Conduct a strategic analysis and strategy evaluation

 

Assignment: Strategic Analysis and Strategy Evaluation

 

Weighting This assignment accounts for 40% of the assessment in this Course.

 

Due Date/Week Monday Week 9

 

Due Time By 7pm

 

Place TBA

 

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 Week 2 seminars. You are required to select a real-life

 

organisation or a strategic business unit (SBU) for this assignment. You are advised to conduct a preliminary

 

research (e.g., browse organisation websites and annual reports) prior to deciding which organisation (or its

 

SBU) will be selected for your assignment so as to make an informed choice. You should report the firm for

 

your assignment to your local lecturer by Week 4.

 

Write a 2500 – 3000 word report, including 200 words of an executive summary, but excluding references and

 

appendix. 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

 

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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 analysis.

 

3. Undertake an industry (competitive) analysis using Porter’s 5-forces model. You are required to pay

 

attention to the purpose of this analysis, the inter-connectedness of different aspects of the competitive

 

forces, the links between the competitive forces and macro-environment, and their overall impact on

 

the industry and the organization selected in terms of main driving forces in the competitive

 

environment. Draw your conclusions based on your five-force analyses.

 

4. 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.

 

Learning outcome/s and capability development

 

Completing this assignment can help you develop your capabilities in the following areas:

 

· Understanding of the key concepts, models, theories, and analytical concepts covered from the relevant

 

Modules (1-4, 6, 11) in this Course;

 

· Developing your ability to apply strategic management concepts and theories to the organisation

 

selected, particularly in analysing its strategic position, and evaluating its suitability;

 

· Enhancing your capability in critical think through evaluating existing strategic concepts, analytical

 

frameworks, and theories; and

 

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· Developing your generic skills for pursuing your professional career in the areas of team work,

 

communication, and report writing.

 

Advisory notes for this assignment

 

· You should conduct an extensive information search on the organisation selected.

 

· Company websites, annual reports, and media reports are important sources of such information, but

 

their objectives, and thus credibility, should be carefully analysed and evaluated.

 

· You should use appropriate concepts and analytical tools in your report.

 

· The report should be written in prose; however limited use of dot points is acceptable.

 

· This advice should be read in conjunction with RMIT assessment policy and the course guide.

 

Guide for assignment presentation

 

Written assignments must be presented in a professional format. Quality of presentation, especially literacy,

 

will be considered in the marking criteria. Written communication skills are an essential component of RMIT

 

University’s courses. In line with RMIT policy, all sources of information must be fully referenced using

 

standard Harvard referencing systems. You are encouraged to use referencing software such as Endnote for

 

referencing and formatting. The assignment should be in report format and use Times New Roman font size

 

12, double line spacing.

 

 

 

 

 

Please refer to attached file.