Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment
Semester 2 2020
This assignment is worth 20% (20 marks) of the total assessment for this course.
The assignment requires reflecting and critically analyzing the financial report of a company – as assigned to your group in tutorial – and summarizing your reflection in a video report to be submitted for assessment.
What you need to do for the Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment
The video report (including the minutes and the reference list) is worth 20% of your total Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment
Important: This is a group assignment, hence all the group members are expected to contribute to the meetings and the video report (i.e. every member of the group is required to present a part of the video). While the norm is that all group members will receive the same mark, marks may be adjusted if it is noted that a group member has contributed at a standard that is higher or lower than the rest of their group members. The decision will be made based on the content of the minutes.
For tips on video reports, please refer to the RMIT Learning Lab: https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/reports-0
THE VIDEO REPORT:
The video should contain recoding of presentation of the group in front of the camera of your laptop, mobile phone or tablet. The duration of the presentation must not exceed 10 minutes. All the members of the group are required to talk during the video.
You can prepare notes beforehand to use while shooting the video.
When shooting the video report, you can have different shooting options (and you can be creative in the way you present your report on camera).
The members of the group (taking turns) may want to speak directly to the camera reading from your notes; or they may speak straight to the camera; or the group can set up an interview situation (since you have questions to answer in the assignment).
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO:
Once you have your final version of the recorded video, one member of the group should upload the video as UNLISTED on YouTube. An Unlisted video on YouTube means your video will not come up in search results or on your channel either. Only those who know the link can view it, and you can share the link with anyone, even those who do not have a YouTube account/username.
ATTENTION: your RMIT email credentials should be used to enter and create an account on YouTube; this will give you access to your YouTube channel where you can upload the group’s video. Remember to upload the video as UNLISTED.
Once YouTube has processed the video, you will be given the link to share this video with others.
Finally, copy the YouTube link on a Word file, which you need to submit with the Minute logs and the References.
OTHER TIPS and SUGGESTIONS on how to make a video report will be provided on Blackboard.
Only one person from the group is permitted to upload the assignment (Youtube link file; Minute logs; reference list). The group must decide who will take on this responsibility.
In the Assessment tasks folder on Blackboard, on Group assessment task – video report you will find instructions for submission and the Blackboard Link for submission as well. The assignment will not be marked if the group’s representative has not uploaded it on Blackboard.
If you wish to apply for an extension of time you must apply in writing to the Course Coordinator before the stated submission date. Extensions to submission deadlines beyond 7 days are allowed only as a result of a successful application for Special Consideration.
Unless an extension has been granted, penalties to the assessment will be applied.
All assignments will be marked as if submitted on time, then the mark awarded will be reduced by 10% for each day (or part of a day) it is late. For example, if an assignment is worth 20 marks and is submitted one day late, the penalty is 10% of 20 marks, which is 2 marks.
Assignments overdue by 7 days or more will not be marked and will be awarded a mark of zero.
Assignments that exceed the time limit by more than 10% will attract a marking penalty that is 5% of the total available marks. As the time limit is 10 minutes, you can only exceed by 1 minute. If the minutes in excess are more than 1 minute, you will incur a penalty of 5% of the total mark.
All sources of information must be acknowledged using the Harvard (author-date) referencing system. A reference list must be included.
Please refer to the Library Referencing Guidelines:
For tips on referencing, please refer to the RMIT Learning Lab:
You are required to provide a list of references as part of this assessment.
If you provide any reference of IFRS or AASB accounting standards, the textbook, any other books or articles in your answers, you must provide appropriate reference to your source, using the Harvard Style of referencing system . Please note that when citing an annual report viewed on company’s website, either by paraphrasing or using direct quotes, you must reference the annual report (in your reference list) according to the following format: Name of company. (Year of publication) Title of annual report (in italics), date viewed, link to the report. For example
Wesfarmers Limited 2015, Sustainability report 2015, Wesfarmers Limited, viewed 18 April 2019, <http://sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au/>.
Penalties for inadequate or incorrect referencing will apply (see rubric). You should refer to the referencing guidelines provided.
Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment Tasks
Obtain the annual reports for FY 2015-16 and FY 2014-15 of the company that was assigned to your group by your tutor.
In your video report you need to take into consideration and discuss the following 4 points:
Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment Grading Rubric
Criteria | Unsatisfactory | Needs Improvement | Good | Excellent | Mark |
Depth and accuracy of the report | – The report fails to address with accuracy most of the questions on the reporting – The research presented does not respond to the questions – The responses are not current and from reliable sources | – Some of the materials presented in the report are relevant – There is a lack of accuracy and precision in the given responses – The responses are not all relevant but is from reliable sources | – Most of the materials presented in the report is relevant – There is general accuracy and precision in the given responses – Most of the responses are relevant and from reliable sources | – All the materials presented in the report is relevant – There is high level of accuracy and precision in the given responses – All the responses are highly relevant and from reliable sources | |
0-1 mark | 2-3 marks | 4-5 marks | 6 marks | ||
Ability to synthesise information into coherent and pertinent response(s) | – The responses lack clarity – The information is not coherent with the questions | – The report addresses most of the questions on the financial reporting with accuracy but lacks some clarity – The responses at times lack relevance and/or some of them are erroneous | – The report addresses most of the questions on financial reporting with accuracy – The responses are mostly relevant and pertinent with questions | – The report addresses clearly and accurately all the questions on financial reporting – The responses are highly relevant and well constructed. | |
0-1 mark | 2 marks | 3 marks | 4 marks | ||
Ability to present on camera and deliver a clear message | – Significant improvements in the presentation of the report are needed – The report is not easy to understand – Not all responses have been included | – Improvement is needed in the report presentation – The report is not easy to understand – All responses are included but some are not well delivered | – The report is mostly professionally presented – The report is fairly easy to understand -All responses are included and most of them are well constructed | – The report is professionally presented in all its duration – The report is highly relevant and easy to understand – All responses are included and are very well constructed | |
0-1 mark | 2-3 marks | 4-5 marks | 6 marks | ||
Ability to present information making proper use of the technical language | – Little or no attempt has been made to use technical language and professional terminology – The responses are not clear to read | – While some attempt has been made to use technical language and professional terminology, there is a general inaccuracy in the use of it. – The responses are somehow clear to read | – There is a general use of technical language and professional terminology. – The responses are fairly clear to read | – There is an excellent and proficient use of technical language and professional terminology. – The responses are very clear and straightforward to read | |
0-1 mark | 2 marks | 3 marks | 4 marks | ||
Deduct up to 2 marks for incomplete or incorrect acknowledgment of sources in the Reference List | |||||
Deduct 2 marks for the submission of incomplete Minutes, 4 marks for non-submission of Minutes | |||||
Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment Total Mark (out of 20) |
Financial Accountability and Reporting Research Assignment