FRM03_Assignment brief_29.11.

2012 Page 1

ASSIGNMENT 2 BRIEF
Qualification BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business
Unit number and
title
Business strategy
Assignment issued <date> Assignment due <date>
Assessor name <name of assessor>

Assignment title
Your assignment is divided into 3 progressive reports, subject to the
given submission deadlines.
You are assigned to choose one particular company operating in one of
the following industries: automobile, pharmaceutical, finance and
banking, education, and service.
Carry out an in-depth investigation on your chosen company to complete
the following tasks:
1. Task 1
Carry out internal and external audit for your chosen organization
Analyze the organizations stakeholder analysis and explain its
implications on your chosen company.
2. Task 2
Based on your analysis in task 1 and the mission and vision of
your chosen company, discuss the possible alternative strategies
that your group would suggest to implement.
Discuss the reasons and criteria for choosing and selecting your
proposed strategy.
3. Task 3
Complete the report and propose steps to implement your
chosen strategy in task 2

In the reports, you are expected to conduct a secondary and primary
research to express your understanding on your chosen company.


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Aim of the
assignment
This assignment satisfies the following learning outcomes:
LO2 Be able to formulate a new strategy
2.1 analyse the strategic positioning of a given organisation by
carrying out an organisational audit

2.2 carry out an environmental audit for a given organisation

2.3 assess the significance of stakeholder analysis when
formulating new strategy

2.4 present a new strategy for a given organisation
LO3 Understand approaches to strategy evaluation
3.1 analyse the appropriateness of alternative strategies
relating to market entry, substantive growth, limited
growth or retrenchment for a given organisation

3.2 justify the selection of a strategy
LO4 Understand how to implement a chosen strategy
4.1 assess the roles and responsibilities of personnel who
are charged with strategy implementation

4.2 analyse the estimated resource requirements for
implementing a new strategy for a given organisation

4.3 evaluate the contribution of SMART targets to the
achievement of strategy implementation in a given
organisation.
Specific
requirements
(see Appendix for
assessment criteria
and grade
descriptors)
1. Task 1
LO2 Be able to formulate a new strategy
Create an internal and external audit for your Project
Identify the companys mission
Create a SWOT analysis for your company based on:
- External analysis using PEST/PESTEL; Porters 5 forces, etc.
- Internal analysis using VRIN
You may consider the following questions:
What environmental, economic, etc. and other key problems did your
company face during its development phases?


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What core competences does the company demonstrate?
What is your companys competitive advantage?
This report satisfies assessment criterion 2.1 and 2.2
Create stakeholders analysis and assess its significance
Compare the different expectations of stakeholders:
- Economic stakeholders
- Social/political stakeholders
- Technological stakeholders
- Community stakeholders
Identify their interest, expectations, and power using Stakeholder
Mapping.
You may consider the following questions:
How the lack of business clarity and strategy conflicted the expectations
of stakeholders?
This report satisfies assessment criterion 2.3.
Present and demonstrate the reasons for choosing a new strategy to be
implemented in the following tasks
This report satisfies assessment criterion 2.4
2. Task 2
LO3 Understand approaches to strategy evaluation and
selection

Based on your analysis in Report 1, on organizational culture and
structure, intended growth and development, etc. identify, discuss,
analyse and justify the appropriateness of alternative strategies:

Strategy direction: market penetration, product development, market
development, etc.
Market entry analysis and strategies
Substantive growth strategies
Limited growth or retrenchment
Etc.


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Select your business and corporate strategy and discuss and explain the
reasons why you choose them with appropriate analysis.
(suitability, acceptability, feasibility, etc.)
This report satisfies assessment criterion 3.1 and 3.2
3. Task 3
LO4 Understand how to implement a chosen strategy
- Based on the companys vision, mission; supervision, cultural systems,
etc. :
- Roles and responsibilities or managers, teamleaders, etc. in operating
activities
This task satisfies criterion 4.1
- Discuss and evaluate resource requirements to implement your
strategy: human resource, finance, technology, logistics, etc.
This task satisfies criterion 4.2
- Set out SMART targets for each of the stages of your strategy
implementation and evaluate its contribution.
- Propose a time period for achieving and monitoring your strategy
This task satisfies criterion 4.3
This report satisfies assessment criterion LO4.
Student guidelines
GL 1 You should write this assignment in academic style, make sure you
have introduction, body, and conclusion.
GL 2 You could use models, theories, diagrams and tables where
appropriate to enhance your argument. Remember to reference the
sources.
GL3You should use in-text references and a list of all cited sources at the
end of the essay (Harvard Referencing Style)
GL4 Your report should be approximately 4000 words in length
(excluding the appendices and references)
GL5 You should conduct a secondary research in order to complete the
tasks of the assignment effectively and comprehensively, with evidences
to support your answer.


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Submission
requirements
You are expected to submit both soft and hard copy of the following
documents to your instructor:

1.Report

2. Evidence of primary research (if any) must be included in the
Appendix.




No late submission is allowed.



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APPENDIX: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND GRADE DESCRIPTORS
Learning outcomes Assessment criteria for
PASS
To achieve a pass grade
the evidence must show
that the learner is able to
Grade descriptors
for MERIT
To achieve a merit
grade the evidence
must show that, in
addition to the pass
criteria, the learner
is able to
Grade descriptors for
DISTINCTION
To achieve a
distinction grade, the
evidence must show
that, in addition to
the pass and merit
criteria, the learner is
able to
LO2 Be able to
formulate a new
strategy

2.1 analyse the
strategic
positioning of a
given
organisation by
carrying out an
organisational
audit

2.2 carry out an
environmental
audit for a
given
organisation

2.3 assess the
significance of
stakeholder
analysis when
formulating new
strategy

2.4 present a new
strategy for a given
organisation

M1. Identify and
apply appropriate
models, theories
(organizational and
environmental
analysis)
1.1 Relevant
theories and
techniques
(variety of
techniques like
SWOT, PESTEL,
VRIN, etc.) have
been applied
1.2 Complex
situations,
problems have
been identified
in term of
strategy
selection,
evaluation and
D1. Use critical
reflection to evaluate
own work and justify
valid conclusion:
1.1 Self criticism
approach on the
chosen strategies has
taken place
(difficulties and
obstacles in
gathering
information).
1.2 Realistic
implementations
have been proposed
against defined
characteristic for
success (pros and
cons of the chosen
strategy are taken
into consideration)


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LO3 Understand
approaches to
strategy evaluation
and selection

3.1 analyse the
appropriaten
ess of
alternative
strategies
relating to
market
entry,
substantive
growth,
limited
growth or
retrenchmen
t for a given
organisation

1.2 justify the
selection
of a
strategy

implementation
1.3 Justification has
been made in
terms of model
evaluation,
strategy
selection and
justification
1.4 Pros and cons
for resource
allocation

M2. Select, design
and select
appropriate
methods
Critically select,
design and
evaluate the
appropriate
strategies with
comparisons to
choose the best
strategies and
critical reasoning
2.1 Appropriate
strategies have
been chosen with
relevant evidence
(choose the
appropriate
resource for
strategy
implementation
and the expected
roles and
responsibilities to
carry out the
strategy with
1.3 Conclusions have
been made (chosen
roles, responsibility,
strategy)
1.4 Validity of the
result has been
justified
(sustainability,
feasibility, etc.)
1.5 Coherence
among responsibility
and strategy
selection and
evaluation
D2. Responsibility for
managing and
organizing activities
2.1 autonomy and
independence
demonstrated
2.2 activities have
been managed
(primary and
secondary data was
managed and
analyzed
appropriately)
2.3 synthesis of
different sources of
data is collected and
applied objectively
2.4 interdependence
was shown
D3. Demonstrate
convergent/lateral/cr
eative thinking
LO4
Understand
how to
implement a
chosen
strategy

4.1 assess the
roles and
responsibilit
ies of
personnel
who are
charged
with
strategy
implementa
tion

4.2 analyse the
estimated
resource
requirements
for
implementing a
new strategy for
a given
organisation



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4.3 evaluate the
contribution of SMART
targets to the
achievement of strategy
implementation in a
given organisation.
suitable timescales)
2.2 Clear and
appropriate
examples explained
and presented
(name out the
required manager,
change agents,
roles and
responsibilities,
etc.; the expected
financial,
technology,
humant, etc.
resources)
2.3 A range of
sources of
information has
been used and
analysed (updated
information to set
up effective
timeline)
2.4 Strategies and
models are justified
and explained
(making
comparisons where
possible within the
industry)
M3. Assignment
presentation
3.1 The appropriate
structure and
approach has been
used

3.1 Keen analysis has
been proposed with
realistic evidence
3.2 Application and
comparisons have
been made against
academic models
(pros and cons in
terms of Vietnamese
context); researchers
analysis
3.3 extended
academic models
have been presented
3.3 Creative thinking
has been applied
3.4 propose new
ideas for the
Vietnamese context
(in terms of
appropriate
terminologies)
3.4 critical review,
conclusions, and
recommendations on
terminologies in the
Vietnamese context
3.5 Possible Problems
of strategy selection
and implementation
have been solved


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3.2 Coherent,
logical
development of
concepts
(environmental,
organizational
audit, chosen
strategies like
market entry,
retrenchment, etc.
for the intended
audiences)
3.3 A range of
methods of
presentation has
been used and
technical language
has been accurately
used.
3.4 Correct
referencing

Grading grid
Assessment criteria for Pass
(P)
Merit descriptor
(M)
Distinction descriptor
(D)
Pass criterion No. (P*.*) Merit descriptor No. (M*.*) Distinction descriptor No.
(D*.*)
Pass criterion No. (P*.*) Merit descriptor No. (M*.*) Distinction descriptor No.
(D*.*)
Pass criterion No. (P*.*) Merit descriptor No. (M*.*) Distinction descriptor No.
(D*.*)

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