Issue Study Information: The deregulation of trading hours
Carefully read this information which outlines the new task which you must work on during weeks 9-11 in Term 1, and during the holidays.
Assessment Type 3: Issues Study
The issues study is weighted at 20%.
Students undertake the issues study in which they identify and investigate a theme, development, or current issue in business and enterprise. Students must identify, select, analyse, and evaluate primary and secondary sources of information about the trend, development, or issue and make recommendations based on their findings.
The issue study we will pursue this year is about the proposed changes to trading hours as outlined recently in the media.
This is clearly a contentious issue with some groups agreeing and others against the changes. The groups agreeing could be broadly characterised by business owners and associations, while those against the changes are the workers and their representatives. Customers are also very interested in this issue. This issue potentially involves the major political parties who may support one side or the other, and the unions.
You should begin to research this area through the use of Australian media articles and other sources.
This is an issue that has created lots of interest in the business world and society in general, and you should search for recent newspaper and other media articles to use as sources of information. These articles often discuss what the trend means, and the impact of this trend on existing business, employees, society and other stakeholders, such as customers, government and unions. You should also research other secondary sources of information such as magazine articles, texts (including school texts) and the internet.
You should also undertake primary research on a number of existing businesses / workers / customers / others that may be affected by this trend. You will need to ask them relevant questions about the impact this issue will have on them, the benefits and / or the disadvantages, and how they will respond to this change in the business environment.
You should also ask a range of people (employees, business owners and customers) about this issue. A survey would be a good idea here.
The following is from the curriculum statement…
The following approach is recommended:
· an introductory statement outlining the business trend, development, or issue
· a summary of the investigation process undertaken
· an analysis, a synthesis, and an evaluation of primary and secondary sources of information
· justified conclusions and recommendations
· appropriate acknowledgment of sources.
The issues study should be a clear, concise, and polished piece of writing of a maximum of 1500 words.
For this assessment type, students provide evidence of their learning primarily in relation to the following assessment design criteria:
· knowledge and understanding
· analysis and evaluation
· communication.
The following is based on the SACE website support materials…
Assessment conditions
Prepare an analytical research report, up to a maximum of 1500 words, on your findings, which should include justified conclusions and recommendations and which analyses this issue to date.
Use a range of sources of information (primary and secondary) and appropriately acknowledge those sources.
Include support materials in an appendix to your report. You are encouraged to relevant include statistics, diagrams and figures.
You will need to format this report as a formal business report including the following aspects:
· Title Page
· Table of Contents
· List of Figures – as is appropriate to your report
· Executive Summary
· Body with headings – as is appropriate to your report, consistent layout and page numbering
· Bibliography using the correct bibliographical conventions
· Appendixes – as is appropriate to your report
Issues Study Format (to be used with the information above)
Introduction / Executive Summary
This is a statement about what the report is about…state what this issue is and how you have investigated it, and what groups (businesses, employees and customers) have been examined.
A suggested structure for the body of the report…
· an introductory statement outlining the business trend, development, or issue
Begin by clearly identifying the issue that you are examining. Make clear your understanding of it (ie what does the deregulation of trading hours mean)? Explain the various stakeholders who will be affected by the changes.
· a summary of the investigation process undertaken
Clearly explain the methods you used to investigate this issue (outline your use of primary and secondary resources. (Hopefully you will use media reports, newspaper articles, surveys, interviews, and texts).
· an analysis, a synthesis, and an evaluation of primary and secondary sources of information
In this section you summarize and discuss all the various views and opinions that you found in your research from all the stakeholders…business, employees, general public, government etc
· justified conclusions and recommendations
You should then have a section of justified conclusions and recommendations…What did you find? Try to concisely sum up the 2 major sides to this issue…the side that agrees with the changes and why, and the side that disagrees and why.
Then you should have your say…what do you think? To what extent do you agree or disagree with the changes. What recommendations would you make?
BTW…
Economic impacts are those which affect the level of production and employment and wealth in Australia, income levels, tax implications, profits and the impact on businesses.
Social impacts might refer to how these changes may affect our society and our way of life. It may examine impacts on individuals and families, on recreation and social time, on, for example the ability to watch your kids playing sport on Saturdays, or go to church on Sunday, or to be home at night with your family etc.
Ethical impacts may refer to whether these changes are fair and justified. Are they ‘right?’ Who wins and who loses?
What should I do Now?
Start finding and reading newspaper articles about the proposed changes and their impacts.
Find secondary information about present trading hours, and what the proposed deregulation would entail.
Create a series of questions to ask businesses / business owners about the proposed changes and its impacts.
Design a survey for workers and the general public (ie just about anyone) about the issue and its advantages and disadvantages, whether they agree ETC.
Research this issue!
When you have finished your primary and secondary research, start to write up your issues study in the format that is recommended (above).
