Individual Assignment

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies
LGT3016 Shipping Logistics
2014-2015 (Semester Two)

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate relevant professional knowledge and understanding of shipping logistics.

Analyse and integrate the inter-relationships among the various components of subject matters in
shipping logistics for effective problem solving.

Abilities to conduct research into shipping logistics individually.

Instructions
Please select only ONE of the three topics given. (See page 2)

Individual Assignment

Question 1
A consultancy report commissioned by the Hong Kong government found that the provision of
maritime education and a declining talent pool are relatively weaknesses compared with other
competitors such as Singapore, Shanghai, and London.
Analyse the role of the government in promoting maritime education and increasing the talent pool in
Hong Kong.
-

Current situation.
Governments initiatives
Lessons from other countries
Recommendations for governments

Question 2
Analyse a major dry bulk cargo of your choice. You may use the following in your analysis.
-

Size of ships utilised

Trade routes/major ports
Ton-miles
Demand/supply
Major importers/exporters
Loading/discharging method
Future trends

Question 3
Analyse a terminal operator (either bulk or container) of your choice. You may use the following in
your analysis.
-

Mission and Vision

SWOT analysis
Environmental factors (political-legal, economic, socio-cultural, technological)
Business model (i.e. strategies)
Suggestions for terminal operators

Individual Assignment
Report Guidelines
1.

You are required to prepare an essay between 1000 - 1200 words on ONE of the three topics
which is due on Week 7. The hard copy is to be submitted at the start of tutorials. The soft copy
is to be uploaded using Blackboard.

2.

Format of report:
- Times New Roman, Size 12 font, 1 inch margins (or 2.54cm) on all sides.
- Bold and number all main and sub-headings.
- Page numbers on every page starting from introduction.

3.

Structure of report:
Cover Page (Please print out and attached the cover page provided)
Contents Page (list the main and sub-headings)
Figures and Tables (if you have included any)
Written Report (Main body)
References
Appendices (If necessary)

4.

References (All references must be properly source and cited using APA or Harvard Referencing
- http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/referencemachine.htm)

Late Submission
Due date will be strictly enforced. Extensions may be granted upon receipt of medical certificate or
written requests, provided there are good reasons. Otherwise, 10% of the marks given will be deducted
for each day of late submission (late submission of less than 1 day will be counted as 1 day late).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious offence and will be dealt with severely. You are required to pay attention to the
regulations on plagiarism which is set out in the student handbook (what is plagiarism?).
Grading Aspects
Analytical skills
Clarity of argument
Presentation/Structure
References

35%
30%
20%
15%
100%

Individual Assignment
Citing References (Harvard referencing system)
In your assignment, you should indicate the source of your information or idea:
a) For general idea or data: by the name-year/date system.
b) For direct quotation: indicate the name, date + page number.
General Idea
As part of the reform of the overall education system, the government of Hong Kong announced in
2000 an ambitious plan to enlarge the student body of the post secondary education (Lee and Young,
2003)
Direct Quotations
Coyle et al. (2008, p. 189) suggested that information is the lifeline of business, driving effective
decisions and actions
Information, along with materials and money, must readily flow across supply chain to enable the
planning, execution, and evaluation of key functions (Coyle et al., 2008, p. 189).
______________________________________________________________________________
Books
Bowersox, D.J., Closs, D.J. and Cooper, M.B. (2007), Supply Chain Logistics Management, 2nd
Edition, McGraw-Hill:Singapore.
Coyle, J.J., Bardi, E.J. and Langley Jr., C.J. (2008), Managing Supply Chains A Logistics Approach,
8th Edition, Thomson South-Western: Canada, pp. 189.
Journals
Mentzer, J.T., DeWitt, W., Keebler, J.S. and Min, S.H. (2001), Defining Supply Chain Management,
Journal of Business Logistics, 22 (2), pp. 1-25.
Newspapers
South China Morning Post (2008), Supply Chain. South China Morning Post, 15 August 2008, p. 20.
Online Articles
Tse, J. (2008), Hong Kongs Port and Logistics Sectors. Shippers Today [Online] Available at:
http://info.hktdc.com/shippers/vol31_2/vol31_2_industry01.htm [Accessed 8 September 2008].

Individual Assignment

Criteria
Analytical skills

Failure
F
Unable to understand
and interpret the issues
accurately
Fail to analyse
information

Marginal
D
Understand and
interpret some of the
issues accurately

Satisfactory
C
Understand and
interpret most of the
issues accurately

Can analyse a limited

range of information

Can analyse
sufficient information

Organise ideas fairly

satisfactory

Organise ideas
adequately

Organise ideas
randomly
Clarity of
argument

No evidence of
planning: No structure

Presentation

None of format
guidelines is followed

References

No reference is given
or less than 3

Some evidence of
planning; Poorly
structured
Few of the format
guidelines are
followed

Adequate planning;
Fairly structured

Good
B
Understand and
interpret all of the
issues accurately

Excellent
A
Understand and
interpret all of the
issues accurately

Can analyse a range

of information
appropriate to the
topic

Can analyse new

and/or abstract data
and situations
appropriate to the
topic

Organise ideas
logically
Good evidence of
planning; Well
structured
All of the format
guidelines followed
and presentable

All of the format

guidelines followed
but not very
presentable
3 references are given 3 references are given 4 references or more
but few are relevant
and most are relevant are given and most
are relevant

Organise ideas
systemically and
logically
Excellent evidence of
planning: Excellently
structured;
All of the format
guidelines followed
in a professional way
5 references or more
are given and all are
relevant

Individual Assignment
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies
LGT3016 Shipping Logistics
2014-2015 (Semester Two)
______________________________________________________________________________
Name: _______________________________________
Student ID.: __________________________________
Tutorial Group:

T001 (Mon, 0830) T002 (Thurs, 1130)

Question Attempted (please tick one):

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Marks and Comments:

Criteria

Failure

Marginal

Satisfactory

Good

Excellent

Analytical skills
Clarity of argument
Presentation
References
Overall Grade:
Comments:
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