MLA601 Assessment 1 & 2: Blog Post, Literature Review & Strategic Analysis

Assessment 1

Question 1: Blog Post

On the MLA Discussion Forum titled “MLA601 January 2025”, post a brief introduction to your fellow students and tutors. Write about yourself, the sector in which you are employed currently or hope to be, and your role within it. Here are a few suggestive questions to get you started. However, don’t feel constrained by them: this work is yours so write whatever you feel is appropriate.

• Describe the maritime (or other) sector you are working in mentioning your location.
• Provide a brief overview of your work experience.
• Detail your current job role and main responsibility.
• Explain how your daily responsibilities are related to sustainable maritime operations.
• Outline your professional development and/or career aspirations.

Please note the following important requirements:

• The blog is informal, so feel free to write in the first person if you wish, but please maintain a professional and respectful tone.
• Contribute to the Discussion Forum by responding to at least two of your peers’ posts. In your comments, aim to engage in meaningful discussion. You could do this by clarifying details of their role, exploring the sustainability aspects they work with, or offering suggestions for their professional development and career aspirations. This is the most critical part of the task and constitutes a substantial portion of your mark.
• To ensure that online discussion remains focused on the task at hand, please
  avoid unrelated topics. There are different tutors for the same cohort, so any
  specific question regarding the task, assessment, or deadlines should be
  directed to your respective tutor via email. This will help prevent confusion
  among fellow students on the forum.

As well as posting your introduction in the Forum, please also copy and paste your introduction into your 1st assessment submission. This can be an improved version from the one you posted in the Forum following the contributions of your peers. Please note that the final assessment 1 submission should include Question 1 (Blog Post) and Question 2 (Literature Review).

You can refer to the following video for guidance on how to access the Forum:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyGYV1wlP3o.

Question 2: Literature Review

Sourcing and critically analysing literature on a range of topics will be a fundamental part of your study experience. This often means accessing material that goes well beyond opinion pieces scattered on the Internet and requires you to consult the University library systems. To get used to finding, reading, summarising, and analysing this material, you are required to prepare a short literature review using the University of Plymouth online Library, Google Scholar, or other resources you find appropriate.

It is essential that you read the ‘Doing a Literature Review’ in the TLP before
attempting this question.

Select seven contemporary references (i.e., from the last five years) to review. The references should address a specific topic of your choice within the scope of the social pillar of sustainable development in the maritime industry. To help you choose, consider topics such as mental health, fatigue, stress, diversity and inclusion, maritime education and training, attraction and retention, green jobs, green human resource management, or any other relevant social aspect. Please note that the selected topic should be discussed within the context of the maritime industry.

The review shall include:

• THREE academic journal papers (e.g., from Maritime Policy and Management)
• ONE trade publication (e.g., Lloyds List, Seaways)
• ONE section or chapter from a relevant academic textbook
• ONE official website
• ONE additional academic source chosen by you from anywhere.

Write a narrative literature review summarising the main ideas and research related to the topic you selected. To help organise this review, address the following questions:

• Introduction and background: What is already known and well established
  about the topic in the reviewed literature?
• Methods and data: What research methods and data collection approaches
  have been applied to the topic in the selected literature (e.g., case study,
  survey, literature review)? How sufficient and reliable is the data provided?
• Analysis and discussion: What controversies or inconsistencies have you
  noticed about the topic?
• Further research: What questions require further investigation and could
  advance understanding in this subject area?

Include a list of references using the Harvard Referencing System.

Technical Note:

If you wish to access Lloyd’s List, you must set up the VPN and connect within their IP range to register. You can find the VPN software and instructions at
https://workathome.plymouth.ac.uk/. Navigate to “For Students” and then select “Forticlient VPN.” Please ensure you are correctly connected to the VPN before following the registration instructions to gain full access.
Once registered, you can also set up bespoke notifications to your email to stay updated on industry developments throughout your programme.

Assessment 2

Question 3: Strategic Analysis

With reference to the maritime sector identified in Question 1 Blog Post, critically evaluate to what extent do external factors influence sustainability of the relevant maritime operations. Please remember to specify the sector/case study you are referring to in the introduction of your essay.

In answering this question:

• Provide a brief description of contemporary political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental developments in the context of your chosen company or sector.
• You are encouraged to use AI tools of your choice to explore developments
  related to your chosen company or sector, supplementing the materials
  provided in your TLP. However, it is essential that you critically evaluate any
  AI-generated content by applying your own knowledge, critical thinking, and
  experience. While you may incorporate ideas and insights derived from AIgenerated content into your assignment, avoid copying the text. Instead,
  focus on reviewing and integrating the information thoughtfully, ensuring that
  your submission reflects original insights and analysis. Your work should
  demonstrate a critical understanding of the subject, enriched by the tools you
  choose to use.
• Use the PESTLE strategic analysis model to help organise your answer.
• Evaluate how these external factors restrict or enhance sustainable maritime
  operations providing specific examples and explaining how this can impact your chosen sector/case study.

In your essay you should:

• Ensure you acknowledge, describe, and reference the use of AI as per the
  Student Handbook on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Assessment,
  which is available in your TLP. Attach any related documentation to your
  assignment.
• Showcase your understanding from the entire MLA601 module, incorporating
  additional academic sources you have independently researched.
• Support all statements, opinions, and ideas with evidence from reputable
  sources (peer-reviewed literature outside the taught program and data from
  industry reports, such as the latest UNCTAD Maritime Transport Review
  Report). Use clear citations following the Harvard Reference System.

Question 4: Personal Reflection

Given your evaluation from Question 3, reflect upon and briefly describe the current challenges and opportunities that your sector is facing. Use literature to support your arguments as needed. Plan how you might respond to these challenges and opportunities giving examples. To help, think about the following questions; they are not prescriptive, so please don’t assume you have to work through them one by one! They’re provided only as a guide to the sorts of things you may typically wish to include. But this is your reflection, so write it as you wish – including in the first person, if you wish.

• What do I already know about these challenges and opportunities?
• What is still unclear or confusing for me regarding these challenges and
  opportunities?
• Which current developments within the sector could be the most impactful on
  my future career?
• What personal strengths do I have that will help me cope with these
  challenges? How can I develop these strengths to make full use of these
  opportunities?
• What personal weaknesses might cause me to initially face difficulties? How
  can I combat these weaknesses, and what is the threat of not doing so?

Marking Criteria

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