International Strategy Simulation Competitive

1 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS BS4S112 Assessment 2 Brief & Tips AN INDIVIDUAL REPORT BASED ON THE BUSINESS SIMULATION Submission deadline: Friday 2nd December 12:00 pm The assessment for the simulation is a report-based piece of coursework worth 60% of the overall grade. 60% of final grade final INDIVIDUAL report write-up on simulation. Individually graded but based on the work and decisions of the team, so active participation is required. A 3000-word report (+/- 10%) (not including bibliography, charts and illustrations) on how your decisions were made, applying the theory you have learned in the module and using references. DO NOT WORRY if your company lost money the report is assessed based on your knowledge and application. During the Global Strategy simulation, your team has been involved in developing an international strategy to boost a start-up company's long-term growth and profitability. Your team has operationalised your international strategy by setting (and revising) targets and implementing decisions over a simulated six-year period. This includes all relevant opportunities associated with global expansion and growth. Considering your team's vital strategic choices made during the international strategy simulation and using relevant theory-informed insights and analytical frameworks from BS4S112, critically evaluate to what extent your team may have facilitated (and/or inhibited) value creation for the start-up company. Your answer must address the four key points below: 1. Provide an analysis of the strategic thinking process involved during the simulation (i.e. strategy analysis strategic choice and formulation strategy implementation) 2. Provide an assessment of some of the most important choices you made during the simulation. For example, why did you choose to enter country A rather than country B and what were the consequences of that decision? Why did you invest in a particular function (such as Marketing and R&D), and why did that investment positively or negatively influence growth? 3. Analyse how the choices and strategy created value and why some of your team's choices may have failed to add value (i.e. in terms of key performance indicators). 4. Demonstrate critical use of theoretical insights and analytical frameworks to assess the international strategy simulation's competitive, strategic and performance implications. 2 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS The key objective of the assessment is to demonstrate your knowledge and application of the Global Strategy frameworks. Discuss the theory and how it influenced your decisions in the simulation. A strong essay must use the key themes and frameworks addressed in the module. 1. Use academic research using literature from journals, books etc. 2. Undertake a critical evaluation of your simulation business and internationalisation strategy, making effective use of evidence and sources 3. Present findings in an appropriate format with Harvard referencing Assessment Criteria Weighting Demonstrated understanding of the question and relevance of the answers 15% Evidence of engagement with the literature and demonstrates understanding 25% Justification of the application of relevant strategy frameworks 20% Quality of the research involved in the analysis 20% Structure of the report clarity and organisation 20% Guidelines: 1. The word limit is 3000 words +/- 10% inclusive of appendices. 2. Where you directly quote or take ideas from something you have read you MUST reference these correctly using the Harvard referencing system, NOT numbered footnotes 3. Assignments should be word processed in 12-point type 4. Write clearly and professionally and avoid the use of 1st person 'I' and 'We' and take pride in presentation and spelling 5. A good conclusion is crucial for good marks Plagiarism: You must reference the author and originator when quoting you must acknowledge the source. If you fail to acknowledge the source you risk being accused of plagiarism. Assignments are submitted through the Turnitin link set up in the Assessment folder on the module's Blackboard site. You can submit work several times prior to the deadline but the systems can take up to a day to allow you to resubmit work. Late submission is not accepted and if you are unable to meet the deadline and have reasonable grounds, please contact the Student Advice Zone to apply for extenuating circumstances. 3 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS T I P S F OR INDIVIDUAL A SSIGNMENT (REPORT F OR BS 4S112 - S imulation) 1. T h ese are some of t he m ain criteria t hat y ou can use t o reflect on after y ou have com pleted y our i ndividual report. 1. Evidence of adequate and appropriate background reading 2. Application of insights from theoretical frameworks and the literature to defend some of the relevant content, including but not limited to strategic analysis, strategic choices and strategic implementation. 3. Careful planning and organisation of the report (sections). 4. Evidence of systematic thought and argument 5. Clarity of expression 6. Careful presentation of ideas as well as accurate typing and proof-reading, helpful diagrams, etc. 7. Accurate bibliographic and referencing standards 8. Observation of length requirements Criteria 1-4 are to do with content and Criteria 6-8 involve issues of presentation. Criteria 5 involves the use of appropriate academic vocabulary at Masters level. 2. B al ance One key element in a successful report is balance, in two senses: physically, it refers to the distribution of information in your text; and intellectually, there is an expectation that you will present both sides of an issue where appropriate. a. Balance in presentation You need to decide roughly how much space (how many words) to allocate to the various sections of the assignment. b. Balance in argument The second aspect of balance in academic writing is that you are expected to present an 'evenhanded' argument. Making a strong logical case using the literature to persuade your reader to accept your point is really only half the picture. Effective argumentation also involves (i) Anticipating possible objections to your reasons or evidence (ii) Showing that (implicitly) you have considered those objections, (iii) Using counter-arguments (where appropriate) - the process known as refutation. 3. S t ructuring t he report I n t roduction Introductory paragraph 4 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS The introduction should explain the general ideas to come, as well as your thesis statement, which tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the report. The rest of the report should gather evidence and organise a case around your thesis statement. T opic sentences A topic sentence is like a mini introduction to the body of your paragraph. Your topic sentence should explain what the body of the paragraph will cover, (just like your introduction explains what to expect in the report). It is a good idea to "map" out your report, by first writing topic sentences for each of the different paragraphs or sections of your report. B ody Support sentences Support sentences are the body of paragraphs. This is the section of your report that serves to provide evidence and examples that reinforce your main arguments. Support sentences are also used to clearly explain and underpin main ideas. Con clusion Concluding sentences The concluding sentence is used to reiterate the main points developed by the support sentences, and signal the end of a paragraph. They are also useful for adding emphasis to certain key points, through repetition. Also provided below is how to create the different parts of a report outside of the general writing, which are: Title, Summary, Recommendations, Appendix. (References and Table of Contents are to be done in accordance with standard norms and conventions of an academic report). T i tle The title is your first contact with the reader, and should inform them succinctly about what they are about to read. S u m mary ( Abstract) The purpose of a summary is to provide an overview of the report. It is not necessary to give detailed information in the summary, but rather to provide an indication of the type of information that the report contains. Average summaries are between 100-150 words and are generally written after the report has been completed, so that you know exactly what you are summarising. R ecommendations Recommendations are not an essential part of this report; however, if you are including one, it should follow from your conclusion. A brief statement clearly declaring your recommendations will suffice. A p pendix An appendix contains materials that are peripheral, but relevant to your report. For example, you may wish to include a glossary of terms in your appendix if you are writing a technical report for those who are not experts on the subject. You should include copies of research findings (where appropriate) from the simulation including 5 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS tables and diagrams that you feel would disrupt the flow of your report by breaking it up. If your appendix does contain tables, diagrams etc., make sure to label them properly, so that they can easily be found when referenced in-text. Provided below is a snapshot of what a typical report looks like. 4. W ri ting the report: t he seven essential st ages All reports need to be clear, concise and well structured. The key to writing an effective report is to allocate time for planning and preparation. With careful planning, the writing of a report will be made much easier. The essential stages of successful report writing are described below. Consider how long each stage is likely to take and divide the time before the deadline between the different stages. Be sure to leave time for final proof reading and checking. S t age O ne: Understanding t he report brief This first stage is the most important. You need to be confident that you understand the purpose of your report as described in your report brief or instructions. Consider who the 6 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS report is for and why it is being written. Check that you understand all the instructions or requirements, and ask me if anything is unclear. S t age Two: Gathering and selecting information Once you are clear about the purpose of your report, you need to begin to gather relevant information. This will be mostly in the form of findings from simulation in each round. Your information may come from a variety of strategic choices used in each rounds, but how much information you will need will depend on how the primary focus of the report, i.e. in what ways in which your group has added value for the focal firm. In some cases, it is quite possible that your group were not able to deliver the results as expected. In this regard, your focus should be on analysis of why some of your choices may have failed to add value (i.e. in terms of market share, profit, customer satisfaction etc.). You may want to begin by reading relevant literature to widen your understanding of the topic or issue before you go on to look at other forms of information such as questionnaires, surveys etc. As you read and gather information you need to assess its relevance to your findings and select accordingly. Keep referring to your report brief to help you decide what relevant information is. S t age Three: O rganising y our m aterial Once you have gathered information you need to decide what will be included and in what sequence it should be presented. Begin by grouping together points that are related. These may form sections. Remember to keep referring to the report brief and be prepared to cut any information that is not directly relevant to the report. Choose an order for your material that is logical and easy to follow. S t age F our: Analysing y our m aterial Before you begin to write your first draft of the report, take time to consider and make notes on the points you will make using the facts and evidence (data/information) you have gathered from the simulation results. What conclusions can be drawn from the findings on performance as a consequence of some of the strategic choices made? What are the limitations or flaws in the strategy used? Do certain pieces of evidence conflict with one another? It is not enough to simply present the information you have gathered; you must relate it to the problem or issue described in the report brief. S t age F ive: W riting t he report Having organised your material into appropriate sections and headings you can begin to write the first draft of your report. You may find it easier to write the summary and contents page at the end when you know exactly what will be included. Aim for a writing style that is direct and precise. Avoid waffle and make your points clearly and concisely. Sections and individual paragraphs should be written with a clear structure. The structure described below can be adapted and applied to chapters, sections and even paragraphs. - Introduce the main idea of the chapter/section/paragraph - Explain and expand the idea, defining key terms - Present relevant evidence to support your points - Comment on those information/data that created value for your group especially as a result of the implementation of strategic choices and most importantly, how it relates to your point(s). 7 PUBLI C / CYHOEDDUS Make sure that there is a coherent flow of arguments linking one paragraph or section to the next one. Also, conclude your section/paragraph by showing its significance to the report as a whole. S t age S ix: R eviewing and redrafting Ideally, you should leave time to take a break before you review your first draft. Be prepared to rearrange or rewrite sections in the light of your review. Try to read the draft from the perspective of the reader. Is it easy to follow with a clear structure that makes sense? Are the points concisely but clearly explained and supported by relevant evidence? Writing on a word processor makes it easier to rewrite and rearrange sections or paragraphs in your first draft. If your group is using hand notes, try writing each section on a separate piece of paper to make redrafting easier and then combine it and review it further. This hand-written draft however needs to be typed in a word document later and maybe-time consuming but it might work very well for certain groups who are comfortable with this style. S t age S even: P resentation Once you are satisfied with the content and structure of your redrafted report, you can turn your attention to the presentation. Check that the wording of each section/subheading is clear and accurate. Check that you have adhered to the instructions in your report brief regarding format and presentation. Check for consistency in numbering of sections and appendices. Make sure that all your sources are acknowledged and correctly referenced. You will need to thoroughly read your report for errors of spelling or grammar. If time allows, read more than once. Errors in presentation or expression create a poor impression and can make the report difficult to read.