Sourcing Essentials

Corporate Award Programme

Candidate Assignment Guidance

Version 7.0 July 2016

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 2/16 © copyright CIPS

Contents

1. Overview .....................................................................................................................................................3

2. Submission requirements – important .......................................................................................................3

3. Planning and conducting your research .....................................................................................................4

4. Structuring your assignment submission ...................................................................................................4

5. Assignment front sheet ..............................................................................................................................5

6. Contents Page .............................................................................................................................................5

7. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................5

8. Assignment – main body ............................................................................................................................6

9. Conclusions and recommendations ...........................................................................................................7

10. Referencing .............................................................................................................................................7

11. Reference list ..........................................................................................................................................8

12. Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................9

13. Appendices .............................................................................................................................................9

14. Word Count ......................................................................................................................................... 10

15. Policies ................................................................................................................................................. 11

a. Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................................ 11

b. Reasonable adjustment and special consideration ................................................................................. 11

c. Extensions beyond submission deadlines ............................................................................................... 12

d. Assessment reviews and appeals ............................................................................................................ 12

16. Grading ................................................................................................................................................ 12

17. Marking and results ............................................................................................................................. 12

18. And finally ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Appendix 1: Assignment Assessment Criteria ................................................................................................. 14

Appendix 2: Command Words ......................................................................................................................... 15

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 3/16 © copyright CIPS

1. Overview

The assignment brief is set by CIPS and all assignments are validated to ensure a standard approach. The

purpose of each assignment is to enable you to demonstrate your ability to research, analyse and problem

solve in different situations. You will be expected to approach your assignment work from a procurement and

supply context, addressing the brief directly and undertaking the tasks required. The assignment will relate

directly to the specified module content and is marked using the assessment criteria provided as an appendix

to this guide.

Read carefully the assignment title and guidance for candidates. The assignment will identify which modules it

is designed to assess. Use the relevant content from the stated modules as the basis of your assignment. It

will help you structure your planning and research. Ensure you plan your assignment to meet all of its

requirements.

2. Submission requirements – important

2.1 Include the assignment front sheet

2.2 The maximum number of documents you can submit for an assessment is one

2.3 All of your work must be contained in one document

2.4 You must not submit appendices as separate documents

2.5 You must word process your assignment using MS word, or equivalent, and convert it in to a pdf file

format

a. The file name should only consist of your full 9-digit membership number and the assignment

number, e.g. “005429889 AS1.pdf”. Please note that this should reflect the assignment

number, not the module number.

b. You may wish to make use of Adobe Acrobat’s Reduce File Size… function

2.6 Every page should be numbered and contain your candidate number at the top of the document in

the header.

The average number of pages for a 3,000 word assignment is 27 (including appendices). The maximum

number of pages allowed for a 3,000 word assignment is 50 pages in total. You should not exceed this

allowance. In the case of the integrative assignment, the average number of pages for a 5,000 word

assignment is 45. The maximum number of pages allowed for a 5,000 word integrative assignment is 100

pages in total.

You must hand in your assignment no later than the submission deadline stated in your timetable. There are

penalties if your submission is handed in late without prior agreement from CIPS through the Reasonable

Adjustment, Special Consideration or Extension Policies (see section 15, page 8 and 9). Submissions that do

not meet the submission requirements (for example Word .doc rather than .pdf, multiple files, candidates

name present) will not be accepted and if the revised version is not sent within the submission timeframe the

corrected version may be subject to penalty.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 4/16 © copyright CIPS

3. Planning and conducting your research

It is important that you address the requirements of the assignment brief. Some students fail to do this and

overlook one or more requirements of the assignment brief. The assignment title will include command

words. These are words such as “analyse”, “describe” etc. and define what you are expected to do. A list of

common command words and their definitions is included as an appendix to this document to help you plan

the depth of detail and type of information to research and present within your assignment.

You should take care when reproducing company information not already in the public domain within your

assignment. It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with your own company expectations if the

information is considered confidential or sensitive.

CIPS is looking for evidence that a student understands a concept and can apply it appropriately within a given

contexts defined by the assignment brief. In order to address the assignment tasks, it is not necessary to

identify any real suppliers or products. Therefore, it is acceptable to refer to a supplier as ‘Supplier A’ for

example, rather than identify real suppliers. Products can be referred to as product ‘X’ or ‘Y’ for example,

rather than identify any sensitive procurements. It is best practice to explain, within your introduction, the

naming conventions you will adopt e.g. “for the purposes of confidentiality, suppliers or products will be

referred to as…”.

Research forms part of the assessment criteria, hence it is an essential element of your assignment

preparation. Do not fail to realise the importance of collecting information to support and underpin your

assignment work. It is vital that you demonstrate your ability to establish information needs, obtain relevant

information and use it sensibly, in order to arrive at appropriate conclusions, recommendations and/or

decisions. You should establish the nature of the information required, follow up possible sources and ensure

you allow time to obtain the information. You may be dependent on other colleagues or suppliers to obtain

relevant information – do not underestimate the time it may take you to gather it. In order to conduct your

research effectively, you will need to conduct wider reading associated with the topics covered in the module

content.

Useful sources of information include those freely available to CIPS members such as our Knowledge site and

the Supply Management site. Additionally, websites such as those of the National Audit Office and the

Financial Times are a great source of case studies and examples of successes and failures which can support

your assignment preparation.

Your reference list and bibliography will provide an indication of the level of research, information collection

and application within your assignment.

4. Structuring your assignment submission

Presentation: Your assignment submission should be word processed with minimum font size 12pt and 1.5 or

double line spacing. You should adopt an appropriate layout and structure for your assignment submission.

The structure and presentation of your assignment is considered as part of the marking process so it is

important that you take the time to carefully plan your assignment and use a logical layout and structure. This

guidance document outlines a suggested structure for your assignment.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 5/16 © copyright CIPS

For many of you this assignment will be dealing with issues that are of importance to your employer and they

will, in all likelihood, be interested in seeing a copy of your assignment. Spending some extra time making it as

professional as possible will pay dividends here.

Approach: The assignment title may include a number of requirements. Read it carefully and identify what

these are. Plan your assignment and research to ensure that you address all the requirements. As a guide,

you should aim to place approximately equal emphasis on each requirement within the layout of your

assignment submission. This means you will usually produce approximately the same volume of content for

each requirement within your assignment submission. Plan your research and the structure of your

assignment submission accordingly. However, during your planning or research, you may identify that it is not

appropriate to place equal emphasis on each requirement within the assignment title.

For example, factors beyond your control, such as the nature of your organisation or the external business

environment in which it operates, may mean that it is not appropriate to place equal emphasis on each

requirement of the assignment title. In such circumstances, acknowledge this within your assignment

submission to demonstrate to the assessor that you have considered all the requirements of the assignment

title. Explain to the assessor why you have adopted a particular approach to demonstrate your ability to

make judgements. Think carefully about the structure, style and content of your assignment; the key is to

ensure you justify any deviation from the assignment requirements in order to explain to the assessor why

you have adopted an unusual approach. Failure to do so could mean you fail to gain marks in the knowledge

and approach section of the assessment criteria.

Remember also that the marking team will not be familiar with your company, company-specific terminology

or acronyms. Take care to ensure you explain necessary background information, or the meaning of company-

specific terminology, in order to provide the marking team with an understanding of the nature of your

organisation and the business environment in which it operates.

5. Assignment front sheet

Please complete and attach the assignment front sheet to your submission. Your name should not appear

anywhere within your assignment.

6. Contents page

The contents page helps the reader to navigate around the document and highlights important sections and

sub-sections; this also helps you to ensure your work is structured and flows in a logical order.

7. Executive summary

The aim of an executive summary is to prepare the reader, in advance of reading a lengthy document, for

what to expect. It should briefly summarise the content and conclusions/recommendations. This is good

academic and business practice and is recommended for all assessments (assignments and project work). We

recommend you keep this to one page if possible.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 6/16 © copyright CIPS

8. Assignment – main body

CIPS recommends a short introduction to the assignment to set the scene. You may wish to take the

opportunity to introduce your company or the business environment relevant to your assignment, define any

relevant terms, explain the scope of your assignment, the approach you have taken, any exclusions and

assumptions.

Assignments should have a good balance of relevant underpinning theory, tools or models and practical

application (use of examples from your organisation, or one with which you are familiar). You must select

appropriate models to demonstrate knowledge and application. It is suggested you consult and reflect upon

the programme content for the relevant module(s) in the first instance and conduct an audit of the theories,

tools and models etc., in order to identify those which may be appropriate for your assignment.

For any theories, tools or models that you include, your assignment should contain a brief description and

justification of its selection in relation to your analysis.

You should ensure you include discussion on how it was used and what information was generated from it –

interpret the findings of your analysis. Avoid citing models, tools etc., without applying them within your

analysis as this will gain no marks. You may wish to use tables or diagrams to demonstrate your application of

relevant tools or models.

When including information about the theories, tools and models etc. within your assignment, narrative

should be integrated in to the content of your assignment. Assignment submissions which simply skip from

one model or tool, for example, to the next, without linking them in some way or consolidating them in

conclusions, will be unlikely to demonstrate the extent of your comprehension of the module content and

your ability to apply it to practical business situations.

Providing a sound argument for selection and application of a particular theory, model, tool or technique –

highlighting why it is appropriate, its strengths and weaknesses/limitations (as well as your findings) – is likely

to be awarded higher marks.

The positioning of models/tools and techniques will depend on a number of factors, but ideally you should

aim for a good balance of discussion and visual impact. It is a matter of personal judgement and preference,

but, essentially they should be relevant and visually enhance the work, enabling the reader to grasp the flow

of your discussion. You should also consider:

 The strength and possible limitations of the model for the task

 The quality and depth of information contained within your assignment

 Appropriateness for the subject matter

 Whether large pieces of supporting evidence for an argument may be better placed in the Appendices

The application and insight section of the assessment criteria is the most heavily weighted. It is important to

demonstrate your ability to apply relevant tools, theories, models etc., according to the modules content and

the assignment title. The outcomes of your application will generate evidence which you must present within

your assignment submission.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 7/16 © copyright CIPS

9. Conclusions and recommendations

Again, the application and insight section of the assessment criteria is the most heavily weighted. You must,

therefore, ensure you demonstrate your ability to interpret your evidence and findings by providing

recommendations, proposals for change and/or conclusions, as appropriate, which are consistent with the

evidence you have generated. This will exhibit the validity of your insight. Thorough application of tools of

analysis will help to provide strong findings which will form the foundation of your conclusions and

recommendations.

Your conclusions and recommendations must be consistent with your analysis and findings and should act as

a summary. It is important that any conclusions or recommendations are justified as part of your overall

assignment submission. When you have completed your assignment, take time to re-read it a day or so later

and check that your conclusions really are consistent with the evidence generated from your analysis.

10. Referencing

In order to avoid plagiarism, whenever you use someone’s words directly, or make reference to the ideas or

work of others, you must reference this appropriately using a recognised referencing system, such as the

Harvard system of referencing or as outlined in the CIPS Reference Guidance document. The following points

will help you cite sources of information appropriately within the body of your assignment.

 When a reference is made in your assignment to a particular document, the author (or editor, compiler or translator) individual or organisation and year of publication are inserted in brackets:

o e.g. Agriculture still employs half a million people in rural Britain (Shucksmith, 2000).

 If the author’s name occurs naturally in the sentence, only the year of publication is given: o e.g. … concept is discussed by Jones (1998)…

 When referring to more than one document by an author published in the same year, these are distinguished by adding lower case letters (a, b, c) after the year:

o e.g. (Watson, 1999a)

 If there are two authors, the names of both should be given: o e.g. (Lines and Walker, 1997)

 Where there are more than two authors, cite the first author, followed by ‘et al.’: o e.g. (Morgan et al., 1998)

 Quotations: Direct quotations are used to show the work of another party word-for-word; the exact words must be copied from the source document. When citing quotations, include the page number of where the quotation can be found in the source document. Please note quotations used within your assignment content are included within the total word count.

o Short quotations may be run into the text, using single quotation marks. o e.g. While they recommend that teams ‘...be encouraged to improve collaboration within an

organisation autonomously’ (Driedonks, et al., 2010, p. 115), they ...

Longer quotations should be separated from the rest of the text by means of a new and indented paragraph and optional size reduction. These do not need quotation marks, however the author, date and page reference must be included in brackets at the end of the indented paragraph of quoted text. You are advised to use long quotations sparingly as they are included as part of the word count. Ask yourself whether they

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 8/16 © copyright CIPS

really add value to your assignment, or whether there is a better way of representing the information you wish to present to the reader of your assignment. Referencing electronic resources can be confusing, it is difficult to know which information to include or where to find it. As a rule, provide as much information as possible concerning authorship, location and availability. Electronic citations require much of the same information as print sources (author, year of publication, title, publisher). However, some extra details are required:

 identify that you accessed the source in an electronic format

 provide an accurate access date for online sources (that is, identify when a source was viewed or downloaded)

 provide the location of an online source (for example, a database or web address) Unlike printed material, internet sources can easily be changed, or disappear altogether, so full and accurate citation information is essential. Example – referencing web documents British Lawnmower Museum (no date) Lawnmowers of the Rich and Famous [online] Southport, British Lawnmower Museum. Available: http://www.lawnmowerworld.co.uk/Rich.htm [Accessed10 March 2004] Example – referencing electronic journals Hart, K. (1998) The place of the 1898 Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to the Torres Straits (CAETS) in the history of British social anthropology. Science as a culture. [Online] 11 (1). Available: http://human- nature.com/science-as-culture/hart.html [Accessed 9 November 2003] Example – referencing journal articles from a web-based full-text database Mahoney, R. (2000) Leadership and learning organisations, The Learning Organization. [Online] 7 (5), 241-244. Available: http://www.emerald-library.com/brev/11907ec1.htm [Accessed 23 October 2000] The source materials you use should be included in a reference list at the end of your assignment. See the

following sections relating to your reference list and bibliography.

11. Reference list

A reference list is essential to ensure the works of others is acknowledged and to avoid the risk of plagiarism

issues. You must use a recognised referencing system, such as the Harvard system or as outlined in the CIPS

Reference Guidance document, as assessors will need to identify sources you have accessed during your

research and used within your assignment. See the section relating to referencing for information on how to

cite sources of information within the body of your assignment.

References are arranged alphabetically by author’s name (or title, if no author) which has been used in the

body of the text and should be presented in the following way:

 Book references - include where possible, the following information in the order listed here:

o Author(s)/Editor(s) - Surname first, followed by first name(s) or initials (be consistent). Include

all names if there are two or three authors; if more than three, use the first name and then et

al. For editors, compilers or translators (instead of author), give the abbreviation ed/eds,

comp/comps or trans following the name(s): e.g. Peckham, T. and Smith, G. (eds.)

o Year of publication – e.g. (1996)

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 9/16 © copyright CIPS

o Title - capitalise the first letter of the first word and any proper nouns; use bold, italics or

underline (be consistent); Include any sub-title, separating it from the title by a colon

o Edition - only include if not the first edition

o Series - include if relevant.

Modern versions of MS Word have some helpful tools to assist with referencing and citations. These allow

you to build a list of sources which you can access to cite in the body of your assignment using the “insert

citation” tool under the references section of the toolbar. It allows you to insert a list of “works cited” which

will automatically include all sources which you have cited within your assignment.

12. Bibliography

When researching subject areas, you may read widely, but not all will be relevant to the assignment you are

working on. However, this work should not go unrecognised and more importantly, a bibliography records

earlier reading that may be useful later when researching for future assessments or projects. If you have

documented your reading, this can be located again with ease.

13. Appendices

Core material – which is defined as text that the assessor would need to read in order to understand and

appreciate your work fully – should NOT be placed in appendices. An appendix is not a “catch-all”, or a

substitute for effective writing and editing of your assignment to meet the word count. You do not have to

use appendices – indeed; it is considered best practice that assignments only include appendices in

exceptional circumstances. For example, information that is not essential to your assignment, but validates

the content of it, provides confirmatory evidence or provides information or material that the assessor would

not otherwise be able to access, should be placed in an appendix. Documents that are available in the public

domain should be referenced, in accordance with a recognised referencing system, rather than including

them as appendices.

Examples of things which could be useful as appendices to an assignment include:

• Supporting evidence – feedback, testimonials, stakeholder interview outcomes etc.

• Technical information presented in tables and graphs – organisational charts, statistics etc.

• Supplementary data which adds useful information or insight, but is not essential to the

understanding of the personal statement – including organisation-specific material (ensure

appropriate permissions have been sought for use outside your organisation).

Appendices should be presented in the order they are mentioned in your assignment, and it is essential to

refer to each appendix within the text of your assignment. You should NOT include something as an appendix

if it is not discussed within the assignment, nor should you include any material which is readily available in

the public domain – it should be referenced in the text of the assignment using a recognised system of

referencing.

Appendices do not form part of the word count for your assignment.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 10/16 © copyright CIPS

14. Word Count

The expected word count for your assignment will be highlighted on your assignment task. Your assignment

can be up to 10% below the stated word count, or up to 10% higher than the stated word count. If your

assignment exceeds (or falls short of) the stated word count by more than 10%, you may fail to gain marks

under the structure and presentation section of the assessment criteria.

The following are excluded from the word count:

 Front page

 Contents Page

 Executive Summary

 Models, tables, diagrams, graphs etc.

 Reference list

 Bibliography and appendices

You must state your assignment word count on the assignment front sheet.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 11/16 © copyright CIPS

15. Policies

a. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is submitting someone else’s work as your own when you are not the author. The attempt to pass-

off the ideas, research, theories, or words of others as one's own is considered to be a serious academic

offence. Most students know when they are intentionally plagiarising, for example, copying an entire essay

out of a book or buying a paper off the Internet. However, many students are tripped up by unintentional

plagiarism – not giving proper credit for others' quotes, facts, ideas, or data. A good rule-of-thumb for

students is to always give credit for any ideas that are not their own by citing their sources.

The most common forms of plagiarism are:

 Copying and pasting material from a website

 Copying the work of another student (past or present)

 Copying course material or lecture notes

 Copying material out of a textbook, journal or other publication

You must take care when writing your assignment that the work you submit is your own. You are permitted

to reproduce short extracts, diagrams, tables and illustrations from other publications. But, these must be

clearly referenced and the source acknowledged. CIPS treats plagiarism very seriously and if your work is

found to contain unacknowledged third party content you may fail your assignment.

In order to avoid plagiarism, whenever you use someone’s words directly, or make reference to the ideas or

work of others, you must reference this appropriately using a recognised referencing system, such as the

Harvard system of referencing or CIPS Referencing Guidance. Failure to reference the work of others, whether

intentional or accidental is considered plagiarism, which constitutes a form of cheating (malpractice or

maladministration) and is not tolerated by CIPS. The Malpractice and Maladministration Policy includes details

of the consequences for students if they are found to have plagiarised.

b. Reasonable adjustment and special consideration

CIPS has a responsibility to ensure that all candidates have equal opportunities to reach their full potential. In

some instances, candidates may require adjustments to the assessment process to give them an equal

opportunity, and CIPS has a responsibility to ensure that appropriate adjustments are made for each

candidate.

Applications for a Reasonable Adjustment should be made in advance of the assessment. Candidates may

apply for Special Consideration in exceptional circumstances that could not possibly be predicted. This also

applies to candidates wishing to report any incident which may affect their assessment performance.

If you require a Reasonable Adjustment or Special Consideration, you should contact your CIPS programme

lead who will be able to assist you. Further information about Reasonable Adjustments and Special

Consideration can be obtained through the reasonable adjustment and special consideration policy which is

available on the Learning Management System (LMS) under the FAQ section.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 12/16 © copyright CIPS

c. Extensions beyond submission deadlines

Extensions cannot be granted by tutors. Applications by students for an extension must be made in writing

and submitted to their Programme Lead. These will then be considered by CIPS. The application for an

extension should be completed 7 days before the submission deadline date.

All reasons for extensions require independent corroboration, usually from your employer or, in the case of

medical problems, doctor. There are some circumstances which are regarded as acceptable reasons for

granting an extension and some which are not. Examples are:

Acceptable reasons

 Holidays booked prior to start of programme

 Significant medical conditions/concerns

 Compassionate (e.g. family bereavement)

 Verified work-related travel

Unacceptable reasons:

 Workload

 Computer problems

 Lost assignments

 Desired books not in library

 Unverifiable travel difficulties

 Unawareness of the submission deadline

d. Assessment reviews and appeals

Should you wish to appeal against your result you should apply to CIPS following the assessment review and

appeals procedure within two weeks of the result release date. The assessment appeals policy can be found

on the Learning Management System (LMS) under the FAQ section. If you wish to request a review of your

assessment result, you should contact your CIPS Programme Lead who will be able to assist you.

16. Grading

The assessment criteria (see Appendix 1) breaks down each section of the assessment criteria and indicates

what is expected for each grade. The marks you are awarded for each section of the assessment criteria will

be combined in order to arrive at a total percentage result. The grade you receive for your assignment is

based upon this result as follows:

Fail less than 50% Merit 60-74%

Pass 50-59% Distinction 75% or more

17. Marking and results

Following submission of your assignment, it will be marked by a member of the CIPS assessment team,

according to the assessment criteria (see Appendix 1). CIPS employs rigorous quality assurance processes

which ensure a standard approach to assessment is adopted. The assessment outcomes and processes are

evaluated by the CIPS Assessment Quality Board.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 13/16 © copyright CIPS

When your result is released it can be accessed via the My CIPS section of the CIPS website. Your CIPS

Programme Lead will also provide you with feedback following the release of your result. The assessment

criterion (see Appendix 1) includes the following sections which are weighted in order to help you understand

their relative importance:

 Structure and presentation (20%)

 Research (20%)

 Knowledge and approach (20%)

 Application and insight (40%).

18. And finally

This document is by no means exhaustive, but provides some guidance on how you might approach the

development of your assignment submission. It is a guide on what is generally good practice in assignment

preparation, which enables you to understand the implications of what you are doing and gives you the best

opportunity to succeed in what you do.

Good luck with your assignment preparation.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 14/16 © copyright CIPS

Appendix 1: Assignment Assessment Criteria

Pass with Distinction: 75% +

Pass with Merit: 60% – 74%

Pass: 50% – 59%

Failure: Less than 50%

Structure and Presentation 20%

Excellent presentation standards incorporating effective executive summary, structure and content. Supports work with references and bibliography appropriate to the assessment. Work is communicated innovatively to a very high and professional standard. Layout of work includes innovative use of graphics, tables, data, references, headings, numbered paragraphs and appendices. Composition of answers in keeping with any desired word count.

Effective presentation standards incorporating executive summary, structure and content; although refinement of these would achieve better marks. Supports work with references and bibliography appropriate to the assessment. Work is communicated effective to a high standard. Layout of work includes effective use of graphics, tables, data, references, headings, numbered paragraphs and appendices. Composition of answers in keeping with any desired word count.

Presentation makes use of an executive summary, structure and content. Supports work with references and bibliography appropriate to the assessment. Work is communicated to a satisfactory standard. Limited use is made of graphics, tables, data, references, headings, numbered paragraphs and appendices. Composition of answers in keeping with any desired word count.

Disappointing presentation standards demonstrating the need to improve its executive summary, structure and content. Limited use of references and bibliography. Work is communicated ineffectively. Layout of work makes limited use of graphics, tables, data, references, headings, numbered paragraphs and appendices. Composition of answers may not be in keeping with any desired word count.

Research 20%

Work demonstrates excellent collation of appropriate primary, secondary, quantitative and/or qualitative research. Evidence of analysis of research with a reasoned critique provided. Work refers to purposeful and relevant sources of research. Extensive references and bibliography.

Work demonstrates collation of appropriate primary, secondary, quantitative or qualitative research. Evidence of the analysis of research is provided. Work refers to appropriate sources of research. A range of references and bibliography.

Work demonstrates limited collation of primary, secondary, quantitative or qualitative research. There is scope to create an analysis or refinement of the research presented. Work refers to sources of research. A reasonable number of references and bibliography.

Work demonstrates a lack of primary, secondary, quantitative or qualitative research and there are evident gaps in the work that the candidate has undertaken. Small number of references and bibliography.

Knowledge and Approach 20%

Work demonstrates a full understanding of relevant theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus that are appropriately selected to formulate answers. Applies a well thought-out methodology to develop answers.

Work demonstrates an effective understanding of relevant theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus that are appropriately selected to formulate answers.

Work demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of relevant theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus that are appropriately selected to formulate answers.

Work demonstrates a limited or sporadic understanding of relevant theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus selected to formulate answers.

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 15/16 © copyright CIPS

Pass with Distinction: 75% +

Pass with Merit: 60% – 74%

Pass: 50% – 59%

Failure: Less than 50%

Application and Insight 40%

Work demonstrates the fitting application of theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus. Candidate creates proposals for change that can achieve business improvements whilst recognising boundaries that can affect their implementation. The work is supported by an innovative or appropriate business case or implementation plan when relevant.

Work demonstrates an effective application of theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus. Candidate creates proposals for change that can achieve business improvements. The work is supported by an effective business case or implementation plan when relevant.

Work demonstrates the application of some limited theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus. Candidate creates limited proposals for change that can achieve business improvements. A limited business case or implementation plan is presented when relevant.

Work demonstrates limited or sporadic application of theory, models, techniques, processes, outcomes or other aspects of the syllabus. Candidate's proposals for change lack justification. The work lacks an effective business case or implementation plan when relevant.

Appendix 2: Command Words

Command

Word

Definition

Analyse Examine a topic together with thoughts and judgments about it, by dividing the topic into its

separate parts and looking at each part in detail

Appraise Evaluate, judge or assess something

Argue Provide reasons for or against something, clearly and in proper order, using or citing evidence

so that a case can be proved. Also compare with Discuss

Assess Evaluate or judge the importance of something, referring to the special knowledge of experts

where possible. This may involve from other texts

Comment on Write notes explaining your own criticism and observations of something

Compare Examine one thing in relation to another thing, so that points of similarity or difference

become evident

Consider Take something in to account, or make allowance for something. Think carefully about

something or reflect upon it

Contrast Emphasise the differences between two opposite or dissimilar things

Criticise Give your judgements about the good or bad qualities of theories or opinions, supporting

your decision with evidence

Define Explain the exact meaning of a word or phrase

Describe Give a full account or a detailed representation of something

Discuss Consider something by writing about it from different points of view.

Evaluate Calculate or judge the value of something; include your personal opinion in your evaluation

Leading global excellence in procurement and supply

CAP_Candidate_Assignment Guidance_V7 July2016 16/16 © copyright CIPS

Command

Word

Definition

together with appropriate reasons for your opinion

Explain Give reasons for, or account for something, so that it is clear or easy to understand

Identify Identify to state or briefly mention items of information

Illustrate Clarify or explain something by using examples or diagrams

Interpret Use your own ideas to explain the significance of something

Justify Show good reasons for decisions, recommendations or conclusions, perhaps by referring to

other texts

List Mention items separately in number order or by using bullet points

Outline Give the main features, facts or the general idea of something, omitting minor details

Propose Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or

action

Reconcile Show how two apparently conflicting things can appear similar or compatible

Relate Establish a connection or association between things to show how they affect each other or

how they are alike

Review Examine and assess a subject critically

Show Explain thoroughly or prove something, so that the truth can be established

State Put something into words clearly and briefly

Suggest This means that there may be more than one answer. You must give the most appropriate

answer, or answers. It is good practice to state why it is the most appropriate answer

Summarise Give a brief, concise account of the main points of something, leaving out details and

examples