ORGANISATIONAL STRATEGY (5S7V0025)
WRITTEN REPORT (STRATEGIC ANALYSIS)
UNIT LEADER: MARK CROWDER (m.crowder@mmu.ac.uk)
Dear students,
This document contains important information about the assessment in this unit,
from task and submission information, to marking criteria, feedback, and including
guidance and support. Please read carefully.
WHAT IS THE ASSESSMENT?
This section contains a brief description of the task for the assessment, assessment weighting, word count and
associated penalties.
You are required to undertake a critical strategic analysis of an
organisation and produce a written report outlining your
findings and an assessment of their implications. Details of the
organisation will be provided during the course.
ASSESSMENT
TASK
It is important that you relate relevant theoretical frameworks
to the empirical information (data) you have gathered to
analyse, and not merely describe the organisation’s strategy.
You should aim to evaluate the viability of the organisation’s
current strategy and make any recommendations for changes to
the strategy that you consider to be appropriate.
Please see assessment details further below.
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING:
100% of unit mark
WORD/PAGE COUNT:
5,000 words +/- 10% (references and abstract not included in
word count)
WORD/PAGE COUNT
PENALTIES
Markers will not include any work after the maximum word limit
has been reached within the allocation of marks. Students may
therefore be penalised for a failure to be concise and for failing
to conclude their work within the word limit specified. Similarly,
a failure to meet a minimum word limit may result in lower
marks based on the quality of the work (e.g. not including the
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necessary information required for the assessment, not meeting
the learning outcomes).
WHEN IS THE ASSESSMENT?
This section includes key submission instructions. Further detailed instructions are included in the next section.
SUBMISSION
DEADLINE
ASSESSMENT WEEK (details on Moodle)
RETURN OF MARKS &
FEEDBACK
4 WEEKS AFTER DEADLINE.
UNIT-SPECIFIC
SUBMISSION GUIDANCE
Normal arrangements apply. There are no unit-specific requirements
for submission
Please submit your assignment by the submission deadline date.
MOODLE SUBMISSION
GUIDANCE
You can replace/amend your submission multiple times up until the
deadline time to check your similarity score. The score will be
displayed immediately. After 3 submissions, similarity scores will take
24 hours to display.
SUBMISSION FEEDBACK
POLICY
Depending on your level of study, you will be offered feedback on
your submission based on the marking criteria (below).
ETHICAL APPROVAL
(ETHOS)
ASSESSMENT
MITIGATIONS
PERSONAL LEARNING
PLANS
Not applicable, apart from the need to adhere to university guidelines
in respect of plagiarism etc.
If you cannot submit your assessment by the deadline, please follow
the information HERE on how to apply for assessment mitigations.
If you have a Personal Learning Plan in place, please contact your
department’s Disability Coordinator to arrange a discussion and agree
on a possible deadline extension.
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REASSESSMENT
Information about the reassessment brief, submission arrangements
and reassessment support will be provided on Moodle.
HOW TO PREPARE AND STRUCTURE YOUR SUBMISSION
This section includes the necessary information on how to approach the assessment.
You are required to undertake a critical strategic analysis of an
organisation and produce a written report outlining your findings and an
assessment of their implications. Details of the organisation will be
provided during the course.
You should structure your assignment as follows:
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ASSESSMENT DETAILS
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Executive Summary (no more than 150 words. Not included in
word count)
Contents page (not included in word count)
Introduction and corporate purpose (200 words)
Organisational structure, corporate strategy, identify SBU where
appropriate (300 words)
External analysis of the industry. You MUST use Porter’s Five
Forces (1000 words)
Internal analysis of the organisation or an SBU (1000 words). You
MUST use EITHER:
• VRIO, or
• Value Chain plus Porter’s Generic Strategies, or
• Value Chain plus Bowman’s Clock
Internationalisation of the organisation or an SBU (500 words)
Strategic plan for the organisation, with future suggestions. This
will involve evaluation, conclusion, and recommendations (2000
words). You MUST use EITHER Rumelt or SAFe to structure your
evaluation.
Appendices (not included in word count. These are not normally
necessary, but if you are going to include them, use them sparingly)
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THROUGHOUT THE WRITTEN REPORT, REMEMBER:
HOW TO PREPARE
FOR THE
ASSESSMENT
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Underpin with relevant academic literature.
Use the models, do not describe them: apply them to the SBU of
your choice.
Do not be descriptive be analytical.
Show your knowledge of the relevant academic literature and cite it
throughout your assignment.
GROUP WORK
GUIDELINES
FORMATIVE
FEEDBACK & FEEDFORWARD
Not applicable. This assessment is an individual piece of work.
Throughout the weekly activities you will have the opportunity to receive
formative feedback and feed-forward on your work and ideas.
References are the items you have read and specifically referred to (or
cited) in your assessment submission. Do not include a list of everything
you read in preparation for writing your submission if you have not
referred specifically. Attempt to summarize in your own words another
person’s work, theories or ideas and then cite your sources. Use quotes to
show the difference between the actual words of the writer and your own
words, and always acknowledge your sources in references. Using
references in reports and essays is the way to avoid accusations of
academic misconduct, specifically plagiarism.
REFERENCING
From 1st August 2023, all new ManMet students required to use an
author-date referencing style are expected to use Cite Them Right
Harvard. This version of the author-date referencing style is supported by
Bloomsbury’s Cite Them Right website and accompanying ebook.
The Cite Them Right website:
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Advises on how to cite and reference a broad range of source types
in the Cite Them Right Harvard style.
Encourages you to identify and correct any referencing mistakes via
the ‘You try’ function.
Provides guidance on How to use Cite Them Right
Offers an online tutorial and video guidance.
Cite Them Right content is regularly updated and new source
formats are added, e.g. Generative AI.
If you have any queries about Cite Them Right Harvard, please email
library@mmu.ac.uk
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ACADEMIC
MISCONDUCT
Academic Misconduct is action that could give you an unfair advantage in
coursework, exams, or any other assessed work. This may include
improper use of generative AI, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, cheating,
collusion, falsification of data, contract cheating, breaching Exam
Regulations, or non-compliance with ethics procedures.
If your work is submitted and it is discovered that you have broken the
regulations, the piece of work will be awarded zero marks or will be
significantly penalised. Your awarding body will decide which penalty is
appropriate. Please see further guidance on Academic Integrity and
Academic Misconduct Regulations.
MARKING CRITERIA
This section includes the marking criteria for this assessment.
STEP MARKING: In line with University guidance, this unit uses step marking. Step marking means
using a restricted number of marks within the range of 0-100%. All marks would end in 2, 5 or 8
(e.g. 52%, 45%, 78%). The use of step marking shows the extent to which the piece of work
meets a specific criterion within a grade range (e.g. 50-59%).
Please see the marking criteria grid or rubric below. This unit uses blind marking.
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RATIONALE FOR THE ASSESSMENT
This section explains how and why this assessment is important to assess your learning in this unit, and how it links
to the outcomes of your programme.
Our expectations in this assessment are linked to the learning outcomes listed below. We teach,
practice, and assess these outcomes in the unit. The learning outcomes are linked to your overall
programme.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
MSc Management and Consultancy (incl with Internship version)
Part A – Knowledge and Critical Understanding
By the end of the programme students are expected to have knowledge and critical understanding of:
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How to systematically and rigorously analyse the competitive environment that organisations operate within
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Strategy formulation at organisation and business unit levels.
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Fundamental strategic skills, tools and techniques that are key to successful management consulting and how to
apply them
MSc Management (incl with Internship version)
Part A – Knowledge and Critical Understanding
By the end of the programme students are expected to have knowledge and critical understanding of:
How to systematically and rigorously evaluate the competitive environment that organisations operate within
Strategy formulation at organisation and business unit level.
How to be an effective manager and leader within a competitive environment
Developing an interface between strategic positioning and the organisational value chain and understanding their
relationship to the logistics and supply chain functions
Part B – Skills and Attributes
The programme will ensure students will gain the following skills and attributes:
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Be effective communicators using a range of media.
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Demonstrate an awareness of ethical, corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues appropriate to the
level of study and the discipline context.
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MSc Management and Sustainability (incl with Internship version)
Part A – Knowledge and Critical Understanding
By the end of the programme students are expected to have knowledge and critical understanding of:
How to systematically and rigorously evaluate the competitive environment that organisations operate within
Strategy formulation at organisation and business unit level.
How to be an effective manager and leader within a competitive environment
Developing an interface between strategic positioning and the organisational value chain and understanding their
relationship to the logistics and supply chain functions
Part B – Skills and Attributes
The programme will ensure students will gain the following skills and attributes:
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Be effective communicators using a range of media.
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Demonstrate an awareness of ethical, corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues appropriate to the
level of study and the discipline context.
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UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Identify and frame key corporate and global level strategic management concepts.
2. Recognise and apply different strategic theories and practices in organisations and
evaluate the strategies of a range of enterprises.
3. Critically assess the effectiveness of approaches to strategic leadership
4. Assess the impact of globalisation on the operation and development of multi-national
enterprises.
Assurance of Learning (AoL)
Assurance of learning (AoL) refers to the systematic processes and assessment plans that
demonstrate that learners achieve learning competencies for the programs in which they
participate. AoL also includes the processes of identifying competency gaps and designing and
implementing changes to the curriculum and learning experience so the learning competencies
are met. The relevant AoL outcomes are shown above (the programme learning outcomes):
PRSB REQUIREMENTS
Not applicable for this unit
ASSESSMENT SUPPORT
This section provides an overview of opportunities for both unit-level and university level assessment support.
UNIT LEVEL SUPPORT
ASSESSMENT CLINICS
Assessment clinics will be arranged in the final week
of teaching. These will be drop-in sessions
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ASSESSMENT 1-2-1 SUPPORT
OPPORTUNITIES
We are happy to help! Please contact your seminar
tutor in the first instance for 1-2-1 support. Tutors’
contact details are available on Moodle and in the
unit handbook.
OTHER UNIT ASSESSMENT SUPPORT
The MMU library runs study skills sessions on
referencing and critical reading and writing
throughout the programme. Please see details on
Moodle.
UNIVERSITY-LEVEL SUPPORT
Includes details of study skills, library workshops and assessment support at university and department level. There
is a lot of support and guidance available at the University to help you with your assessments. You can find further
information on these services in the unit and programme handbooks.
Undergraduate Assessment Regulations
Peer Assisted Learning
MMU Study Skills
Study Skills Online
MMU Library
Disability Service
Cite Them Right Harvard
Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
Students’ Union Advice Centre
Student Hub
Moodle Student Resource Area
ESSENTIAL AND RECOMMENDED READING
This includes a list of essential and recommended readings to support you in your assessment preparation.
TEXTBOOK
Whittington, R., Regner, P., Anwin, D. Johnson, G. & Scholes, K. 2020. Exploring
strategy: text and cases (12th edn). London: Pearson Education.
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ESSENTIAL
READING
RECOMMENDED
READING
De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. 2014. Strategy Process, Content, Context: An
International Perspective (5th edn). Andover: Cengage.
Ghemawat, P. 2017. Strategy and the Business Landscape (4th edn), New York,
NY: Pearson Education.
Please see reading list on Moodle and in the unit handbook.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Useful information not covered above.
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