Achieving collaborative advantage

Faculty of Business Studies

Arab Open University

 Managing to Collaborate B325

 Short Tutor Marked Assignment (STMA) Spring 2020

 VERY IMPORTANT – General guidelines for Short Tutor Marked Assignment (STMA)

1. This Short Tutor Marked Assignment (STMA) is the replacement for the MTA. It is composed of TWO MANDATORY QUESTIONS.
2. You have 1 week to upload your answer on the LMS. The STMA is to be typed (Word document), not STMA DUE DATE: May 5, 2020.
3. In order to conduct your analysis, pick a local organizational collaboration, as specified in each the questions below.
4. The ultimate purpose of this choice is to allow you to develop your ability to use the conceptual frameworks, theories, practices, models and tools that you have studied in B325 and hence to apply them to real situations.
5. Higher marks will be awarded to answers that are analytical and that refer to examples from professional or personal life. Descriptive answers will receive lower marks.
6. Your discussion needs to be provided in an essay format (introduction, body and conclusion)
7. STMA word count: 1200 words +/- 10%

Answer the following TWO QUESTIONS by referring to course material and examples from your professional or personal experience.

 Question 1 (50 Marks)

 All successful collaborations aim to achieve collaborative advantage. This, however, is not easily realised. Based on the course material, and using examples from your professional or personal life:

•  Discuss the bases for achieving collaborative advantage;
•  Discuss the types of goals that need to be set to achieve collaboration aims;
• Outline when these goals might lead to collaborative inertia and identify which might lead to harmful outcomes. 600 words.

Question 2 (50 Marks)

Positive outcomes are not always an end result for collaborations. Collaborations might be set on two-legged outcomes from the start. Accordingly, setting aims is not enough by itself. Managing aims is regarded as essential for better collaborative results. In the context of a local organizational collaboration of your choice, discuss the importance of managing aims and how the presence of some elements might generate negative episodes that a collaboration can face. Support your discussion with examples. 600 words.

Hint: you need to provide your discussion in an essay format. Make sure NOT TO PROVIDE A DESCRIPTIVE ANSWER; take an analytical approach to the discussion and support your answer with examples from your professional and/or personal experience.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS

1. Cut-off date: May 5, 2020.

1. Course material:

• Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. Students can refer to other course material if needed.

1. Format/presentation (including PT3 form): You are expected to write your answers in essay format. You may, however, use bullet points, diagrams, tables, or any graphs to support your arguments. Failing to do so could result in grade deduction from presentation marks up to 5 marks.

1. Plagiarism: Your submitted STMA will be uploaded on Turn-It-In. It’s imperative that you write your answers using your own words. Plagiarism will be penalized depending on its severity and according to AOU plagiarism policy (Enclosed after these instructions you will find the Arab Open University rules of cheating and plagiarism).

1. Word count: Your answers are expected to be within the specified word count. A 10% deviation from word count limit is acceptable. Not adhering to specified word count could result in grade deduction from word count marks up to 5 marks.

1. Referencing:  You are expected to use the Harvard referencing style for in-text referencing and list of reference at the end. In addition, although text books assigned in the course may be used freely as references. It is recommended that you use a minimum of 1 external source. It is also recommended that you use scholarly studies found in the E-library link at the LMS.

The Arab Open University Rules about Plagiarism

 The Arab Open University Definitions of cheating and plagiarism

According to the Arab Open University By-laws, “The following acts represent studies of cheating and plagiarism:

• Verbatim copying of printed material and submitting them as part of TMAs without proper academic acknowledgement and documentation.
• Verbatim copying of material from the Internet, including tables and graphics.
• Copying other students’ notes or reports.
• Using paid or unpaid material prepared for the student by individuals or firms.
• Utilization of, or proceeding to utilize, contraband materials or devices in examinations.”

Achieving collaborative advantage

Examples of Plagiarism

Copying from a single or multiple sources, this is where the student uses one or more of the following as the basis for the whole, or a good part, of the assignment:

1. Published or unpublished books, studies or reports
2. The Internet
3. The media (e.g. TV programmes, radio programmes or newspaper studies)
4. An essay from an essay bank
5. A piece of work previously submitted by another student
6. Copying from a text which is about to be submitted for the same assignment.

CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR ORDER