Task
Critically evaluate the key issues that strategic analysis plays in a business or organisation that you are familiar with.
In Part A, you are required to write a 1250 word report. This includes a 100 word executive summary, but excludes
references and appendix.
Your Report should cover the following:
Briefly describe the background information of the organisation (or SBU) chosen. This information should be brief and relevant to the discussion of your assignment and thus may include ownership, history, size, business scope, major products/services, and major markets of the organisation (or SBU).
Conduct an external environment analysis including a macro-environment analysis and Porter's 5 forces analysis:
(a) Conduct a macro-environment analysis for the entire industry within which the organisation (or SBU) operates. You should use the PESTEL model and focus on understanding the purpose of this analysis, the identification of key
factors and their implications in terms of key opportunities and threats, and discussion of their overall impact on
industry growth in the future.
Draw your conclusions based on your macro-environment analysis.
(b) Undertake a competitive analysis using Porter’s 5 forces model. You should pay attention to the purpose of this
analysis, the inter- connectedness of different aspects of the competitive forces, and their overall impact on the
industry and the organisation selected in terms of main driving forces in the competitive environment.
Draw your conclusions based on your five-force analysis.
Guidelines for assessment 1 Part A:
Ensure that you read widely and address key components of the strategic management process raised in the
literature from Module 1.
You should seek to complement the readings from Module 1 by accessing books and relevant journal articles from
the sources listed under 'Recommended additional reading' in this Subject Outline.
Use your reading to inform your critical evaluation of the key issues of strategic analysis within the business, public
sector or not-for-profit organisation where you work.
While you are required to name the organisation that is the focus of your research, you may wish to make a case for
maintaining the anonymity of the organisation (e.g. due to political or commercial sensitivities). Contact your subject
coordinator before you start on the assignment if you need to do this.
Note that this subject uses a due date system for assignments; i.e., the stated date is the last date for acceptance for
that assignment. You must timetable your work schedule so you have plenty of time to ensure your work arrives on
time.
