ASSIGNMENT – BMST5103
JANUARY SEMESTER 2012
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT – BMST5103
ASSIGNMENT (50%)
Before an organisation can begin its strategy formulation process, it must scan the external
environment to identify possible opportunities and threats, and its internal environment for
strengths and weaknesses. This is known as environmental scanning.
a. An external strategic management audit or environmental scan reveals key opportunities
and threats confronting an organisation so that decision-makers can formulate strategies
to take advantage of the opportunities and avoid or reduce the impact of threats. What
are the key external forces that need to be audited? Why is it important for strategic
decision-makers to conduct an external management audit? (15%)
b. An industry analysis focuses on identifying and evaluating trends, forces, and events
beyond the control of a single firm. What are the factors that determine the level of
competitive intensity in an industry? Why is it important to determine the level of
competitive intensity in an industry? Select ONE specific industry or economic sector
such as automobile, telecommunications or banking to illustrate your discussion. (15%)
c. Select ONE public listed company, either local or international, from the following list of
companies:
i)
PETRONAS, MAYBANK, CIMB, PUBLIC BANK, SIME DARBY GROUP, AIR
ASIA, MAS, KPJ, PERODUA, PROTON, MAXIS, MISC, TENAGA, TM, IOI
CORP, GENTING, DIGI, NAZA GROUP, ASTRO, & YTL Group.
ii) APPLE, MICROSOFT, GE, 3M, IBM, GOOGLE, P&G, WAL-MART STORES, eBay, INTEL, AMAZON, STARBUCKS, HP, and DELL.
iii) IKEA, NOKIA, VIRGIN, SONY, SAMSUNG, TOYOTA and SIA.
With the aid of a diagram, conduct a SWOT analysis of the selected company. Critically
examine each item of the SWOT analysis. Based on the SWOT analysis, discuss the key
problems and issues that need to be addressed, and make recommendations to the
company for further improving its corporate performance. (20%)
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ASSIGNMENT – BMST5103
Guidelines for Assignment
1. Read the questions carefully. Answer to the requirements of the questions.
2. Use sub-headers where necessary to highlight key themes or concepts.
3. Your topic must be discussed in the context of Strategic Management.
4. Assessment criteria: Merit will be given to richness of related content, clear and logical
presentation, high level of critical analysis, critical analysis, implications, balanced views,
relevant cross-referencing of concepts, models or theories, and original and/or creative
ideas, relevant examples, illustrations, computed tables, and diagrams.
5. This assignment should contain about 3,000-5,000 words (15-20 pages).
a. Including tables, figures, diagrams, graphs, illustrations and references.
b. Please specify the total number of words written.
6. Your assignment should be typed on A4 paper using 12 pt Times New Roman and 1.5
spacing.
7. Provide references. References should use the American Psychological Association
(APA) format. References should be latest (year 2005 and onwards)
8. Binding of assignment is desired. You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myVLE and a hardcopy to your facilitator.
9. Date of submission: Assignments should be submitted according to the fixed date as
specified by CGS, OUM. Late submissions will be penalised accordingly.
10. Plagiarism is not acceptable. Plagiarised assignment will be rejected. If you are not sure
what is meant by plagiarism, refer to the various websites which discuss this matter, e.g.
owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts.
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ASSIGNMENT – BMST5103
Suggested Assignment Outline
A1
A2
Content/Headings
Introduction
Key external forces
Sub-headers (Optional)
A3
Importance
A4
B1
B2
B3
C1
C2
Conclusion
Industrial analysis
Importance
Conclusion
Introduction
SWOT analysis
C3
Problems and Issues
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C4
Recommendations

C5
Conclusion
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Key external forces
Pestle Model
Pest Mode
Implications / Critical analysis
Discussion of the Five-Force Model
Implications/ critical analysis
Discussion of each item
Summary with a diagram
Discuss the key problems and issues that need to
be addressed
Make recommendations to the company for further
improving its corporate performance
Implications/ critical analysis
END OF ASSIGNMENT QUESTION AND GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT
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