1. The Work Place Report June 2018

2. Essential details Length of report is 5,000 words
Submission of draft work is Friday 27 July… this is to be in Word
Submission of final work: Thursday 24 August
Final submission is in pdf
All submissions to me
Susan:

3. Presentational skills
An abstract is… this is different from the introduction
A table of contents is required
A summary/conclusion is required
Word-processed (with English UK spelling and grammar. Pre-set the spell check default in electronic submission)
The text size should be 12 point Arial and typed with 1.5 line spacing, except for the abstract and any quotations which should be single spaced

4. Page and figure numbering
All pages should be numbered
Sections and subsections should be numbered e.g.
Introduction
Background
Report aims and objectives
Report structure
All figures and tables should be numbered consecutively with the sources given

5. The task: write an academic report
Conventional academic report writing: your report should be structured as follows:
- Cover page
- Abstract
- Table of Contents
- List of figures/tables
- Abbreviations
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Company and job role
- 3. Methodology
- 4. Analysis and critical discussion
- 5. Personal reflection
- 6. Summary and conclusion
- 7. Reference list

6. Style and referencing
Referencing: all work except the law module coursework must be follow the Harvard system of referencing: see London Met’s short and full guides (both on the intranet)
Your report should be written in from the third person perspective, except in section 5 - where you should reflect on your role and personal development and write this in the first person (I/me etc.). 
All figures and tables should be labelled and the original source cited (including page number if copied direct from source/or without any modifications).

7. Authorities and methodology
What you say must be supported by authority
Primary and secondary authority
Methodology: how you find out your information/conduct your research
Using literature and theory

8. The aims of the report The value of work experience on a BSc
The WPR should link in academic work with workplace… why?!
To use and relate your academic work
To develop your personal/professional qualities
To develop a more analytical understanding of how your organisation works… why?

9. Organisation/direction of the report
Principal products/services of the company and their characteristics (what are these?)
The main markets served… why this is important: analysing market characteristics
The main sources of competition
Types of technology involved
Historical development of the company
Mission statement and declared objectives…

10. … continued Financial structure Communication and information systems
Management style-values and priorities, responsiveness to external change and management succession (etc.)

11. And it may include…
The Report may also be expected to show the impact of
Political changes
Government measures and policies
Changing social attitudes on the market – either in general or specifically that market supplied by the organisation
Changes in the industry to which the business belongs

12. Academic/other theories: essential
Your discussion may compare theory studied with operational practice
You will need to support arguments/ideas and suggestions by theory:
Primary authority… e.g. the law, organisational statements, company accounts, fact-sheets…
Secondary authority… published discussion, which contributes to a debate

13. The abtract
Why are we writing the report/what gap to fill/how did we do the research/what did we learn/what are the implications?
The abstract summarises the entire discussion, in that it:
Outlines purpose of report and its research methods
Outlines the findings and recommendations
It is NOT the introduction….!

14. The introduction
Should introduce both the company and your role within the company
Needs to set out the specific objective of the report… which is- ?!
What are the key areas of focus of the report?
Should provide an overview of the report structure, contents and method of analysis
Needs to show how it will proceed to explore the topic/subject matter being discussed

15. Research and referencing
Use the Harvard referencing style… take time to proof and ensure that sources are correct
Citation… essential to substantiate research
A good range of literature is needed… and use Academic journals for top-class marks- why?
Link your own knowledge to the relevant theoretical underpinning to substantiate…
And to be able to give critical analysis.

16. Methodology Why and how? Essential questions
Use appropriate theoretical model(s)… and justify why you have used them… how to justify? Support from academic texts.
Examples of models for showing how/why you conducted your research: SWOT; Porter’s, PESTLE; fishbone; etc.
So – how you analysed your evidence!

17. Finally… good luck!
Get writing and get that draft in!