Academic year / semester

24/25

Module code and title

6BE005 The Strategic Business

Module Leader

Alistair Sale

Assignment name

Coursework 1

Assignment type

Individual written case study

Assignment weighting and size

3000 words +/- 10%

Assessment unpacking video location

Available within canvas

‘What’s my assignment?’ unpacking date (if applicable)

First Face to face session

Formative submission date (if applicable)

Week 11/12 face to face session

Formative submission method (if applicable)

In class feedback

Formative feedback date (if applicable)

As above

Summative (i.e., final) submission date

TBA

Summative submission method

Online in canvas

Assignment requirements

This assessment is testing Module Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (see page 2).

Module Overview:

The strategic business module will equip you with the knowledge required to make strategic

decisions at both a corporate and functional level. You will also develop the skills necessary to

evaluate the success of an implemented strategy. This will inform decision making at both a

corporate and functional level.

Task (3000 words +/- 10%)

The assessment requires you to create a written case study on the organisation you work for, or

alternatively for an organisation of your choice.

This can be an organisation of any type (manufacturing or service provision) but it should be categorised as an SME (Fewer than 250 employees). It is integral that that you have a comprehensive understanding of how the company operates.

Your task is divided into two sections:

1) In the first section you will need to demonstrate your knowledge of theoretical models relating to both the internal and external environment. You will also need to apply these models to a relevant business context and critically evaluate their effectiveness.

2) In the second section you will need to demonstrate your knowledge of the various strategic decision making models and critique a chosen businesses’ positioning within each. You will then need to critically evaluate the extent to which both the internal and external environment impact upon your chosen businesses’ strategy. Finally, you will need to act in an advisory consultancy role by critiquing a strategy

that the business has already implemented and recommending a revision in order to make it more effective. When suggesting a revision discuss a company that has benefitted from utilising a similar strategy and consider the impact it has had upon their financial position. For this section you may wish to focus on a strategy within a functional area of the business rather than one implemented at a corporate level.

In addition to the content specified you will also be graded on the professionalism of your

presentation and effective use of Harvard referencing.

Learning outcomes

1. To develop an understanding of strategic management theory and research in a contemporary context
2. To critically evaluate the impact that the internal and external environment has upon business strategy
3. To develop a deep understanding of theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making
4. To critically evaluate the success of an implemented strategy

Assessment criteria
(see rubric below for performance criteria)

To develop an understanding of strategic management theory and research in a contemporary context- 25%

To critically evaluate the impact that the internal and external environment has upon business strategy- 20%

To develop a deep understanding of theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making – 25%

To critically evaluate the success of an implemented strategy -20%

Academic writing skills, presentation and referencing -10%

Characteristics of a good submission

• A comprehensive range of literature – This should support all academic points.
• Criticality – Questioning of research.
• Practical application.

Additional instructions

Always keep a copy of your drafts and a file of working documents. There may be circumstances – for example, if there are questions relating to the academic integrity of your work – where you may be asked to submit the evidence of your work and meet with your tutor to answer questions about your submission.

Professional Body requirements

CMI Mapped

University regulations

University’s Academic Regulations

Academic Integrity Policy

Level and Mark Descriptors

Support

Student Support and Wellbeing

Study Guides

Skills for Learning – Introduction to Academic Study Skills

Academic English Language Skills

You should also refer to your Course and Module Guides

Date by which feedback will be provided

4 weeks after submission

Feedback format

Written

Resit details

TBA

Criteria

70-100%

Work of an outstanding, standard

Merit 60-69%

Work of a good standard.

Pass 50-59%

Work of a satisfactory standard.

40-49%

Work of a pass standard

0-39%

FAIL

To develop an understanding of strategic management theory and research in a contemporary context

Assignment demonstrates
originality, innovation and

depth, in the content and theory, which is comparable to published work.

The work clearly demonstrates application to an appropriate contemporary context.

In the main the assignment is insightful and has an appropriate selection of content and theory in key areas identified in the brief.

The work demonstrates application to an appropriate contemporary context.

Key theories and ideas are
included in the assignment in an appropriate manner although the quality of application is inconsistent.

The work sufficiently demonstrates basic application to an appropriate contemporary context

Appropriate selection
of content/theory but
some key aspects
missed/misconstrued. Lack of theory in most areas.

The work demonstrates basic application to an appropriate contemporary context

Does not address the assignment brief. Uses Inaccurate or inappropriate
content/

theory

The work does not create a link between theory and practice

To critically evaluate the impact that the internal and external environment has upon business strategy

Excellent level of critical evaluation. The models selected are well applied and are compared and contrasted against similar models. The extent to which the internal and external environment impact upon business strategy is comprehensively evaluated

Good level of critical evaluation. The models selected are well applied and are generally compared and contrasted against similar models. The extent to which the internal and external environment impact upon business strategy is generally well evaluated.

Some critical evaluation. The models selected are applied and there is an attempt at comparing and contrasting them against similar models. Evaluation of the extent to which the internal and external environment impact upon business strategy is attempted but detail/theoretical underpinning lacks.

The models selected are applied. However there is very limited evaluation of the impact that the internal and external environment has upon business strategy. The models themselves are not compared and contrasted

Little or no evidence
of reading and research around the subject. No evaluation evident.

To develop a deep understanding of theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making

The work demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making.

The position the business takes within each model is clearly critiqued and appropriate recommendations are made.

The work demonstrates good understanding of theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making.

The position the business takes within each model is critiqued and recommendations are made but detail is lacking.

The work adequately covers theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making.

The position the business takes within each model is alluded to but not critiqued. Recommendations are made but are either very vague or not explicit.

The work covers some theoretical concepts surrounding strategic decision making.

The position the business takes within each model is alluded to but not critiqued. No recommendations are made.

Does not address the assignment brief. Uses Inaccurate or inappropriate

content/

theory

To critically evaluate the success of an implemented strategy

The success of a chosen strategy that the selected business has implemented is expertly critiqued using the SAF criteria.

A clear and justified recommendation is made on how the businesses’ strategy could be improved moving forward (In either a functional or corporate context).

The success of a chosen strategy that the selected business has implemented is well critiqued using the SAF criteria.

A recommendation is made on how the businesses’ strategy could be improved moving forward (In either a functional or corporate context). This recommendation may lack the desired justification.

The success of a chosen strategy that the selected business has implemented is reviewed using the SAF criteria.

A recommendation is made on how the businesses’ strategy could be improved moving forward (In either a functional or corporate context).This recommendation, although correct in theoretical terms may not fit the real world requirements of the business in question.

Some evidence of the SAF criteria being used to assess a business strategy but there is little detail or justification evident.

A recommendation is made but this is vague and lacks justification. This recommendation, although correct in theoretical terms may not fit the real world requirements of the business in question.

Does not address the assignment brief. No evaluation of a business strategy evident.

Academic writing skills, presentation and referencing

Presentation standard of the assignment is excellent; consistent with academic protocol. Referencing clear, relevant and consistently accurate use of the Harvard system

Presentation overall of good standard with few errors in grammar and syntax. Referencing relevant and mostly accurate using the Harvard system.

Presentation has limitations including some errors in grammar and syntax Minor inconsistencies and inaccuracies in referencing using the Harvard system

Presentation is poor in structure and includes errors in grammar and syntax. Referencing present
having many inconsistencies
and inaccuracies.

Structure and presentation are not of an acceptable standard including faulty grammar and syntax. Referencing mainly

inaccurate or absent.