Virtual Business Assignment FAQs
Before you start, please be sure to:
- Check the “Assessment” area on blackboard, (all you need to start is there)
- Read the UPDATED assignment brief and look at the marking grid.
- Read around the topic (core textbooks related to the questions – see the list of suggested
references in the brief), and research additional information from practitioner sources.
- We do not need a company background – remember you are the consultant, and the
company already knows its own background.
- You can structure the assignment point by point or as a case report, (see below).
- Within your discussion, make sure you explain: What? Why? How? Particularly in the
recommendations section.
Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the report:
Q1. How should I structure my Report?
Below is a suggested structure. It is not mandatory. Only a suggestion.
There is an indicative word count for each section of the report, but this is also not mandatory.
It is essential to provide headings for the 3 questions; sub-headings are optional.
1- Evaluate Nike’s & Adidas’ Digital Strategy ( ~ 1000 words)
Covering, what is the Metaverse, The technologies which makes the Metaverse, Adidas
& Nike’s strategy and implementation, (success / pitfalls)
2- Operational and security risks in the Metaverse ( ~ 500 words)
Covering, cyber threats, cause & mitigation, security policies, ethical & legal issues
3- Recommendations, (concise but all justified) ( ~ 500 words)
Covering, technology, operations and strategy
You may use heading and sub-heading
Q2. Where should I start my assignment?
Read the assignment brief and check the marking grid. Check the Assignment Folder.
Q3. Do I provide a company background or an introduction?
No. Do not waste words with this. Just the relevant elements to your analysis.
Q4. Can I use external literature?
You can and should use external literature if it relates to the argument you want to make and to
the topic. Remember the objective of the assignment is to show you know and understand the
subject, you can also use Industry and Competitors sources.
We expect academic sources for the technologies and security aspects, as for the Metaverse,
Nike and Adidas, practitioner or reputable industry sources will suffice.
Q5. Do I provide references?
Yes, we expect you to provide a full reference, (Harvard standard is not compulsory), as for the
slides, you should go to the source instead, (Laudon & Traver’s book). Try to use reputable
industry platforms like HBR, Gartner etc, and avoid news and blogs as much as you can.
The lecture slides are mostly based on the following books:
Laudon, K.C. & Traver, C.G. (2023). E-commerce 2021: Business, Technology, Society : global edition.
Harlow, England: Pearson.
Turban, E, et al (2018). Electronic Commerce 2018, A Managerial and Social Networks Perspective :
Nineth edition. Netherlands: Springer Nature.
Chaffey, D. (2015). Digital Business and E-Commerce Management: Strategy, Implementation and
Practice : Sixth edition. Harlow, England: Pearson.
Valacich, J et al (2023). Information Systems Today, Managing in the Digital World : Nineth edition.
Harlow, England: Pearson.
Chaffey, D. & Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2019). Digital Marketing: strategy, implementation and practice.
Harlow, England: Pearson.
The 10 minutes’ video presentation should be of you, (Personally not an Avatar),
explaining in more details Q3, (of course you can include the important points from the
other questions). Remember you are a consultant advising Puma, so you should try to
convince them that your recommendations are good and based on solid research)
Q1. What we need to do for the video presentation?
Any video recording app should do; (we recommend Panopto – “available in Apps Anywhere”).
Q2. Should we include a PowerPoint presentation alongside the video?
You should prepare your presentation in PowerPoint and run it in the background to aid your
video presentation, (the slides should show the main bullet points you are discussing, DO NOT
overload them with text). Most apps allow embedding the presenter camera over the slides.
Just to make it clear, you should appear in the video narrating on the slides.
Q3. Do we answer the same questions in the video as the essay?
No. the video presentation is to expand on the 3rd point, (500 words will not be sufficient), but
you can include elements from the other points if they are relevant.
Q4. Do we need to add a transcript for the video?
No. but you can include the slides if you wish.
Q5. Do we need to add references for the video?
No. it is your recommendation in your own words, so no need for references.
Final deadline for submission, 16 Jan 25 - 2pm GMT, using Pebble pad.
No need for Cover page or Student number or title, just discuss the 3 points and add the video.
1. Evaluate Nike’s & Adidas’ Digital Strategy in their Metaverse implementation.
2. What are the operational and security risks for Puma in the Metaverse?
3. What next steps would you recommend to Puma’s Digital Strategy Manager?
Video, mainly expanding on Q3, (your recommendations), and could highlight relevant issues from
the other questions.
How to Submit your work, (please read carefully – it is important)
The Report and the Video should be submitted on PebblePad, (Not as a word file).
A submission template is provided with 2 tabs, (one for the Report, another for the Video).
I would recommend using word to benefit from spell/grammar check, then copy the text and paste it
to PebblePad, (Double check the formatting!).
The deadline for submitting your assignment is 2pm GMT the 16th of Jan, (48 hrs grace period).
Submission:
You must use the template, “UMSD89 Virtual Business Workbook”, provided on PebblePad, under
“Resources”. Check the seminar slides of week 11, (starting 9th of December).