6WBS0035/ 6WBS0036 Digital Economy CW1 Assignment Brief 2026 | UOH

6WBS0035/ 6WBS0036 CW1 Assignment Brief

Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding tested in this assignment:

• Analyse the range of different e-business models and strategies open to organisations
• Examine the range of digital economy solutions appropriate to an organisation’s strategic objectives

Skills and Attributes tested in this assignment:

• Communicate effectively developments in the digital economy and strategies to enable organisations to respond to it.

Transformational Opportunities

E.g. Use LinkedIn Learning to improve skills

• Case Studies of real-life scenarios and Problem-Based Learning: These activities help to engage students in critical thinking and decision-making.

Feedback /Marking criteria for this Assignment

• Performance will be assessed using HBS Grading Criteria and Mark scheme.
• Feedback for improvement will be given in writing via your Canvas module site within 4 weeks of submission
• Lateness Penalty: For each day or part day up to five days after the published deadline, coursework relating to modules submitted late will have the numeric grade reduced by 10 grade points until or unless the numeric grade reaches the minimum pass mark (UG 40/PG 50). Where the numeric grade awarded for the assessment is less than the minimum pass mark no lateness penalty will be applied. If the coursework is submitted more than 5 days after the published deadline, it will not be marked and a grade of zero will be awarded. Please note: Referred coursework submitted after the published deadline will be awarded a grade of zero (0).”
• Extensions: Students do not have an automatic right to an extension. If you require an extension, this must be requested in advance of the submission deadline. Please give your reason(s) for needing an extension.

Detailed Brief for Individual/Group Assessment

Assignment Title: Developing a Digital Strategy Proposal for a Multinational Corporation

Description of the assignment

In this assignment, you will take on the role of a Digital Strategy Consultant tasked with proposing a forward-looking digital strategy for a selected Multinational Corporation (MNC). The company must be headquartered in your continent of residence and actively engaged in digital transformation. Amazon, Walmart, and Tesla are excluded.

Task

You will submit a narrated presentation (video) in which you will present a comprehensive digital strategy proposal based on the concepts and models covered in the module.
Your presentation will focus on improving the company’s e-business activities, supply chain management, and customer engagement using digital tools and strategies.

You are not expected to critically evaluate current issues or operational risks in detail at this stage. That will be the focus of Assignment 2. Instead, you should demonstrate your understanding of digital business models, infrastructure, and strategic frameworks introduced in Units 1-5

Selecting the Multinational Corporation (MNC)

Choose an MNC headquartered in your continent of residence (eg Asia, Africa, Europe, etc), which also operates internationally. Amazon, Walmart and Tesla are EXCLUDED.

Research into the background of the selected MNC, including its organizational history, sector, and digital activities. consider what information is publicly available on the organisation e.g., through its website, news articles or other documentation. This should be through secondary sources; you should not approach or question the organisation direct.

Assignment Format

Narrated Presentation (10–12 minutes)

Presentation Content

• Introduction to the Company (1–2 mins)
  • Briefly introduce your chosen MNC.
  • Highlight its sector, global presence, and current digital footprint.
• Situation Analysis (2–3 mins)
  • Conduct a SWOT or PESTLE focused on digital factors.
  • Emphasise areas of opportunity for innovation in the digital economy.
• Proposed Digital Strategy (4–5 mins)Use your knowledge of digital business models, infrastructure, and strategy to:
  • Recommend new or improved e-business activities (e.g., m-commerce, digital sales channels).
  • Suggest ways to enhance supply chain integration or automation using digital tools.
  • Propose methods for improving customer experience (e.g., social media engagement, digital marketing, CRM).

  Use relevant frameworks such as: SOSTAC, Business Model Canvas, etc
  You are not required to evaluate operational issues in depth; focus on strategic enhancements and future opportunities.

• Implementation and KPIs (2–3 mins)
  • Suggest how your strategy could be implemented (e.g., timeline, milestones).
  • Identify 2–3 Key Performance Indicators to measure success (e.g., engagement rate, delivery time reduction, digital sales).
• Conclusion (1–2 mins)
  • Recap your proposal’s main points.
  • Briefly state how your strategy will strengthen the company’s digital position.

Submission Guidelines

• Length: Your narrated presentation should be between 10–12 minutes long.
• Format: You must submit two separate files:
  1. A YouTube link to your narrated presentation video (ensure the video is set to unlisted or public, not private). (refer to https://youtu.be/aKt5H4LCf5w?si=t_ogQg0gAU9yMp1J)
     YOUR FACE MUST BE VISIBLE IN THE PRESENTATION
  2. A copy of your PowerPoint or Google Slides file used in the presentation.
• Number of Slides: Please use a maximum of 10 content slides, not including the final reference slide.

Tips for Success

• Use concise, well-designed slides with minimal text.
• Speak clearly and professionally in your narration.
• Focus on strategy and innovation, not problem diagnosis.
• Treat your audience as company executives – be clear, persuasive, and forward-thinking.
• Amazon, Walmart and Tesla are EXCLUDED as an MNC that you can consider for this assignment.
• Choose a real organisation. Do not attempt to make one up or write about a very new start-up because it is difficult to identify the current strategy and digital activities they have.
• Take care to write in your own words and not cut-and-paste from module materials or from the organisation’s materials.

Further Guidelines

• Useful links on creating presentations:
  • How to Make a Recorded Presentation
  • PowerPoint Essential Training (CASE)
• Other useful contact on creating presentations: CASE-Technology@herts.ac.uk.
• Refer to the CASE presentation guidance to ensure you have a good mix of images, graphics, tables and text. See – https://herts.instructure.com/courses/104807/pages/presentations?module_item_id=2776491
• CW1 will be marked out of 100 and is worth 40% of the overall marks for this module.
• Use the marking scheme below to support your preparation and delivery of your presentation.

Academic Integrity including use of AI, Plagiarism, Essay Mills and other Academic Misconduct Offences

• In this assessment you are permitted to use genAI tools (or a proofreader or proofreading service) to proofread your work but not permitted to use AI tools in the creation of content for your work.
  To what extent can you use genAI tools or a proofreader or a proofreading service to help you with your assessment?
  Neither a proof-reader nor a proof-reading tool (whether genAI or not) can ever be used to make changes to your work directly; the proof-reader or proof-reading tool must only identify and draw attention to possible changes which you can then choose to accept or reject; this will ensure that you remain the author of your work.
  For clarity, where a proofreader, proofreading service or genAI tool is used, they/it may only:
  • identify spelling and typographical errors;
  • identify poor grammar;
  • highlight formatting errors or inconsistencies;
  • identify errors in labelling of diagrams, charts or figures;
  • identify areas for possible improvement;
  • highlight a sentence or paragraph where the meaning is not clear; or
  • draw attention to repeated phrases or omitted words.

  Additionally, you are required to reference the proofreader, proofreading service or genAI proofreading tool you have used.

• You are NOT allowed to copy any information into your assignment without using quotation marks and a reference – this is ‘plagiarism’ (a type of academic misconduct).
• You are NOT allowed to copy from other students (or allow other students to copy from you) – this is ‘collusion’.
• You are NOT allowed to copy from your own assignments on other modules – this is ‘self-plagiarism’.
• You must NEVER buy assignments from websites (essay mills) – this is called ‘contract cheating’ and it is now illegal in the UK.
• Contract cheating is a serious academic misconduct offence and also includes arranging for help with an assessment such that there is also reasonable doubt as to whose work the assessment represents. It extends to input from a fellow student, friend, relative, or any other person, artificial intelligence with or without payment of any kind.
• For all references use Cite it Right Harvard style.
• Unauthorised use of artificially generated material (AI) in researching or presenting material for an assessment is an academic misconduct offence if you use AI tools in producing your assessment unless the use of AI tools is expressly permitted. However, even if expressly permitted, where you do not declare that you have used an artificial intelligence tool(s) in the production of your assessment, or you are dishonest about the extent to which such tools have been used, you will have committed academic misconduct.
• If you commit academic misconduct, your mark will be reduced, or, depending on the severity of the offence you may get 1% for the assignment in question or 1% for the module, and get a disciplinary warning. Repeat offenders normally face disciplinary action.

Student Support and Guidance

• The module will contain a unit called Assignment 1 support where you will find templates and other useful material/advice.
• Tutorial sessions will have activities to aid your understanding and provide practice of the techniques required where applicable
• Contact academic-skills@herts.ac.uk if you are unsure of the rules or how to avoid academic misconduct, and you will receive help.
• Please see the UPRs relating to Academic misconduct here.
• Ask Herts information on the use of artificial intelligence tools https://ask.herts.ac.uk/ai-tools.
• For further help on module content and assignment details, contact your Module Leader in his or her drop-in / office hours or by email.
• Use the Learning Outcomes and HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric) to help inform you of the expectations of the assessment.
• Use CASE (Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement) website resources: http://go.herts.ac.uk/CASE. Attend CASE workshops and drop-ins to develop academic skills to meet HBS expectations (see timetable on CASE website homepage or drop-in to CASE in L064, in the LRC).
• Visit the Academic English for Business Programme Site for tips on developing your academic English and contact hbsacademic-english@herts.ac.uk if you have any questions.
• For help with Turnitin, look for the “Check your work (Turnitin Originality Report)” practice assignment in the Assignment section of all of your modules. For help with understanding plagiarism and how to make changes to your assignment, contact hbsacademic-english@herts.ac.uk.
• Use the Online Library to access quality business information resources:
  • Library Search will help you find books, journal articles and more.
  • Use the Subject Toolkit for Business to access to industry standard databases.
  • Use Library SkillUP for guidance for searching and referencing.
  • Get help: use SkilIUP module chat, visit the Study Success Hub, or book an 1:1 with a librarian.

Mark scheme (Rubric)

Marking Criteria 

Answer

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