Assignment Guide Semester 1, 2014
Assignment: Strategic Analysis and Strategy Evaluation
Weighting
This assignment accounts for 40% of the assessment in this Course.
Due Date/Week
End of Week 8 on Sunday 10th August 2014
Due Time
By 11:59pm
Format
Report
Length
2500 - 3000 words, double-line spaced, 12 point Times New Roman.
Note: The word count does not include references or appendices
You will work in pairs (a group of two (2)) to conduct a strategic analysis and strategy evaluation, and write a report on a real-life business. Please note that this report will focus on business-level strategy.
The assessment will be discussed in the Week 1 and 2 seminars. You are required to select …show more content…
In this report, you are required to perform the following tasks:
1. Describe briefly the background information (strategic context) of the firm (or SBU) you have selected. 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 firm (or SBU) selected.
2. Conduct a macro-environment analysis for the entire industry within which the firm (or SBU) operates. You should use the analytical framework provided in the textbook. Foci will be placed on the understanding of the purpose of this analysis, the identification of key factors and their implications in terms of key opportunities and threats, and the discussion of their overall impact on the industry growth in the future. Draw your conclusion based on your macro-environment …show more content…
Identify those resources and competences of the firm (or SBU) that are likely to provide sustainable competitive advantage. Justify why these resources and competences can be regarded as strategic capabilities using the four criteria covered in the textbook.
5. Identify and discuss the generic type of business strategy the firm (or SBU) implements by examining its strategy statement and/or its value chain activities.
6. Evaluate the suitability of the firm’s current business strategy based on the outcomes of your analysis and integration above (e.g., the identification of the firm’s current business strategy and the most significant factors affecting the firm’s performance, and your understanding of business strategy).
References should be utilised within this Report to validate the information presented, and should be drawn from academic sources and organisational information such as the website and annual reports. The business press may be used sparingly to identify relevant issues.
You will be advised of the organisations you may choose by your lecturer. This also will be announced on Blackboard
Learning outcome/s and capability development
Completing this assignment can help you develop your capabilities in the following