Assignment title: Information
Selecting an Organization
In selecting this company, you will need to ensure the following:
• Availability of information about the companies' strategy, innovations, products, services and human resources mix
• Availability (with management's permission) of staff members to discuss issues and challenges related to strategy and innovation
• Availability of key executives to provide you with information about the corporate culture and any innovation initiatives undertaken
• Access to the various functional areas of the organization, including the information technology (IT) department, marketing department, human resources department, research and development (R&D) department (if existent) and other manufacturing or service departments
Note: You may select a non-profit or a non-governmental organization (NGO) instead of a publicly listed company. Regardless of the organization, you will need access to information and key leaders in order to complete the Final Project.
Overview
In your Final Project for the MBA Strategy and Innovation module, you will, in the hypothetical
role of a consultant to senior leadership, prepare and submit a business strategy study to the
management of your selected organization. This study, which will be contained in one document,
is composed of two parts: (1) a detailed Business Strategy Report (which you complete first but
will present last) and (2) a Strategy Recommendations and Evaluation Summary (which you will
complete last but present first).
Your Business Strategy Report will provide an in-depth set of analyses, based on work you have
done in Units 1 through 5, of the organization's current strategic position. The report will also
provide a comprehensive set of recommendations and action plans, with supporting reasoning
and evidence. This cumulative report will be approximately 4000 words.
Your Strategy Recommendations and Evaluation Summary will distil and synthesize your work
from your report into a 1000-word summarized version that will focus on calling out your
recommendations and that will provide an evaluation of the strategy and its action plan details.
Thus, the Final Project paper will contain two major sections: the Strategy Recommendations
and Evaluation Summary should come first, followed by the detailed Business Strategy Report
(and its appropriate subsections). The combined work should be in the range of 5000 words (+/-
10%).
Throughout this module, you will develop various sections of this report through your work on
both Shared Activities and Individual Assignments. You will receive feedback on your
Individual Assignment submissions from your Faculty Member. You are expected to incorporate
this feedback into the final version of the project paper.
During Unit 6, you will compile these sections and make any refinements based on feedback
received. You will also develop the additional sections required to complete and submit the Final
Project.
Selecting an Organization
In selecting this company, you will need to ensure the following:
Availability of information about the companies' strategy, innovations, products, services
and human resources mix
Availability (with management's permission) of staff members to discuss issues and
challenges related to strategy and innovation
Availability of key executives to provide you with information about the corporate
culture and any innovation initiatives undertaken
Access to the various functional areas of the organization, including the information
technology (IT) department, marketing department, human resources department,
research and development (R&D) department (if existent) and other manufacturing or
service departments
Note: You may select a non-profit or a non-governmental organization (NGO) instead of a
publicly listed company. Regardless of the organization, you will need access to information and
key leaders in order to complete the Final Project.
Contents
Your Final Project in this module consists of two parts:
Part 1: Business strategy report (5,000 words)
o Section 1: Strategy Recommendations and Evaluation Summary (1,000 words)
o Section 2: Business Strategy Report (4,000 words)
Part 2: PPDP Update (not assessed)
You will prepare a business strategy report that will follow this general outline:
Section 1: Strategy Recommendations and Evaluation Summary (1,000 words)
In this section, distil and synthesize your work from your detailed business report in
Section 2 into a powerful, persuasive version that will focus on calling out your
recommendations and that will provide an evaluation of the strategy and its action plan
details. Remember, your audience is the senior leadership team and you must write your
summary to persuade them to accept your recommendations.
Section 2: Business Strategy Report (4,000 words from Units 1-5)
Imagine that you are the business consultant of your chosen organization and you are
requested to prepare a comprehensive business strategy report for the top management
team. Compile your Individual Assignments from Units 1 through 5 into a single business
report document. Revise the content based on feedback from your Faculty Member and
what you have learned throughout the module.
Appendices (New)
Include any supporting documentation that you believe is required in this section. This
documentation may include organizational data, historical information, additional
information on tools, or any other information that would be pertinent in support of your
proposed solution.
References
Include all references with appropriate formatting in the Harvard Referencing Style.
Please note:
Word counts: Submissions that range from 10% below to 10% above the recommended
word count are acceptable. Students should recognize that assignment submissions that
fall outside these parameters may be marked down, since the quality of the assignment is
likely to suffer accordingly.
All citations in your report should be supported with appropriate literature sources. These
should appear in Harvard format in your References section at the end of your report.
Final Project Part 2: PPDP Update (not assessed)
In addition to your Final Project, you should review and update your Personal and Professional
Development Plan (PPDP) by adding/revising at least one new goal connected to your learning
in this module.
Additional Guidance
The assessment criteria (rubrics) for each of the graded elements of the Final Project are
available with other module rubrics and can be accessed by clicking the "Rubrics" button at the
top of the Module Home page.
Please contact your module Faculty Member if you have any additional questions about the Final
Project.
Assessment and Grading
The Final Project accounts for 80% of your grade for this module. This 80% is further broken
down as follows:
Business Strategy Report (5,000 words)
Critical analysis of organizational strategy and innovation (80%)
Writing and presentation style (20%)
The Final Project is due the last day of this module.
To complete your Final Project, do the following:
Submit in one Word document Sections 1-2, Appendices and References to the Final
Project Part 1 submission link in the Final Project area on the Module Menu.
Submit the PPDP update to the Final Project Part 2 submission link in the Final
Project area on the Module Menu.