Assessment weighted at 100% assessing all module learning outcomes (Task1 – 30% & Task2 – 70%).
Activity:
Prepare a management report of 3,500 to 4,000 words* on an organization** within one of the following industry/sectors***:
1. Manufacture of tobacco products(C12)
2. Manufacture of wearing apparel (C14)
3. Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (E)
4. Information and communication (J)
5. Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
6. Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
[An organization profile must be included in your submission as “Appendix1”.]
This report should assess the impact of external business environmental factors on the organization and evaluate the organization’s position and responses. In the case of a large organization it is permissible to confine your report to part of the organization. An organization’s activities may range beyond the designated industrial sector in which case the focus of your report must be on the
organization’s activities within the designated sector.
* You are advised to write between 3,500 and 4,000 words and the word limit is 4,000 words. This word limit does not include the title page, the executive summary, the contents page, the organization profile, tables, diagrams, appendices or references. You must include an accurate a word count on your title page.
** If you wish to select a firm from outside the identified industries/ sectors, you are required to seek approval from your module tutor (your lecturer). A note from your lecturer confirming her/ his approval should be uploaded to JIRA. This is your (student)responsibility.
*** According to the “International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities” http://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/registry/regcst.asp?Cl=27.
Task 1 (30% weighting)
Give a brief overview of the primary external influences to which the organization is subject and briefly explain the particular importance of each to theorganization. This first task should contribute no more than one third of your overallreport.
Task 2 (70% weighting)
Choose one of the following themes:
1. Disruptive Innovation
2. Competitive Dynamics
3. Ethics and Corporate SocialResponsibility
4. Regional integration (Eg. European Union, ASEAN)
5. Regulation/Deregulation
6. Environmental Issues
In relation to your chosen theme:
i. analyse its relevance to your chosen organization and how it influences policies and decision-making within your chosen organization orindustry-sector. ii. critically evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’sresponse. iii. (if possible and appropriate) demonstrate some areas for improvement in the response of the organization. If you consider it not possible and appropriate to suggest areas for improvement, justify your position.
Guidance notes:
Whatever organization you choose and whichever theme you chose, you must clearly demonstrate knowledge and understanding from research and reading wider than that contained in the module pack and core textbook. This is a REPORT and so must be presented in business report format and style. You must also structure your report to cover the tasks including points 2.i to 2.iii above. This is
an academic piece of work therefore you are expected to link theory and practice. You should take care to ensure that the work you submit has a high standard of presentation. This is an individual assignment. You must acknowledge your sources of information and evidence using the Harvard referencing system. All assignments are subject to the University’s regulations on collusion and plagiarism and must be submitted in electronic form for checking on SunSpace for Turnitin and the Turnitin report must be submitted to JIRA along with your assignment.
