties” policy.
Number of days | Penalty |
1* – 9 days | 5% per day for each calendar day late deducted from the total marks available |
10 – 14 days | 50% deducted from the total marks available. |
After 14 days | Assignments that are submitted more than 14 calendar days after the due date will not be accepted, and the student will receive a mark of zero for the assignment(s). |
Note | Notwithstanding the above penalty rules, assignments will also be given a mark of zero if they are submitted after assignments have been returned to students |
*Assignments submitted at any stage within the first 24 hours after the deadline will be considered to be one day late and therefore subject to the associated penalty
For more information, please read the full policy via https://www.kbs.edu.au/about-us/school-policies
Important Study Information
Academic Integrity Policy
KBS values academic integrity. All students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Academic Integrity and Conduct Policy.
What is academic integrity and misconduct? What are the penalties for academic misconduct? What are the late penalties?
How can I appeal my grade?
Click here for answers to these questions: https://www.kbs.edu.au/about-us/school-policies
Word Limits for Written Assessments
Submissions that exceed the time limit by more than 10% will cease to be marked from the point at which that limit is exceeded.
Study Assistance
Students may seek study assistance from their local Academic Learning Advisor or refer to the resources on the MyKBS Academic Success Centre page. Click here for this information.
MBA622 Assessment 1 Marking Rubric – Industry Sector Analysis 25%
Marking Criteria ( /100) | F (Fail) 0 – 49% | P (Pass) 50 – 64% | C (Credit) 65 – 74% | D (Distinction) 75 – 84% | HD (High Distinction) 85 -100% |
Presents a clear overview of the industry segment, including the business models of competitive players /16 marks | Does not present an overview of the segment, or clearly identify organisations operating within the segment | Identifies and provides a basic overview of the industry segment, identifying key competitive players. | Presents a sound overview of the segment, identifying key players within the competitive landscape and outlining their business models | As with credit, offering a concise analysis of the key competitive player’s position within the market | As with distinction, offering further analysis of risks and future trends within the segment as they relate to the position of key competitive players |
Presents and applies appropriate tools for the identification and analysis of environmental factors /16 marks | Does not identify and/or attempt to apply any business analysis tools | Identifies some business analysis tools, with limited to no application | Presents a range of relevant business analysis tools | Presents and applies a range of tools to form a framework for analysis, also offering some justification for their inclusion. | Presents and applies a range of tools to form a framework for analysis, with a strong business rationale and/or theoretical basis for the framework |
Identifies environmental factors influencing operating conditions /16 marks | Does not identify and/or attempt to identify environmental factors influencing operating conditions | Identifies up to three environmental factors demonstrating relevance to the industry segment and some appropriate business examples | Identifies at least four environmental factors demonstrating relevance to industry segment and some appropriate business examples | As with credit, offering a justification of each factor’s inclusion in the report | As with distinction, offering a strong rationale for the inclusion of each factor in the report |
Analyses industry trends, identifying challenges and weaknesses confronting organisations within the chosen segment. /16 marks | Does not discuss trends; identity and/or attempt to identify challenges and weaknesses related to the segment | Broadly discusses industry trends; proposes challenges and weaknesses confronting the Australian health system, with limited discussion | Presents a discussion of industry trends, identifying and analysing challenges and weaknesses that are specifically confronting the chosen industry segment | As with credit, offering analysis on current and future operating conditions. | As with distinction, offering both analysis and suggesting strategies for addressing challenges and weaknesses |
Discusses ethical issues /16 marks | Does not discuss or attempt to discuss relevant ethical issues | Offers some general discussion of ethical issues faced by the Australian health system | Clearly identifies and discusses ethical issues, highlighting their relevance specifically to the industry segment | As with credit, offering business justification for the inclusion of these issues in the industry analysis | As with distinction, offering further analysis of strategies employed to address these ethical issues |
The analysis clearly and logically presented and format meeting business standards and KBS guidelines. /5 marks | The industry analysis is poorly organised and difficult to follow. | The industry analysis is adequately organised but is not of the standard of a professional presentation. | The industry analysis is clearly organised and of an acceptable professional standard. | The industry analysis is organised with a clear and logical structure and of a high, error-free professional standard. | The industry analysis uses a sophisticated and clear structure, with engaging written and visual content, and is of a high error-free professional standard |
Appropriate theory and research used to answer question posed /5 marks | Industry analysis contains insufficient evidence of research and does not refer to relevant theory. | Industry analysis contains limited evidence of research and refers to the theory with some links to the topic. | Industry analysis contains evidence of research and the inclusion of appropriate theory to form a rationale. | Industry analysis contains evidence of sound research and includes a range of appropriate theories to form a rationale. | As with distinction, and industry analysis seamlessly integrates research and theory. |
The correct academic writing style used, including correct spelling, grammar and punctuation /5 marks | Multiple errors in grammar, sentence structure, and/or spelling. | Some errors in grammar, sentence structure, and/or spelling. | Few errors in grammar, sentence structure, and/or spelling. | No errors in grammar, sentence structure, and/or spelling. | As with distinction, with a business-appropriate and sophisticated academic writing style. |
In-text referencing and reference list follows Harvard style and consistent with KBS guidelines /5 marks | Neither in-text referencing nor reference list adheres to Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style. | In-text referencing or the resultant reference list adheres to Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style but with several errors. | Both in-text referencing and the resultant reference list adhere to Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style but with several errors | Both in-text referencing and the resultant reference list adhere to Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style but with only occasional minor errors. | Both in-text referencing and the resultant reference list adhere strictly to Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style, with no errors. |
Feedback and grades will be released via MyKBS |