Tutorial Letter 101/3/2024: Strategic Planning III
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2024: Strategic Planning III
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2024: Strategic Planning III
MNG3701
Semester 1 and 2
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.
BARCODE
CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Getting started ................................................................................................................................ 5
2 OVERVIEW OF MNG3701 ............................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Outcomes ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................ 5
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................... 6
4.1 Lecturer(s) ...................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Department ..................................................................................................................................... 7
4.3 University ........................................................................................................................................ 7
5 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.1 Prescribed book .............................................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Library services and resources information .................................................................................... 7
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ..................................................................................................... 8
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................. 8
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme ................................................................................................. 9
7. STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 10
8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE ........................................................................................................... 10
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ...................................................................................... 10
9. ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 11
9.1 Assessment criteria ...................................................................................................................... 11
9.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 12
9.3 Assessment due dates ................................................................................................................. 13
9.4 Submission of assessments ......................................................................................................... 13
9.5 The assessments .......................................................................................................................... 15
9.6 The examination ........................................................................................................................... 18
10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 18
10.1 Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 18
10.2 Cheating ....................................................................................................................................... 18
11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................... 19
12. IN CLOSING ................................................................................................................................. 19
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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student
We are excited to welcome you to the Strategic Planning III module! This module is a capstone
module in many of the undergraduate qualifications. As an exit level module, we recognise that
you are close to completing your qualification and we encourage you to keep up the hard work.
Within the broader context of Strategic Management, this module will present you with the
theoretical foundations of Strategic Planning. The contemporary business environment is
recognised by constant change and uncertainty. In this module, we expose you to the
fundamental principles of strategic planning which ultimately aims for organisations to survive,
sustain and thrive amidst the changes in the complex business environment. The practices of
strategic planning are applicable in the private and public sector as well as non-profit
organisations. We trust that you will gain valuable theoretical knowledge and thereby have the
understanding to practice strategic management within real organisations.
It is important to note that Strategic Management consists of two modules: Strategic Planning
(MNG3701) and Strategy Implementation and Control (MNG3702). This module, MNG3701,
precedes MNG3702, which means that MNG3702 builds on this module. Strategic Planning
focuses on all the issues involved in strategy formulation; on the other hand, Strategy
Implementation and Control involves the execution of the strategic plan, as well as effective
strategy evaluation and control.
This tutorial letter is the first tutorial letter for MNG3701 and its primary objective is to do the
following:
• Introduce you to the learning outcomes as outlined in section 2.2, that you need to
master by the end of the semester.
• Provide information on the programme and our approach to this module.
• Provide information on the requisite learning materials and tutorial matter.
• Inform you about your lecturers and their contact information.
• List the compulsory assignments that must be submitted during the semester, as well as
the self-assessment assignments you have to attempt on your own.
Because this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
learning activities for this module. Visit the website for MNG3701 on myUnisa frequently. This
also means that you will not receive any printed material. Depending on your registration
period, the websites for your module are MNG3701-24-S1 or MNG3701-24-S2, for the first and
second semesters, respectively.
Important note: before you schedule a meeting or pick up the telephone, first consult this
tutorial letter (TL101). Chances are that the answer you are looking for is already contained in
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this tutorial letter! Should you still have a query, you are most welcome to contact us for
assistance. Most importantly, should you have any academic queries, do not hesitate to contact
us or your e-tutors and we will work together to clarify your understanding of MNG3701.
Owing to the nature of this module, you can read about the module and find your study material
online. Go to the website at https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in using your student number and
password. Click on "myModules" at the top of the web page and then on "Sites" in the top right
corner. In the new window, click on the grey Star icon next to the modules you want displayed
on your navigation bar. Close the window in the top right corner. Then select the option
"Reload to see your updated favourite sites". Now go to your navigation bar and click on the
module you want to open.
2 OVERVIEW OF MNG3701
2.1 Purpose
Students who have completed this module successfully will be able to conceptualise and
explain relevant components of strategic planning as part of the strategic management process.
You will be able to evaluate the strategic direction of an organisation and recommend suitable
business-level strategies based on thorough internal and external environmental analyses. The
module content is also presented in the context of responsible management practices.
2.2 Outcomes
Specific outcome 3: Justify the value of responsible management when setting strategic
direction for an organisation.
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed
curriculum transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation
includes student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment
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practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies
and philosophies. All of these will be phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a
result of this you will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented
by Unisa, together with the way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way
within the framework of transformation.
4.1 Lecturer(s)
The module is presented by a team comprising academic staff, postgraduate student assistants
and e-tutors.
Note that module- or content-related queries of an academic nature should be directed to your
e-tutor first; if you do not get the desired outcome, you may contact one of us. Typically, these
queries may include questions about the content of assignments, difficult concepts that you
struggle to grasp, examination questions, discussion and general information regarding the
syllabus of the module. Please have your study material at hand when you contact us. All
queries sent via e-mail must include your student number and the module code (MNG3701) in
the subject line.
Administrative queries, such as questions about examination timetables or study fees should be
addressed to the relevant administrative section. Consult the brochure Study @ Unisa in this
regard. Always have your student number at hand when you call the university.
Also note that: in line with the requirements of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of
2013, only student queries sent from a myLife e-mail will be addressed.
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4.2 Department
4.3 University
To contact the university, follow the instructions in the brochure Study @ Unisa. Remember to
have your student number available whenever you contact the university.
Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.
5 RESOURCES
Assignments and examinations are based on the prescribed textbook. You will not be able to
complete the assignments or study for the examination without the following prescribed
textbook:
Venter, P and Botha, T (eds). 2022. Practicing strategy – a southern African context. 3rd
ed. Cape Town: Juta
Recommended guides:
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• Services to students living with disabilities: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
E-reserves can be downloaded from the library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through
Unisa.
If you need assistance regarding the myModules system, you are welcome to use the following
contact details:
You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link:
https://dtls-qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130
Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours
for your account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after
registering at Unisa, by following this link: [email protected].
Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official
correspondence with the university and will remain the official primary e-mail address on
record at Unisa. You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.
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Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is
also true in the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open
distance and e-learning institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It
is a mega university, and all our programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully
online learning. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support to help them seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We therefore offer a specialised student support
programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time – this is Unisa’s First-Year
Experience (FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful information
about services that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following FYE
services are currently offered:
www.unisa.ac.za/FYE [email protected]
FYE1500
Post
myUnisa; Study
Registration Skills; Academic &
Referrals to
Orientation Digital Literacies;
other support
services i.e. etc
Counselling;
Reading & Writing
workshops
To ensure that you do not miss out on important academic and support communication
from the SRU, please check your myLife inbox regularly.
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7. STUDY PLAN
We strongly recommend that you set a study programme for yourself for this semester and
allocate sufficient time to work through the study guide, study and read the relevant sections of
the prescribed books, incorporate additional material if necessary, do the assignments and
prepare for the examination. Below is a proposed study plan for this module for the semester;
please try not to deviate from it. Our experience in this and other modules suggests that the
time allocated for this module should be enough for any diligent student to cover their work as
scheduled.
Lesson 1 Week 3
Lesson 2 Week 4
Lesson 3 Week 5
Lesson 4 Week 6
Lesson 5 Week 7
Lesson 6 Week 8
Revision Week 9
Revision Week 10
As a student enrolled for an exit level module, you are already familiar with the demands of
distance education and self-study. This module is offered fully online and this requires you to
master a few additional skills early on. A stable internet connection is important as well as
computer skills to navigate the various platforms for online learning. This module also uses e-
tutors to offer support for learning.
The study material is only available online with no printed copies supplied.
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We encourage you to plan your semester and academic activities – one can easily procrastinate
in an online environment and we believe your active participation in the e-tutor programme and
myUnisa sites will serve to keep you motivated.
9. ASSESSMENT
Assessment criteria:
1. Explain what strategic management is, with specific reference to the components of the
strategic management process.
2. Explain the role of strategic management in realising the desired outcomes of the
organisation.
3. Distinguish between the different levels of strategy in an organisation.
4. Critically compare the process perspective on strategic management with the strategy-as-
practice perspective.
5. Explain the meaning of strategic success.
Specific outcome 3: Justify the value of responsible management when setting strategic
direction for an organisation.
Assessment criteria:
Assessment criteria:
1. Differentiate between the different business level strategies that business organisations can
use in order to achieve their strategic goals.
2. Critically evaluate the business level strategic choice of a specific business organisation.
The aim of the assignments is to encourage you to study the prescribed textbook and study
guide, to read and re-read certain sections in them and to think about the tutorial matter in terms
of its practical application. With these remarks in mind, the assignment questions may
sometimes be difficult, and some may even seem ambiguous. The idea is not to trick you or
catch you out, but to encourage you to think critically about strategic planning. We also do not
want you to merely copy and paste content from the prescribed material in response to
assignment questions. Rather, we want you to prove your understanding of the course concepts
by applying the theory using examples and case studies.
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• Due dates for assessments, as well as the actual assessments are available on the
myModules site for this module and in this tutorial letter (Addendums A, B, C and D).
Please note that the assignments for the first semester differ from those for the
second semester. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit the correct
assignment for your semester of enrolment. If you submit an assignment for the wrong
semester of enrolment, it will not be marked and you will not be awarded any marks for it.
• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit Assignment 01,
regardless of whether you have submitted Assignment 02.
• The assignment weighting for the module is 30%.
• You will receive examination information via the myModules sites. Please watch out for
announcements on how examinations for the modules for which you are registered will
be conducted.
• The examination will count 70% towards the final module mark.
• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing page for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.
• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates
for the submission of the assessments.
• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online and where assessments should be completed.
This is an online system that is used to administer, document and deliver educational
material to students and support engagement between academics and students.
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• The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to
ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.
• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message, you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments you need to complete. Some
assessments may be multiple choice, some tests, others written assessments, some
forum discussions and so on. All assessments must be completed on the assessment
shells available on the respective module platforms.
• It is not advisable to use a cellphone to complete the quiz. Please use a desktop
computer, tablet or laptop when completing the quiz. Students who use a cellphone find it
difficult to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle
to navigate between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition,
cellphones are more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If
possible, please do not use a cellphone for this assessment type.
• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on
myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules
site of the modules you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double check
that you have selected the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be allocated
for incorrectly submitted assessments.
• Elective assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item.
- The best of the required submissions will count.
• Mandatory assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item.
• Compulsory assignments
- If not submitted, the result on the student’s academic record will be absent.
• Optional assignments
- You are encouraged as a student to do optional assignment so that it may benefit
your learning.
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b) If a student fails to submit a mandatory assignment, no mark is awarded and the year
mark is calculated accordingly. The student will therefore forfeit the marks attached to
this assignment when the final mark for the module is calculated.
As indicated in section 9.2, you need to complete TWO assessments for this module. The
assessments are in this tutorial letter as Addendums A, B, C and D. Please note that the
assignments for the first semester differ from those for the second semester. It is your
responsibility to ensure that you submit the correct assignment for your semester of enrolment.
If you submit an assignment for the wrong semester of enrolment, it will not be marked and you
will not be awarded any marks for it.
Here are some guidelines that may assist you with written assignments:
• Always provide a heading for your assignment and a table of contents on the first page.
• Start your answer with an introduction, briefly explaining your approach and the
contents of the answer.
• You should have only one introduction and one conclusion for the entire assignment.
Include a conclusion, conclude your assignment with a short summary in which you
repeat the main points of your discussion and draw a conclusion.
• Use the Harvard Referencing Method in your assignments to refer to sources you have
consulted. If you do not include in-text references and a bibliography, you will be guilty of
plagiarism.
• When you use the internet, you need to provide the details of the websites. In the
bibliography, indicate the name of the author (if available), the full name of the website,
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the web address and the date on which you accessed the site. The date is important
because information on the internet changes continuously.
• Your work should be of a high technical standard.
• The page limit is a maximum of ten pages (2 500 words, 12-point font size, 1.5 line
spacing) for each assignment. This excludes the cover page, table of contents and
bibliography.
• The cover page of your assignment must clearly indicate your student number, the
module code, the assignment number and the unique assignment number.
• The way in which you present your assignments clearly reflects your character. Do not
submit untidy and badly presented assignments. Be proud of the work you present.
• Assignments should be typed if possible. If you cannot type your assignment, you must
ensure that your handwriting is legible.
• The presentation of the assignment and adherence to the format requirements will
contribute five marks towards your assignment mark.
• The body of an assignment is composed of a discussion under several headings and
subheadings. These headings should relate to the question numbers. Each of these
headings is numbered, as indicated in the following table.
HEADING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
2 SELECT AN APPROPRIATE HEADING (question 1)
2.1 Subheading (an aspect of the topic mentioned in the heading)
2.2 Subheading (another aspect)
2.3 Subheading (another aspect)
3 SELECT AN APPROPRIATE HEADING (question 2)
3.1 Subheading (aspect of the topic in 3)
3.2 Subheading (aspect of the topic in 3)
4 SELECT ANOTHER APPROPRIATE HEADING (question 3)
(Continue in this way until the topic has been fully discussed.)
5 SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
6 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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• Arguments should follow a logical pattern and be substantiated with suitable references
or facts. Conclusions should not be based on intuition. Vague generalisations and half-
truths should be avoided in your assignments.
• Note that the assignment questions will not require you to merely rewrite the material in
the prescribed textbook. In all cases, you will be required to show your insight into the
topic. As such, we will not allocate marks for copying and pasting content.
• Make sure you understand the questions in the assignment. If you copy from the
prescribed textbook or any other sources without referencing it, you could be penalised.
• Arranging your thoughts in such a way that the points follow one another logically is an
art. Make sure that what you have to say under a specific heading relates to the subject
of that heading.
IMPORTANT
Please ensure that your assignments reach us on or before the due date. Do not e-mail your
assignments to the lecturer. Do not telephone the lecturer with requests to be admitted to the
examination if you have not submitted the assignment or if you submitted it later than the due date.
You will receive feedback on Assignments 01 and 02 in Tutorial Letters 201 and 202, respectively.
REMEMBER to keep a copy of your assignment before you submit the original.
All assignments are marked, and constructive and ample feedback is provided. Feedback on
Assignments 01 and 02 will be provided in Tutorial Letters 201 and 202, respectively.
As soon as you receive the comments, please check your answers. The assignments and the
comments on them are a vital part of your learning and should help you to be better prepared
for the next assignment and the examination.
This module has been structured in such a way that you will be able to assess your own
progress and mastery of all the stated outcomes. To assess your mastery of the outcomes, you
will obviously have to complete the two assignments. Once you have done this, we will give you
feedback through marker comments for each of your assignments for the compulsory questions.
Note: At this early stage of your learning experience, we need to sound a warning. Not doing
the assignments and simply memorising the contents of the textbook or the answers provided in
Tutorial Letters 201 and 202 could mean that you will fail the examination.
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9.5.4 Assignment due dates
• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the landing page of myUnisa for
this module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
• Please start working on your assignments as soon as you register for the module.
• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates
for the submission of the assignments.
Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the university.
The examination format for this module is an open book examination. This means that we will
be assessing your understanding of the course concepts through your application of the theory
to the examination case studies, like our expectations in the assignments.
10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:
• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
10.2 Cheating
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https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules
The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact Ms Melba Mawila, email address
[email protected] to discuss the assistance you need.
12. IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you are experiencing problems with the content of this
tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module.
We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through the learning material and trust that
you will complete the module successfully.
Kind regards
MNG3701 Lecturers
Content Discussion of theory covers all the main points of the topic and 45
incorporates additional sources.
Application of theory to the case is clear and well-focused and
supported by sufficient evidence and detailed information/examples
from the case and other sources.
Application to the case is relevant and proves understanding.
Note: copying content and offering theory will earn a maximum of 12
marks for content overall
Technical The introduction is inviting and states the main topics to be covered 5
requirements in the essay.
Headings/sub-headings are used, and the discussion is relevant to
the heading.
Sources are acknowledged/correctly cited.
A strong conclusion is included.
A list of references is added
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ADDENDUM A: MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT 01 FOR SEMESTER 1 2024
Assignment 01 assesses the outcomes in Lessons 1, 2 and 3
ASSIGNMENT 01 SEMESTER 01
Instructions:
Conduct an internet search and access the MTN Group Limited Integrated Report for the year
ended 31 December 2022.
Read the report and answer the questions that follow in an essay format of 2 500 – 3 000 words
(maximum of 10 pages).
Note: You may need to conduct additional research when answering some of the questions.
Questions Marks
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stakeholders.
2 Discuss MTN’s Commitment towards the SDGs. Your discussion should also 10
indicate whether the MTN group a responsible organisation or not.
3 MTN is not just doing “business as usual”, but it is deliberately steering the 10
organisation into the direction of its strategic goals.
Hint: When evaluating the vision statement use a table with the following
headings; characteristics, yes/no, reason(s).
Technical requirements 5
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ADDENDUM B: MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT 02 FOR SEMESTER 1 2024
Assignment 02 and assesses the outcomes in Lessons 4, 5 and 6
ASSIGNMENT 02 SEMESTER 01
Instructions:
Conduct an internet search and access the MTN Group Limited Integrated Report for the year
ended 31 December 2022.
Read the report and answer the questions that follow in an essay format of 2 500 – 3 000
words (maximum of 10 pages).
Note: You may need to conduct additional research when answering some of the questions.
Questions
1 Use the RBV model to analyse the internal environment of MTN. In your analysis 10
do the following: Explain by means of examples the resource position of MTN.
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the future.
Technical requirements 5
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ADDENDUM C: MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT 01 FOR SEMESTER 2 2024
Assignment 01 assesses the outcomes in Lessons 1, 2 and 3
ASSIGNMENT 01 SEMESTER 02
Instructions:
Conduct an internet search and access the Vodacom Group Limited Integrated Report for the
year ended 31 March 2022.
Read the report and answer the questions that follow in an essay format of 2 500 – 3 000 words
(maximum of 10 pages).
Note: You may need to conduct additional research when answering some of the questions.
Questions Marks
1 Use examples from the case study to explain the concept of sustainability. 10
3 Vodacom is not just doing “business as usual”, but it is deliberately steering the 10
organisation into the direction of its strategic goals.
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4 The integrated report outlines Vodacom’s Vision 2025, it does not mention the 15
mission statement.
Hint: When evaluating the mission statement use a table with the following
headings; components, yes/no, excerpt from the mission statement.
Technical requirements 5
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ADDENDUM D: MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT 02 FOR SEMESTER 2 2024
Assignment 02 and assesses the outcomes in Lessons 4, 5 and 6
ASSIGNMENT 02 SEMESTER 02
Instructions:
Conduct an internet search and access the Vodacom Group Limited Integrated Report for the
year ended 31 March 2022.
Read the report and answer the questions that follow in an essay format of 2 500 – 3 000
words (maximum of 10 pages).
Note: You may need to conduct additional research when answering some of the questions.
Questions
b) Use the information in the case-study to Identify two strengths and two
weaknesses.
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Technical requirements 5
©
Unisa 2024
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