Assessment Pack Programme Module Title Understanding Strategy Module code/Level Module Leader Location of Delivery Credit: 15 Module Description: 1. To enable students to develop an awareness of, and become familiar with, academic theories, frameworks, managerial models and techniques that contribute to business strategic planning and management. 2. To critically evaluate and apply appropriate strategic models and techniques which may be relevant when considering students’ own organizations’ or industry strategic development. Main topics of study: 1. Internal and external environmental auditing techniques 2. Resource-based factors: for example, physical and virtual value chains, distinctive capabilities, intangible assets, core competencies, reputation and innovation. 3. Business policy/strategic choices and 4. hange within an organization 5. The part played by data, information and knowledge in developing business policy /strategy. 6. Consideration of performance as an evaluating tool of business policy 7. Problems associated with conventional performance measures and alternative approaches to measuring performance. Understanding StrategyLearning Outcomes for the module On completion of this module, students will be able to: 1. Choose appropriate modules, techniques and theories to produce an environmental audit of the external and internal environment of an organization. 2. Recognize and evaluate the importance of resource-based factors within a business and their potential contribution to achieving a competitive advantage. 3. Identify and distinguish between the alternative strategic directions an organization may follow, and propose the most appropriate. 4. Identify strategic drift and the factors associated with transformational change. 5. Recognize and critically consider how contemporary views of strategy may impact on Management thinking. 6. Evaluate the nature and significance of performance within an organization Assessment Methods of the Module (As per the Module Specification) Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework A Strategic Plan of about 3500-4000 words is to be developed by individual student for a company of their choice. Your assignment should be structured as follows: 1. An Executive Summary 2. Introduction (a brief background of the entity that you are writing ) 3. The major issues currently faced by the firm 4. PESTLE Analysis (to be summarized in a table with headings: “Political,” “Economic”. etc ) 5. - Competitive Profile Matrix. 6. Porter’s 5-Force Analysis 7. SWOT Analysis (to be summarized in a table with headings: “Strengths”, “Weaknesses:, etc) 8. Proposed Strategies ( At least THREE ) - Business strategy - Corporate Strategy (ies) 9. Conclusion: Summary of main proposals/rationale 10. RecommendationAssessment Question for APR ‘14 Term: Type: Coursework Weighting: 100% Report Word Count 3500-4000 words Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1-6 Using your own organization (or one that you will have sufficient knowledge/information of), carry out a strategic analysis of one of the organization’s Strategic Business Units (SBUs – if your organization is small, you could consider the organization as a single SBU). Strategic Analysis comprises the following: 1. Carry out a PEST/PESTLE analysis of the general environment facing the organization (this would look at issues and trends, such as Political, Economic factors, etc) 2. List and examine the organization’s major competitors 3. Carry out Porter’s 5-Force Analysis to analyze the industry that your organization exists in. It will impact your organization’s competitiveness in future 4. Prepare a SWOT analysis 5. Based on all the above, re-examine/develop the business (generic) strategy of the SBU. Also comment on/develop the overall corporate strategy of the organization. This section must be linked to the above analyses, and must be backed by critical arguments. Instructions for the Coursework: Your assignment should be structured as follows: 1. An Executive Summary 2. Introduction (a brief background of the entity that you are writing ) 3. The major issues currently faced by the firm 4. PESTLE Analysis (to be summarized in a table with headings: “Political,” “Economic”. etc ) 5. Competitive Profile Matrix. 6. Porter’s 5-Force Analysis 7. SWOT Analysis (to be summarized in a table with headings: “Strengths”, “Weaknesses:, etc) 8. Proposed Strategies ( At least THREE ) - Business strategy - Corporate Strategy (ies) 9. Conclusion: Summary of main proposals/rationale 10. Recommendation Criteria for the Coursework Marking: The marking criteria will be as follows: Strategic analysis: 50% Proposed strategies and justification: 30% English, references, presentation: 20%