Strategic Management

Strategic Management Order Description In your role as a management consultant you have been asked by an organisation of your choice to conduct a strategic analysis to include an internal as well as external environmental analysis. Following the analysis of the operating environment, you will then be expected to evaluate and propose the strategic options available to the organisation in order to develop and sustain it’s competitive position. You will be expected to justify your recommendations taking into consideration the wider implications of such strategic decisions on different areas of the organisation. Using appropriate concepts, theoretical frameworks and techniques explored within the module, you will present your findings in the format of an individually written report (5,000 words maximum) providing a background of your chosen organisation in the appendices. Please note: Before beginning your research you should discuss your choice of organisation with your lecturer as it is expected that you will choose an organisation which you either work for or have been introduced to during the course of the module. In addition you should read the useful notes below: 1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style 2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment. 3. Length: 5,000 words (maximum) 4. Formatting: Typed on A4 paper in Times New Roman or Arial font 12 with at least 2.5 centimetre space at each edge, double spaced and pages numbered. 5. Document format: In business report format which should include the following sections: • Executive summary • Introduction • Main findings • Conclusions • Recommendations You should also ensure you include a clear title, course, and name or ID number on a cover sheet as well as a bibliography using Harvard referencing throughout. 6. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive. NB. The presentation of ideas with the use of a correct report format and a wide level of reading with correct referencing and correct reference list layout will enhance your responses to the above task. Task Description Read page 3. See pages 4 and 5 for further explanation. Submission Criteria The assignment should be no more than5,000wordsexcluding any diagram, bibliography and appendices. See further instructions on pages 3, 4 and 5. Assignment Marking Scheme: Research-informed Literature 15 marks Knowledge & Understanding of Subject 15 marks Analysis 30 marks Practical Application & Deployment 30 marks Skills for Professional Practice 10 marks Hard Copies All written assignments must be accompanied by two copies of submission sheet properly completed and signed by the student. Please retain one copy for your own records. Deadline The assignment deadline is mandatory. Late submission of either the electronic or paper version will result in a late penalty mark. - Penalties for late submission: Up to one week late, maximum mark of 50%. Over one week late, 0%. Extensions If a student requires an extension, they must apply directly to TSD. Turnitin Students are required to submit all assignments and coursework to Turnitin before final submission. A range of between 15% and 25% matched text is considered acceptable - this usually indicates original work with substantial use of quotations, citations and referencing. Please note: Turnitin does not negate the need for correct referencing. All quotations and cited text must be correctly referenced to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism Students are considered to have plagiarised when they do not credit the sources of their writing—the words, information, ideas or opinions of others. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the assignment is properly cited and referenced in accordance with the College’s citation requirements. You must give the full reference for each cited work (Harvard Method). Note that, with regard to assessments and examinations, copying, cheating and plagiarism are all considered as breaches of examination regulations and are therefore completely prohibited. IBATCollege uses anti-plagiarism software and this may be used without notice to validate any work submitted. TASK DESCRIPTION In your role as a management consultant you have been asked by an organisation of your choice to conduct a strategic analysis to include an internal as well as external environmental analysis. Following the analysis of the operating environment, you will then be expected to evaluate and propose the strategic options available to the organisation in order to develop and sustain it’s competitive position. You will be expected to justify your recommendations taking into consideration the wider implications of such strategic decisions on different areas of the organisation. Using appropriate concepts, theoretical frameworks and techniques explored within the module, you will present your findings in the format of an individually written report (5,000 words maximum) providing a background of your chosen organisation in the appendices. Please note: Before beginning your research you should discuss your choice of organisation with your lecturer as it is expected that you will choose an organisation which you either work for or have been introduced to during the course of the module. In addition you should read the useful notes below: 1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style 2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment. 3. Length: 5,000 words (maximum) 4. Formatting: Typed on A4 paper in Times New Roman or Arial font 12 with at least 2.5 centimetre space at each edge, double spaced and pages numbered. 5. Document format: In business report format which should include the following sections: • Executive summary • Introduction • Main findings • Conclusions • Recommendations You should also ensure you include a clear title, course, and name or ID number on a cover sheet as well as a bibliography using Harvard referencing throughout. 6. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive. NB. The presentation of ideas with the use of a correct report format and a wide level of reading with correct referencing and correct reference list layout will enhance your responses to the above task. GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF TASKS NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five common assessment criteria overleaf and specifically aligned to the “exceptional” outcome category to which we anticipate students aspire. 1. Research-informed Literature Your work must embed and be informed and supported by relevant and credible scholarly material that is accessible in the learned journals listed on the module schedule. You should refer to at least 10 such sources. Additionally, you should refer to text books, current news items and benchmark your organisation against other organisations to ensure your assignment is current and up-to-date. High-level referencing skills using the Harvard Method must be demonstrated throughout your work and all sources listed alphabetically within your bibliography. Specific to this assignment: In addition to scholarly materials mentioned above,you will be expected to have demonstrated thorough industry-specific research as well as the organisation itself using a variety of current sources. As a guide a minimum of 20 credible sources should be provided. 2. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject Your work must demonstrate the growing extent of your knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying principles associated with the subject area. This means that within your work, you should provide evidence of your growing mastery in critical awareness of current challenges, new insights and the constant need for innovation within the field. Furthermore, a critical awareness of the ambiguities and limitations of knowledge and even understanding, should be considered and examples of such, illustrated within your work. Specific to this assignment: In demonstrating in-depth knowledge and understanding of appropriate theory you are not required to provide explanation/description of models/frameworks considered. You are also expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the industry in which your chosen organisation operates. A good starting point might be to discuss key strategic issues, external and internal, facing the organisation using suitable analytical frameworks, e.g. Porter’s 5 Forces, Mendelow’s Stakeholder Analysis, RBV (resource-based) view of strategy, McKinsey 7S model, the Value Chain, summarising your findings in a SWOT/TOWS framework before moving on to evaluating feasible options. You should make sure alternative options are considered and their dismissal should be justified. There is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge and understanding of specific topics in relation to the wider implications for strategic management decisions. Topics you could consider might include leadership, culture, structure, innovation, technology, CSR, environmental and ethical challenges. 3. Analysis To be considered masters worthy, your work must contain evidence of analysis, evaluation and synthesis. This means not just describing “What!” but also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? At all times, you must provide justification of your arguments and judgements. Evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of others on matters occurring in the real world of business is crucial to you providing a reasoned and informed debate within your work. Your choice of methodologies to gather data and information must be rigorously defended. Furthermore, you should provide evidence that you are able to make sound judgements and convincing arguments in the absence of complete data, since within the real world of work, we rarely have access to, or know all the information! Persuasive conclusions are especially necessary and must be derived from the content of your work – there should be no new information presented within your conclusion. Your work should aspire to resemble work which is of journal publishable quality. Specific to this assignment: You will need to demonstrate an ability to evaluate the strategic options identified in relation to the development of competitive positioning. You should also demonstrate an understanding of the requirements of building competitive capability for leverage across markets. In considering specific strategies for developing and sustaining a competitive strategy you might utilise Ansoff’s growth/product matrix, Porter’s generic strategies, Strategic Clock etc. for analysis at business/corporate level. 4. Practical Application and Deployment It is essential that you rationalise how you decided upon certain methods, materials, tools and techniques to inform and complete your work. You must demonstrate what informed your decision(s) to apply certain concepts that enabled you to formulate innovative and creative solutions to the challenges presented to you or that you identified for yourself. Plausible and justifiable recommendations are required and where these are absent, your work could be undermined. Your work should provide evidence that you are growing in mastery in developing cutting edge processes and techniques within the subject area. Specific to this assignment:As mentioned above, there is no need to explain/describe frameworks used for analysis, the key is to effectively deploy and apply them within the context of the organisation, with extensive use of relevant examples. 5. Skills for Professional Practice Your work must provide evidence of your attributes in the application of professional practice. This includes demonstrating that you are highly capable of individual and collaborative working. Regarding the presentation of your work, you must demonstrate your ability to select and deploy the appropriate media that is “fit for purpose. Additionally, you must exhibit your ability to: communicate with an exceptionally high level of professionalism; work professionally, autonomously and within a team; develop leadership skills; and produce/present work that is coherent, cogent and specifically addresses the challenges set for you or you have set yourself. Importantly, your work should be easily understood by specialists and non-specialists in the field. Don’t forget that it is also important to consider the professional appearance of your finished work by ensuring the report is appropriately presented and that all pages are secured.