Strategy

Coursework Information Sheet

Unit Name : Strategy

Unit Code : SHR019-6

Title of Coursework : Assignment  1

Word Limit: 4000 words (note that this is the upper word limit)

The Task

Your task is to produce a management report providing a strategic analysis of an organisation that is operating in the Gulf region.  You are required to conduct a thorough analysis of the organisation and the industry it operates within.   You are expected to examine and critically evaluate the current strategy of this organisation.  You need to make recommendations based on your analysis, outlining and evaluating a number of options and selecting the most appropriate one for implementation.  The emphasis must be on deriving recommendations that provide a form of competitive advantage.    You will be required to use some theoretical models, framework and theories to underpin your analysis.   It is essential  that you show some critical analysis /evaluation in your analysis. 

The analysis and recommendations must not be solely descriptive of what the organisation is actually doing but analytical and proposing what it could and should do.

Important Note: As  Masters  students and senior business people you should look critically at your organisation. This is not disrespectful but a way of developing your business skills (which is the point of the Exec MBA). You should not therefore merely accept that what is being done is the only potential option. You should look at it from a critical perspective and think if there are different or better options.

Some advice about approaching your research and investigation:

The nature of strategic recommendations and decisions:

·       Your development of options and selection of the strategic decision must be strategic in nature

·       Success depends on you being able to understand the difference between operational and strategic issues and actions

Below are some examples of the sorts of issues that might be investigated. Please note that this is not a complete list and that different ones may be relevant. (Generally you would only focus on one but there may be more that you could consider). The emphasis on the options that are considered should be on achieving competitive advantage:

·       Decision about which markets to enter

·       Decisions about potential product /service development

·       Decisions about which business units to invest in and grow and which to downsize or divest

·       Growing a new business

·       Finding a new source of differentiation in the face ofcompetitive pressure

·       Finding innovative ways to compete hence avoiding competition

·       Process/system improvements

·       Decisions about continuing on the current strategic path

If your company is non-profit

Strategy applies to non-profit or government organisation and agencies and there is no reason why you can not do the assignment on such an organisation

The Analysis:

The analysis is vital for you to be able to create a range of strategic options and to justify a choice for the strategic decision – it is NOT however the report (the report is the discussion of the options and the justification for the choice)

The analysis should be based on an extensive study of the organisation and should be fully supported by relevant data.  While you will provide a summary of the analysis in your report,  use the appendices to provide more detail and data.  

Things to avoid:

·       Descriptions of the tools and frameworks. You are not writing a text book and you will be assessed on your ability to think strategically rather than providing a lit review. This style of writing will lead to a low grade or failure.

·       Inappropriate referencing. Any evidence must be properly referenced within the text of the main report - Harvard system applies

·       Out of date evidence – Organisations  moves quickly, so a report that uses old data is not valid.

·       Descriptions of the current situation. This assignment must look at future potential options.

·       Focusing on operational issues. This is a strategy report and should focus on strategic issues and solutions.

·       Management Report format.   There are many templates in existence and use one. 

You may not choose companies which feature in the large case studies in textbooks such as  Johnson & Scholes and Grant, or companies used for in-class teaching. Please confirm your choice of company with your tutor before proceeding. Collecting and analysis of  information can be done in groups but remember this is an individual assignment and must be presented as such.

All assignments will be subject to Turnit in so it is imperative that the assignments are written in your own words. 

Core learning outcomes
	On completion of this unit you should be able to:	Assessment number
1	Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the tools and frameworks of strategy in order to select the appropriate ones with which to perform meaningful analysis to generate coherent strategic options and choice.	1
2	Select and apply a range of strategy tools, concepts and frameworks to analyse unstructured problems based on the issues presented by the external and internal business environment and use the analysis to evaluate and design appropriate strategies.	1

To get solution visit our website www.arabessay.com