Your task 1 Choose an organisation for which there is a large amount of information available about both the industry and the firm. Small private companies can be used but are not usually a good idea. You may not choose companies which feature in the large case studies in the Johnson & Scholes and Grant textbooks, or companies used for in-class teaching. Please confirm your choice of company with your tutor before proceeding. Collecting information can be done in groups. 2 Group preparation - This task is your research and this part is not graded. However without the research you will not be able to successfully complete the individual task. Based on the information collected, you will be asked to construct strategic tools that will lead to the analysis performed in your individual report. 3. The Individual Report. This is the only graded submission. • Provide an analysis of the business environment of the firm. You should consider the main competitors and their competitive position; market details (value; share etc.); current trends in the market; future trends in the market (attractiveness of the industry). • Provide an internal analysis of the firm giving details of its current strategic position and tactics. You should also consider the resources and capabilities of the firm and how they impact upon the success or otherwise of the firm (distinctiveness of the firm). • Identify and evaluate possible strategies at the corporate and at the business level based on the previous analysis. • Recommend the route forward. Provide an explanation of the scenario chosen and critical analysis of the implications. The submission will be in the form of a consultant’s report. The exact presentation style will be at your discretion, but should be a professional, businesslike report. It should also use Harvard referencing. Guidance will be provided in classroom sessions. The assignment should be 4000 words in length, (+/- 10%) and is worth 100% of your grade. The word count does not include appendices, references, bibliography, or other supporting material which are additional and do not contribute to your grade. Include only those things which you would include in a professional business report or which are essential background for markers if you are writing about a less well-known business. Core Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes On completion of this unit you should be able to: Assessment Criteria To achieve the learning outcome you must demonstrate the ability to: 1 Critically evaluate the difference between issues of a strategic nature and those of an operational and functional nature Evaluate the difference between issues and problems of a strategic nature and those of an operational or functional nature. Exercise research-based judgment in scoping the extent and content of the strategic challenge to be addressed 2 Critically evaluate the usefulness and appropriateness of the analytical tools of strategic management in relation to conducting analysis of both the external and internal environments of the organisation Evaluate and select the relevant techniques and methods of analysis required in strategic problem situations and select the appropriate methods to conduct external and internal analysis of an organisation 3 Synthesise outcomes of analysis and critically analyse potential strategic options for an organisation Develop strategic options based on identification of strategic issues arising from analysis 4 Critically evaluate potential strategic options through critical evaluation of the key external developments; internal capabilities and demands of key stakeholders Select and apply appropriate financial and non-financial appraisal techniques in the assessment of the potential for identified strategic options to meet the over-arching objectives of the organisation • 100% weighting towards unit grade • Please submit your assignment to Turnitin in the assessments section of the BREO unit site by the stated deadline. You are allowed a single submission only so make sure you are happy with your work and that you submit the correct document. • Feedback will be provided through Turnitin within 15 working days. Assignment Guidance Section / Title Details / Guidance Title page Title of your report. Address (to/from) and date of the report. Executive Summary 150 word maximum summary of your report. Contents Page Include page numbers. Introduction Short introduction to the report setting out what the aims and objectives of the report are, what the report will cover and why. (Approximately 250 words) Analysis of the industry and the firm Using third party sources (e.g. academic literature) and secondary data to analyse the concepts underpinning industrial analysis. You should make reference to any relevant models, and frameworks and include critical viewpoints to assess the attractiveness of the industry. Using third party sources (e.g. academic literature) and secondary data to analyse the concepts underpinning internal strategic analysis. You should make reference to any relevant models, and frameworks and include critical viewpoints to assess the distinctiveness of the firm. (Approximately 1170 words) Identification of the possible scenarios Using third party sources (e.g. academic literature) and data collected about the industry and the firm analyse the concepts underpinning corporate strategy and choose the one more appropriate for your firm. You should make reference to any relevant models, and frameworks and include critical viewpoints. Using third party sources (e.g. academic literature) and data collected about the industry and the firm analyse the concepts underpinning business strategy and choose the more appropriate one for your firm. You should make reference to any relevant models, and frameworks and include critical viewpoints. (Approximately 1170 words) Evaluation of the strategy and recommendation Evaluate the proposed strategies (corporate and business ones) using adequate frameworks and provide an explanation of why these strategies are best suited for your firm. (Approximately 1170 words) Recommendations criteria This section should summarise the report aim and objectives and draw together the main points from your analysis of literature. It identifies what has been learned from undertaking this research it should clearly summarise the justification of your chosen strategies/ recommendations. (Approximately 200 words). Reference List A list of all sources cited directly in the text. Harvard style. Bibliography List The sources you consulted but which you do not cite, also to be presented in the Harvard style.