Four Essays on Current Business Topics and Challenges

Graduate employability prospects

This assignment consists of two essays that effectively address two different questions. The style of writing required for this essay is the cause and effect method of developing your paragraphs.

This assignment requires you to conduct in-depth research by visiting the university Digital Library to obtain relevant information from journals, The Economist and broadsheet newspapers to address two of the questions below.

Question 1: Explain two challenges facing graduate employability prospects in meeting the needs and expectations of employers. What are personal attributes, skills, and knowledge most needed by graduate students to perform well in their professional career prospects? Justify why these skills are valuable in the workplace.

Assessment criteria

• Explain how a relevant current affairs topic could influence a graduate’s career development choices and goals

• Ability to write in an academic manner.

Points to consider

There is an expectation that you address all the following points below:

• Provide a clear meaning of key concept (employability).

• Explain two main 21st century skills and two personal attributes that make you employable and justify why they are valuable in the workplace.

• Explain how you would develop one or more of these skills to be ready for the future workplace.

Question 2: Describe two challenges currently facing UK SMEs in going global and suggest possible solutions to overcome these challenges.

Assessment criteria

• Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of how the external world impacts on business decision making.

• Ability to write in an academic manner.

Points to consider

There is an expectation that you address all the following points below:

• Provide a clear meaning of the key concept (SME).

• Identify two major challenges that can stop an SME going global?

• What might be the possible solutions to overcome these challenges?

Question 3: Explain two key reasons why the gender pay gap might exist in the labour markets. How does it affect UK businesses and the economy?

Assessment criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of how the external world impacts on business

decision making.

• Ability to write in an academic manner.

Points to consider

There is an expectation that you address all the following points below:

• Provide a clear meaning of the key concept (gender pay gap).

• What are the two key reasons why the gender pay gap might be a challenge for business?

• What might be the benefits and effects of gender pay gap reporting for businesses?

Question 4: Explain how technological innovation has made business more productive and competitive in the global marketplace. Using a real businessas an example, explain potential benefits to the business.

Assessment criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of how the external world impacts on business decision making.

• Ability to write in an academic manner.

Points to consider

There is an expectation that you address all the following points below:

• Provide a clear meaning of the key concept (technology and innovation).

• What is the impact of technologies such as robotics/or social media on business performance? Use a real business to address this question.

• What are the potential benefits of the use of these technologies for the performance of your chosen business?