1.1 Critique the factors which drive the development of organisational strategy

Overview of assessment tasks

Each task in this assessment brief has been developed to enable you to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for CMI 704: Developing Organisational Strategy. Each of the assessment criteria must gain a pass outcome for you to successfully achieve the unit.

Preparation for the assessment

• Before you begin the assessment brief please read the CMI 704 unit specifications thoroughly as only the content related to the achievement of the assessment criteria will be assessed.
• Research the topics being assessed. Suggested reading/web resources are provided on the CMI 704 unit specification. Your tutor may signpost you to relevant resources. Additionally, you may access excellent online resources at ManagementDirect https://members.md.cmi.org.uk/.
• If you are enrolled on the Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme you are encouraged to review the Senior Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship standard.

Completing the assessment brief

• The assessment brief contains a series of tasks which are clearly referenced to the relevant assessment criteria and indicative content.
• Refer to the Assessment Guidance Table at the end of the assessment brief which outlines the requirements for a Pass or Refer.
• Evidence must be provided in the evidence booklet. Additional work-based evidence such as plans or documentation (which has been referred to within the main text) should be included at the end of the booklet marked ‘Work Based Evidence’. Appendices are not a requirement of this assessment brief. If appendices are included these will not be marked or moderated by the CMI.
• Work based evidence must be accompanied by a supporting statement in the learner evidence box, to explain the link to the assessment criteria. Work based evidence (where required by the task) must not exceed SIX (6) pages. Files embedded in the booklet must not exceed 10MB.
• The evidence booklet must be completed in a professional manner (e.g. applying business conventions for writing formal reports) and by using Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format or another compatible software programme.
• An appropriate referencing system (such as Harvard Referencing) must be used to ensure the original source(s) of quotations or models can be verified.
• Finally, you must sign the Learner Authenticity statement (an electronic signature is accepted).

Learner support

For information regarding policies and procedures for assessment (e.g. special assessment arrangements, learner support, appeals, complaints, certification, confidentiality, plagiarism) you should contact your tutor or Centre manager and refer to the CMI Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice syllabus.

Leaders must have an in-depth understanding of strategy and how it can be developed if they are to effectively operate in complex local, national and global markets.

Assessment brief CMI 704 has been designed to enable learners to evidence their understanding of how to develop and influence an organisation’s strategic direction. To support this outcome, leaders will critique the factors which drive the development of organisational strategy and appraise approaches to successfully develop strategy. The assessment has been designed to enable leaders to develop an organisational strategy to achieve a business goal.

Assessment brief CMI 704 features the following assessment tasks. Further detail is provided against each assessment task within the brief.

Guideline word count

The written word, however generated and recorded, is still expected to form the majority of assessable work produced by Learners at Level 7. The amount and volume of work for this unit should be broadly comparable to a word count of 3500 - 4000 words within a margin of +/-10%. The excessive use of word count is not grounds for referral, however the CMI reserve the right to return work to the Centre for editing and resubmission by the Learner.

The following are excluded from inclusion in word count, if used and not required by the assessment brief an introduction to a job role, organisation or department, index or contents pages, headings and sub headings, diagrams, charts and graphs, reference list or bibliography, reflective statement drawn from undertaking the assessment and how this has impacted on the learner’s work.

Please see the CMI Assessment Guidance Policy for further guidance.

The ability to develop strategy requires an in-depth understanding of how to develop strategy and lead stakeholders throughout the entire process.

The aim of Task 1 is for the leader to evidence their knowledge and understanding of how strategy can be developed effectively.

There are TWO (2) options for completing Task 1. Please select one of these options.

Option 1

You are required to develop a guidance document OR presentation for new and aspiring leaders entitled:

‘How to develop strategy – A guide for new and aspiring leaders’

The guidance document OR presentation for new and aspiring leaders must be presented in THREE (3) sections:

• The factors which drive the development of organisational strategy

You are required to critique the factors which drive the development of organisational strategy (AC1.1)

• Approaches for the development of strategy

You are required to critically appraise approaches for the development of strategy (AC1.2)

• The challenges of developing and leading organisational strategy

You are required to discuss the challenges of developing and leading organisational strategy (AC1.3)

OR

Option 2

You are required to write an account entitled:

‘The principles of developing organisational strategy’

The account must be presented in THREE (3) sections:

• The factors which drive the development of organisational strategy

You are required to critique the factors which drive the development of organisational strategy (AC1.1)

• Approaches for the development of strategy

You are required to critically appraise approaches for the development of strategy (AC1.2)

• The challenges of developing and leading organisational strategy

You are required to discuss the challenges of developing and leading organisational strategy (AC1.3)

The ability to understand how strategy is developed, implemented and monitored is an essential leadership capability.

The aim of Task 2 is for leaders to evidence their ability to develop an organisational strategy to achieve a business goal and recommend approaches for its successful implementation.

Growth. Retrenchment. Consolidation. Partnerships. Collaborations. Delayering and restructuring. Diversification. Development of product/service/processes. Recruitment, retention, engagement of people. Competitor and competitive approaches. Divestment, mergers, acquisition. Business closure. Research and development. Off- shoring, outsourcing/insourcing. Legal and regulatory requirements.

To complete Task 2 you are required to develop an organisational strategy to achieve a business objective accompanied by a series of recommendations for its implementation and monitoring.

Your evidence must be presented in TWO (2) sections:

2a. Develop an organisational strategy to achieve a business objective (AC2.1)

The organisational strategy may be based on an organisation you know well or have researched. The strategy may be real or hypothetical and may be based on one of the examples of ‘organisational strategy to achieve a business objective’ in the box provided above.

2b. Recommend an approach to implement and monitor the strategy to ensure its success (AC2.2)

With reference to the organisational strategy developed for Task 2a you are required to recommend an approach to implement and monitor the strategy to ensure its success. The approach should include reference to:

• The type of approach selected
• The key processes and activities required to implement the strategy
• Monitoring activities selected to ensure the success of the strategy