Effective communication across different IT platforms in the workplace is essential. Businesses will use newsletters and bulletins to share ideas and information with managers and the workforce.

The purpose of this assessment is to explore issues that are currently affecting the business environment and to communicate the latest thinking and discussion points to a business audience.

You should choose either one of the following topics to investigate (we have or will have explored all of these during workshops this term).  There are some ‘hints and tips’ below for ideas and sources to get you started:

• Flexible working approaches

• The growth and impacts of the Sharing Economy

There are 2 Sections to this assessment:

• An e-newsletter.  You should use the Word template provided on Blackboard.

• References/source list.  A separate page (use section and page break to attach to the newsletter) that lists the sources used in Harvard format.

The e-newsletter (1,600 words)

The Business Audience for this assessment

For this e-newsletter, you should take the perspective and role of a Business Consultant providing an update to clients on the issues and challenges of your chosen focus topic.  It will be important to include some background to the topic,   the current situation and influences and at the end, some ideas or predictions as to how these issues may develop and change business or work practice.

A newsletter can be a mixture of facts (succinct and to provide background information), visual information to capture interest and in this instance, some forecasting or ‘what next’.

Your e-newsletter should include –

• The ‘What’ –  Definitions, succinct explanation;

• The current situation or context  with key facts – charts, statistics, infographics;

• Exploration of main issues – keep to 3/4 different sections/themes;

• Include implications for the future;

• Include links in the sidebar to relevant, credible and supporting material.

Separate to the newsletter, but incorporated at the end of your document;

• Harvard format Reference list of ALL sources used.

Your sources should also be referenced in the text of your newsletter in Harvard format.

The emphasis for this project is to demonstrate the ability to identify key issues, research the implications for organisations and translate this into an operational perspective.

To enable effective archiving, you should name your Document:

CBS2newsletter2017your name

Assignment submission should include ALL of the content of the assignment in ONE Word document (make use of page and section breaks to separate the elements):

1. Assignment cover page – found on Blackboard – Student admin – cover sheet folder.
2. Newsletter – use the Word template provided.
3. Reference list page(s) – list of sources in Harvard format.

These sections need to be ONE document for Turnitin.

NB the Reference list is outside the word count, as are charts and tables that you might include within the document.

Hints and Tips  – All of these topics will be reviewed in workshops Lent Term 2017

Flexible working approaches

 Smart technology provides significant benefits to organisations from a productivity perspective.  It also changes the nature of some jobs with new ways of working, such as remote working and working ‘on the move’. The opportunities to work in different ways also provides employers with flexible options in regards to contracts for their employees.  The standard eight-hour working shift or 9-5 format is changing significantly.

You could explore and examine:

• different contractual arrangements that are emerging, define and review flexible working practices;
• how work life is regulated – look at policies or possibly legislation that attempts to address how work is structured and managed;
• the challenges and opportunities these work practices offer for both employers/managers and for workers and review how businesses might adjust working patterns to attract and keep productive and motivated workers;
• the challenge of developing the new skills required to be competitive and productive.

The growth and impacts of the Sharing Economy

The Sharing Economy is a different form of business model.  It makes use of underutilised assets – Uber and Airbnb are two of the most well-known examples.

Your newsletter could:

• introduce and explain the business model that underpins these new businesses and define what is understood by the Sharing Economy;
• Analyse the scale and scope of the trend – issues /challenges;
• Review methods used for business start up and to promote investment in these businesses;
• Explore the responses of established businesses with traditional business models who operate in the same sectors as these new businesses.

Business Management Skills incorporated in this assignment:

• Information gathering and research – finding reliable and credible information, making sense of it and applying it to business context.
• Effective summarising and cross reference of information and sources.
• Following guidelines to produce an effective newsletter which informs a business audience.

Please also incorporate sources used during workshops and on Blackboard to help you explore these issues using reliable and credible information.