Module code: NBS Module title: Strategic Management Assessment type: Summative – Individual Written Report Coursework title: Strategic Analysis and Formulation of Company Weighting: 40% Word Limit: 3,000 words Briefing date: Lecture 1 (Autumn Term Week 1) and Lecture 15 (Spring Term Week 3) Submission date: 11/02/2016 (Spring Term Week 5) Feedback/Return of marked work date: 20 working days after submission date Re-assessment: Assignment as detailed below. Individual written report is to be revised and re- submitted during August 2016. Deadline date is to be specified. Assessment Support: Coursework session in Seminar during week 4 (beginning 01 Feb 2016). Staff will also be available during their weekly ‘office hours’ slots to address any questions regarding the coursework. Course work details This assignment requires you to write report conducting both strategic analysis and strategic formulation for a particular company. This should be based on your original research and use suitable strategic management (SM) theories / frameworks that have been taught during the course of the module, found in course / supplementary texts and in academic journal articles. This can be on any company apart from those that have been covered in the seminar case studies. You do not need confirmation of the company from the Module Organiser. Please note the emphasis is on applying the SM theories and frameworks (covered in the lectures, or using your own research). Please also note that you are not expected to discuss or critique the frameworks in the assignment, but rather to concentrate on applying them. If you are using frameworks not covered in the lectures, please cite the source (these can be derived SM text books or academic journals). The learning objectives of the assignment are to: ? Develop your skills in relation to analysing and interpreting complex company, competitive, and industry environments; ? Apply Strategic Management theory to complex organisational contexts. ? Build confidence in making strategy decisions based on key strategic issues and techniques, with respect to a competitive environment. ? Develop your individual skills in terms of formal report writing, analysis, critical reflection, and develop further effective communication skills. The report has two main elements: Part 1: Strategic Analysis of the purpose, internal, and external environments of the organisation that form the basis for the recommendations made in next part, ‘strategic formulation / choice’; The first stage is strategic analysis, where the aim is to achieve an understanding of the key strategic issues, both externally and internally, that are likely to influence the performance of the company into the future. The purpose of strategic analysis is not to provide answers but to help us understand the issues. In other words, using appropriate frameworks that allow us to identify, classify, and understand the principal factors relevant to strategic decisions. Students are required to carry out extensive research to update the information provided, in order for a full strategic overview to be formed. It is suggested that secondary data sources are extensively utilised e.g. electronic library sources/hard copy data/articles in academic journals/business press such as the Financial Times and the Economist. NB The ‘popular press’ should not be used (i.e. The Sun would not traditionally be classed as “business press”). Wikipedia references are not considered to be of the required standard and hence should not be included. Part 2: Strategy Formulation / Choice – Should contain recommendations and a rationale for those recommendations. The second stage of this research will concern the development of a range of strategic options, their evaluation and the selection of the ones to be implemented. Various models and tools that are part of strategic management theory may help you in your analysis. Additionally if there is a key issue that has received research attention in management journals, students are encouraged to introduce this into the debate presented in their reports. Remember, as in the real world, understanding is only achieved by interpretation of the analysis undertaken, and it is up to you to present a well justified and logical argument for the strategic plan presented. Justification should be made by referring to the relevant literature, or additional research. General Advice It is important that you do not focus on the number of tools of analysis used. We are often asked “how many tools should I use”? While there will be a critical mass of analysis that has to take place (facilitated by the tools of analysis), it the quality of the argument presented that will determine the final mark. Hence it is the data/interpretation of the data that is important and not the volume of tools of analysis used by groups. A rough outline of a report is provided on Blackboard to help students structure their reports. As in all decision making in business, generally there are no right and wrong solutions. Good strategic decisions are generally recognised as those where there has been generation of several alternative strategies, consideration of the likely outcomes from adopting each alternative, and a convincing justification for why the chosen strategy is likely to be more effective than the other alternatives. ? Submission of Coursework All written coursework should be anonymous. Please DO NOT put your name on your coursework, only your student number is required. Your student number can be found on your student campus card. Please double check your student number is written correctly before submitting your work. The word count for this piece of work is 3,000 words. Students must include their word count on the coursework coversheet when they submit their work. Word limits for written assignments are to include: footnotes and endnotes (irrespective of whether they have been used for the purpose of referencing or not), references (in the main text), tables and illustrations, and if applicable the abstract, title page and contents page. Any material placed in the appendices and the bibliography or reference list should be excluded from the word count. Penalties for exceeding the word limit: ????Up to 10% over word limit ????No Penalty ???10% or more over the word limit ???Deduction of 10 marks off original mark ???Failure to provide an electronic copy when requested ???Mark capped to the pass mark ???Intentional misrepresentation of the word count on the coversheet ???Mark capped to the pass mark ???NOTE: 1. When the original mark is within 10 marks of the pass mark, the penalty will be capped at the pass mark ?????2. Original marks below the pass mark will not be penalized ???Grading: Please note that all work will graded according to the Senate scales available at: https://www.uea.ac.uk/learningandteaching/documents/assessment/SenateScaleClassification+- +Coursework Structure guideline for the report. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A SUGGESTION ONLY
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