Strategic Analysis of a Company's Strategic Position

Present a critical strategic analysis of the following business activity:

The coursework is an individual piece of work. It will be 3,000 words, inclusive of appendices (+/- 10%). Please note that text in diagrams or tables will count towards the word count. The reference list should not be included in the word count.

• Introduction to the report
• An evaluation of the relevant levels of strategy
• A critical evaluation of the key stakeholders
• External Analysis – using PESTEL to identify and explore key trends
• Industry Analysis – using 5 Forces to critically analyse the relevant industry factors

It is important that attention be focused on a strategic appraisal of the company as opposed to providing lots of interesting facts over what interests you or what you find on the internet. Assessment will focus on students’ abilities in applying strategic models and frameworks in a coherent manner that enables them to develop a clear strategic view of the strategic position being studied. You do not need to reference many academic sources (but some are expected) in this element of the assessment, but you must reference sources of company or market information.

The report is well organised and logically constructed to satisfy the requirements of cogency and synthesis while being mindful of the needs of the reader. The structure of strategic analysis introduced in the module should be applied.

Application of Theory (Frameworks and models) Theoretical frameworks and models introduced in the module should beapplied.

Clarity of Strategic Evaluation. Key strategic factors should be critically evaluated.

Does the paper remain within the parameters set by the instructions, while paying particular regard to the conventions of report writing, spell checking, grammar and appropriately referenced (The marks for each criterion are to illustrate where the main effort should be spent and are not meant to be a strict marking scheme)

Please remember that an assignment is not meant to DESCRIBE what you have found. Analysis means commenting on your findings and what the evidence suggests about the company.

The introduction should be brief. It is not meant to provide a history of the company

The Conclusion needs to draw the analysis to a close and comment on the sustainability of the company’s strategic position. Remember you do not introduce new findings into the Conclusion

If you include Appendices you must refer to them in the relevant section of the report findings

References should clearly list all the material that has been referred to in the report and set out using Harvard style:

Remember to use the models in a ‘dynamic’ way i.e. place relevant examples onto the models. Do not simply copy and paste ‘generic’ examples from the lecture slides

Words in the models are included in the word limit. The models lose their value if they are full of text. They should aid understanding not confuse the reader because too much has been stuffed into them

Models should be included in the main body of the report. Only place them in the appendices if they are close to a full page

You may well refer to points made in earlier parts of the report to show the connections in the analysis. This shows an awareness of the links between themes

You will struggle to stay within the word limit so focus on the KEY DRIVERS in your analysis

You will not be able to use all of the examples if you have done the level of reading required so ‘cherry pick’ those that best illustrate the key drivers

Facts and figures need to be supported with sources clearly referenced.

Be your own independent work and free from plagiarism by ensuring that work that is not your own is clearly referenced

Use Harvard style citation and referencing

Be written in appropriate academic style

Be professionally presented

Be word processed using font size 12 for the main text and 1.5 line spacing

Have numbered pages

Have been spell checked and proof-read

Be anonymous and have your Student Enrolment number on every page

Have a clearly labelled front page detailing the module code and title, title of the assignment, tutors name, your enrolment number and the date of submission

Be submitted via the Turnitin link on the VLE