Report Section How To Approach To The Task Executive Summary • Executive Summaries are summaries provided for a reader who, most likely, does not have time to read the entire document. Therefore, the Executive Summary must be a separate, stand-alone section, sufficient in content to ensure that the reader can completely understand the contents of the longer document. • No longer than a half a page. • Should be delivered after the table of contents. • Executive summary has a bit of introduction in it but covers all other major features of the book • Executive summary is sharper and more precise than the introduction Introduction Introductions in reports have three main functions: • Making the purpose of the document clear • Explaining the scope of the document. • Preparing the reader for the contents, giving a simple framework on which to build understanding of the document and sometimes providing a roadmap to the content. • Gaining the reader's attention. • Providing some background information. • Indicating the authority under which the document is written. • In short, your introduction should provide your readers with whatever they need to prepare them to understand the information in your report or proposal. Main Body TASK 1 1. PESTLE ANALYSIS 2. PORTER'S FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS 3. Based on your own PESTLE and PORTER's 5 FORCES analysis findings, identify opportunities and threats in the Chinese Market. TASK 2 1. Resources analysis of the company of your choice a. Physical resources b. Financial resources c. Human resources 2. Competencies analysis of the company a. Core competencies b. Threshold competencies 3. Please explain how the existing resources and competencies would create a competitive advantage in the Chinese market and if the company would be able to use the existing competencies as a core competency in the Chinese market. For example: One of Morrison's core competencies is "deals" which attracts a particular group of customers in the UK market as they can buy the same quality at a lower price. However in China, reduced price would be perceived as reduced quality straight away although the product quality has not changed but its price only. Hence Morrisons would not be able to bring its "deals" as a core competency into the Chinese market. TASK 3 1. Current Strategic Statements of the Company a. Vision statement (as original – please DON'T paraphrase or summarise it – you can use snipping tool) b. Mission (as original – please DON'T paraphrase or summarise it – you can use snipping tool) If the company has more than one strategic business units (SBU), please focus on the retail one only. For instance if Ocado operates in the finance sector or in some other industries like Virgin Group, take the retailer one only 2. Recommended change in the vision statement and in the mission statement and why (critical evaluation)? You could easily justify the recommended change by the analysis you have done in Task 1 and 2. Conclusion PURPOSE OF THE CONCLUSION • To memorialize your report or controlling idea in the reader's mind • To make a final impression upon the reader that your reasoning is good, your character is honourable, and your point or your position should be considered very carefully • To help you do this, here's a list of suggestions: RESTATEMENT • Restate the report in slightly different language • Restate the important points • Repeat the significance of the report EMPHASIS • Emphasize the heart of your report SUMMARY • Summarize your main points (but watch for dullness) Make sure that your conclusion is not too long. End with a bang (but don't cause an explosion) Referencing • Students need to know that TURNITIN does not check if the referencing has been applied correctly throughout the report. • Referencing is checked by the marker. Hence the level of Turnitin score does not indicate if referencing is OK in the report. • If Turnitin score is slightly higher than the upper limit along with a poor application of Harvard Referencing System, the report fails. Appendix • This section is OPTIONAL and might NOT be reviewed by the marker. • The appendix is supplemental content that is added near the end of the report. • The content in the appendix is seen as additional reference information that supports main material within the report. • The appendix may contain a list of the sources used, tables, diagrams, and a list of dates and so on. • It may also contain a list of additional works which may interest the reader to read further. • Raw data is often included in the appendix so that readers can verify the sources immediately. • Information that is not essential to explain your findings, but that supports your analysis (especially repetitive or lengthy information), validates your conclusions or pursues a related point should be placed in the appendix. • There is no limit to what can be placed in the appendix providing it is relevant and reference is made to it in the report. • The appendix is not a catch net for all the semi-interesting or related information you have gathered through your research for your report: the information included in the appendix must bear directly relate to the research problem or the report's purpose. It must be a useful tool for the reader. What's more • This academic work requires good level of data mining, summarizing and interpretation of the data. • Any irrelevant explanation or theoretical information will be classified as "unnecessary background information" and will affect the mark given negatively. • Students can deliver the information in a variety formats such as table, in a paragraph, chart, layout, smart art. • The font style is Times New Roman/Arial and the size is 11 for the normal texts • The font style is Times New Roman/Arial and the size is 12 for the headings and subheadings • Headings and subheadings should be numbered through the multilevel numbering option on the menu • 1.5 line space Cover page • COVER PAGE SHOULD NOT INCLUDE STUDENT NAME. • No executive summary or any part or the actual report should be delivered on the cover page. • Cover page should cover: Student ID Number Module Name and Module Code (Strategic Management PM 303) Report Title The name of the course of study Deadline