Module Number : MBA 7026

Module Name : Strategic Management

Year/Trimester : 2018/19 Semester 1
Module Tutor :

Assignment No. and Type : Report (100%)

Assignment Title : Strategic Analysis Project Report

Assignment Length : 4500 words

Submission Deadline : 28th August, 2020

Learning Outcomes:

Description Assessment

1 Critically evaluate the challenges faced by managers in the development and Report
deployment of strategy.

2 Understand and apply a range of alternative models and concepts in dealing with Report
strategic planning issues in order to achieve competitive advantage

3 Critically evaluate the processes and outcomes in the implementation of strategic Report
choices facing an organization.

4 Successfully deploy relevant critical, analytical and academic skills in an extended piece Report
of writing related to Strategic Management

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF:

Assignment Brief:

You are recruited by a management consultant company and you currently hold the consultant
position and tasked to conduct a critical strategic analysis of a company which is planning to
expand its business to UAE, provide the company with suitable strategies which can be
implemented before expansion

Your report should include a thorough critical analysis of the major strategic issues faced by
the company, conduct a strategic analysis of the business or organization. This should include
an internal analysis, micro (industry) analysis, macro-environment analysis, etc. Your report
should also identify and critically evaluate the strategic alternatives available in any given
situation in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage and conclude with
recommendations to assist the company in dealing with its major strategic problems during the

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implementation stages. (or if the company is currently successful, focus on the continued
improvement of the company in the long term).

You can select one of the manufacturing OR service industries given below and chose a
company within the industry and get approval (tutor) from the management

 Food processing
 Personal care
 Health care
 Beverages
 Computers
 Automotive
 Airlines
 Commercial banks
 Food delivery
 Hospitality and entertainment
 Internet based
 Retail stores

Recommended issues to be discussed in the Strategy Analysis Project.

These are recommended issues only. Students may combine some of these issues,
leave some out if they are not relevant, or add other issues if appropriate.

1. Executive summary (cover page, summarizing the main points of your

strategic analysis as below).

2. A brief description of the organization and the analysis of the current

business strategy.

3. An external analysis (at the industry/macro-environment levels) to identify

the trends that are likely to emerge in the coming 3-5years. What potential
opportunities and threats do these present for the organization?

4. A “Five-forces” analysis of the industry the organization is based in. Apply

this model to discuss what the competitive position of the organization is and
how the change at the industry/macro-environment levels would affect its
competitive position.

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 5. An internal analysis, including the Organisation Capability Profile and
Strategic Advantage Profile need to be carried out to identify the impact
of the capability factors and also to ascertain the nature of impact

6. Based on the above, identify and critically evaluate the strategic position
(using any one corporate portfolio technique) and identify the strategic
alternatives (at the corporate level) available in any given situation in order
to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage

7. Identify the major strategic issues and challenges that the organization is
likely to face during the implementation phase. How would this affect the
organization’s competitive advantage?

8. Suggest recommendation for addressing the strategic issues identified

and how it should be implemented.

You should submit your work in the form of a report 4500 words through Turnitin (via Moodle).
You are required to include a reference list and to reference your work according to the
Harvard convention. Your REPORT should include examples from literature to illustrate your
work. WORK SUBMITTED SHOULD BE ORIGINAL AND SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE
COMPRISED OF ‘CUT AND PASTING’.

Secondary Research Level HE 7 - it is expected that the Reference list will contain between
fifteen to twenty sources. As a MINIMUM the reference list should include: three refereed
academic journals, and four academic books.

Specific Assessment Criteria:

Distinction - Grade 70% and over
The candidate demonstrates an excellent review of Strategic Management concepts and
literature showing good evidence of understanding, based on competent research. The
selective use of material from a wide variety of sources will lead to the excellent combining of
theoretical and practical features. The completed piece of work includes a well presented
Harvard style reference list and is well presented and referenced with narrative fluency and
clarity of thought.

Merit - Grade 60% - 69%

The candidate demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of Strategic Management
literature showing evidence of understanding, based on good research. The written response
shows good critical evaluation of the relevant issues using a adequate number of sources and
leads to good combination of theoretical and practical features and is presented effectively with
the inclusion of a good presented Harvard style reference list and accurate referencing..

Pass - Grade 50% - 59%

The candidate demonstrates a moderate-to-good understanding of Strategic Management
concepts. Insufficient development of critical understanding of the concepts. A reasonably

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constructed work including referencing and a Harvard style reference list.There are relatively
minor inconsistencies and inaccuracies in referencing. The work is competently presented
with minor lapses in spelling and grammar.

Fail - Grade Below 50%

Due to a tendency to use generalization and description rather than evaluative discussion,
some key issues of Strategic Management concepts have been omitted. There may be limited
literature review, poor report presentation, lack of referencing and a poor bibliography within
the Harvard format.

Refer:
Referred work will be very general and the work will be deficient in important aspects of
essential information, lack of critical evaluation, over-reliance on descriptive materials,
unacceptable bibliography and referencing.

Late submission without agreement will be penalised in accordance with programme

regulations. Please see your programme handbook for further details.

Additional Submission Instructions:

As well as submitting a hard copy of your work as instructed in Section 9, you are also required
to submit a soft copy via “Turn-it-in using the Moodle page.

The software will allow you to check your work against other material on the internet. It will also
compare your work against other students work.

You will be given access to the software; details will be sent to your Bolton Outlook mail
address. Please do NOT change any personal details other than your password. Please keep a
safe record of your new password.

You will be able to upload drafts of your written work into the revision area. You can only
submit a single file. This can be done as many times as you wish. The revision areas will close
a couple of days before you are required to submit your final assignment, and before the final
submission area is opened.

You will not be able to overwrite the final submission after the deadline. You can only submit a
single file.

Advice:
 Do not cut and paste phrases or paragraphs from published sources. You should seek to
use your own words to explain concepts and theory.

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 However, if you wish to refer to specific quotes from published sources then you must use
full Harvard presentation. See BISSTO for clear guidance.
 Do not share work with other students.