Faculty of Graduate Studies

University of Colombo

Master of Business Studies (Online) - Semester I - 2024

MBSO 6102 - MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS

Analytical Report (Individual)

This assignment is based on Analysis of Market Structures:

1. Select any branded good or service (preferably in the Sri Lankan context) from the consumer
market which is narrowly identified and defined.
Ex: Anchor full cream milk powder 400 g pack
2. Identify the main determinants of demand with valid economic justification and evidence.
3. You are required to identify the conduct of the selected product in the consumer market in
the following aspects with evidence and justifications.
a. The nature of the product (homogeneous, standard, or differentiated)
b. Entry barriers (structural, strategic, or institutional where applicable)
c. Non-price competitive practices (Ex: advertising and other promotions) and strategic
behaviour
d. Firm’s control over price and output determination
e. Nature of the competition and the market power
4. Based on (3) above, determine the most suitable market structure which defines the
product in the consumer market.

Other instructions/specifications:
 As no presentations on this assignment, you are required to justify/validate the arguments
and finding through economic reasoning and the support of literature.
 Refer to the annexure for evaluation criteria.
 Submit the assignment online (LMS) on or before 31st March 2024
 Late submissions are accepted up to five (05) days subject to a penalty of one (01) mark per
day.
 Avoid plagiarism and academic misconduct of any kind. University Examination
regulations will be applied in the event of academic misconduct.
 The word limit is 3,000 (+/- 10%) excluding appendixes and references.
 Marks allocated will be 20% from the final grading.
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Dr. Sajitha Dishanka (Course lecturer)
[email protected]

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CRITERIA POOR AVERAGE MERIT DISTINCTION
(Report only) (0% - 39%) (40% – 59%) (60% – 79%) (80% - 100%)

SURVEY OF Limited, weak selection. Appropriate range and choice Good selection of key texts with critical Excellent, wide range of well selected
LITERATURE AND Uncritically presented. of literature but limited analysis and good exposition of issues reading. Good critical analysis and
CRITICAL critical presentation. implicit in literature. Critical evaluation of evaluation including original and
REVIEW significant issues for the professional perceptive observations.
context.
EVIDENCE/DATA Minimal data to support The focus of the assignment The focus of the assignment is well The method of data collected may show
& the focus of assignment. is clearly supported by the supported by the data collected. an element of originality (new
METHODOLOGY/ Methodology data collected and the Methodology used is appropriate and information should be being offered) and
METHODS inappropriate or poorly methodology used is sound. alternative methods to those used, offer a high level of support for the focus
carried out and no Some consideration of considered. of the assignment. Alternative methods
consideration of alternatives. to those used, considered thoroughly
alternatives.
ANALYSIS Makes limited use of Makes good use of Makes very good use of established Demonstrates a strong grasp of relevant
established techniques of established techniques of techniques of analysis relevant to the analytic techniques, and the ability to
analysis, relevant to the analysis relevant to the discipline and applies these effectively. apply these to new and / or abstract
discipline. discipline. Shows developed ability to appraise information and situations. Shows a
alternative theories / analytic approaches developed appreciation of the limits /
(where relevant). appropriate uses of analytic approaches.

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RELATIONSHIP Limited use of theory. Clear articulation of the Very good, critical analysis/ evaluation of An excellent understanding of the
OF THEORY TO Lack of / limited relationship between and the relationship between relationship between
PRACTICE awareness of the critical analysis / evaluation theoretical/conceptual perspectives and theoretical/conceptual perspectives and
relationship between of the significance of relevant specific context. Some use of multiple the context and a clear articulation of this
theory and practice. Little theory to specific context. theoretical frameworks to evaluate relationship. Excellent, creative use of
integration or critical Awareness of how each may context and managerial practice. multiple frameworks for evaluation.
analysis of the be informed by the other. Demonstrable synthesis to show how Evidence of originality in applying and
articulation between each is informing the other. Some adapting theory for use in practice.
theory and practice. evaluation of their usefulness.

KNOWLEDGE Knowledge Appropriate knowledge of Sound knowledge. Ability to discriminate Excellent, comprehensive knowledge
AND CLARITY OF circumscribed. current, relevant issues. and justify key issues. Arguments are base. Ability to discriminate key issues
REASONING Sense of argument but Argument reasonably confidently expressed through clear, and relate them to the wider context.
poorly expressed lines of expressed. Logical logical lines of thought. Conclusions are Lines of thought are transparent, and the
thought. development of arguments firmly articulated, comprehensive, and arguments are confidently expressed to
Conclusions do not where lines of thought are relevant and arise directly from the develop and synthesize compelling
always arise from clearly discernible. Relevant, premised arguments. conclusions. Evidence of original thought.
premises. limited conclusions arising
from premises

ORGANISATION Poorly organized, Organization and structure The organization is comprehensive and Excellent coherent organization and
OF MATERIAL incoherent structure. are sufficient to support and structure coherent. structure which enhances
Poor presentation and not obscure the work. Well presented, facilitating comprehension. Excellent presentation of
referencing. Appropriate Appropriate presentation. comprehension. Supporting material is all material. Referencing is accurate to a
supporting material not All supporting material well presented and ordered. Accurate high degree. The bibliography is
given / disorganized. present. Referencing is sound referencing. Bibliography is good. impressive.
Bibliography is limited. and appropriate. Bibliography
is adequate.

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