Group Assignment & Individual Assessment: Strategic Management Module

Specific Requirements

Assessment Details (1)
(1) Specific Requirements: 

This is a research-based group assignment designed to test students in regard to the principal learning outcomes for the module as set out in the Module Guide. For the purposes of the assignment, each student group is required to adopt the role of an external strategy consulting group reporting to, and advising, the Board of Directors of a large domestic or international organisation of the group’s own choice (via the CEO of the organisation involved). 

The report to the Board of Directors should contain the following principal elements:

1.    An analysis of the organisation’s external environment (societal and industry), highlighting, in particular, the major trends evident in the organisation’s industry environment, the opportunities and threats posed by these trends, and the implications of same for the future strategy of the organisation            
 (40 marks); 

2.    An analysis of the organisation’s internal strategic capability in terms, especially, of its ability to respond to the external opportunities and threats identified    (40 marks); and

 

3.    The group’s conclusions and recommendations for the future strategic direction of the organisation in the light of 1 and 2 above (highlighting the various strategy development options open to it)  (20 marks).

The report must also contain the following:

•    A numbered contents page
•    An Executive Summary
•    An identifiable main body
•    Conclusions/Recommendations
A list of References and Bibliography
Numbered Appendices (where appropriate).

 

NB: Please note that the above deliverables must show evidence of assignment-specific research underpinning the group’s work. Furthermore, groups are required to use relevant academic models and frameworks to underpin/support their analysis, conclusions, and recommendations as appropriate. 

 

Assessment Details (2)
(2) Specific Requirements 

Individual Assessment. The second coursework element will consist of an individual literature review. You must research and analyse relevant academic literature concerning one of the topics below. You must present a comprehensive fully referenced academic research paper on this area. The use of substantial secondary research is required to achieve the optimal understanding of your research topic.  In short, a comprehensive critical literature review and full assessment of the area must be evident. 

 

Word Count: 2000 words. 
10% flexibility in word count will be permitted, either below the minimum or above the maximum, with no penalty being incurred.
Please ensure the final correct word count, excluding appendices and bibliography is clearly indicated on the front cover of your assignment. 

 

TOPICS
1.    The dangers of bad strategy.
2.    The tension between strategy development and application.
3.    The role of the strategy consultant.
4.    Another applied strategy topic of your choice but agreed with the lecturer.

Or

5.    Conduct a Reflection on Learning piece where you outline with the help of relevant models and theories your learning journey through this module

7.  Module Delivery:

Module delivery will be:

     Student-oriented
     Assessment-oriented, and
   Real-world’ oriented, to enable students to take full advantage of the experience of their lecturer/guest presenters, and better prepare them for future managerial employment and/or further study in the strategic management field.

 

Actual delivery will be in the form of 2 weekly blocks of two hours made up of lecturer input, group discussion, individual and group exercises/presentations and topic/case-specific workshops and seminars. The nature of the module is essentially participative. To gain maximum benefit from workshops/seminars/group exercises/discussions students need to read the relevant chapters/articles highlighted by the Module Leader in advance, and generally keep abreast of what is going on in the wider business environment through the available media such as tv/radio, newspapers, websites, magazines and journals etc.