Assignment Brief

Module Title:

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP 20/21

Module Code:

Assignment No/Title:

Course Work 1

Assessment Weighting:

50%

Submission Date:

Feedback Target Date:

Module Co-ordinator/

Tutor:

Word count

2,000

Submission Instructions:

This assignment is to be submitted electronically

1. This assignment must be submitted electronically by xxx at xxx on the submission date
2. To submit electronically you must upload your work to the e-submission area within the respective module on Moodle.
3. Multiple drafts can be submitted up to the submission date.
4. Please remember you must leave at least 24 hours between submissions if you make changes to your work. Each submission will overwrite the previous one until the due date and time has passed.
5. You are reminded of the University’s regulations on cheating and plagiarism. In submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations.
6. You are reminded that it is your responsibility to keep an electronic copy of your assignment for future reference.
7. Your citation needs to follow the Harvard style referencing.

The Assignment Tasks

Individual Report

Task 1:  30%

Building on the leadership development mapping tool you were introduced to in the seminars, write a self-reflective section on your personal leadership development plan. 

Task 2: (≈ 1500 words) 70%

Select an industry from the following list and answer the following questions

INDUSTRIES (Choose One)

a) Technology Communication

b) Beauty and Personal care Retail

c) Health and Fitness Clubs (Gyms and Fitness centres)

d) Sports Apparel and Footwear Retailers

Q1. Conduct a Porters Five Forces Analysis for your chosen industry in the UK. Use the most recent information collected from Mintel or Passport industry reports, articles, newspapers etc... Identify key success factors for your chosen industry.

Choose a company in the chosen industry and using desk research from reliable sources answer the following 2 questions.

Q2.1. What are the strategic capabilities that give the company its competitive advantage? Using the VRIO framework identify if the company has a sustainable competitive advantage?

Q2.3. Identify and critically evaluate the current strategy the company is following. Recommend two strategies with reasons and evidence that the company can pursue in the next few years to achieve its strategic objectives.

You are advised to adopt the following structure for your assignment:

REPORT STRUCTURE

1. TITLE PAGE (NAME OF THE COMPANY, STUDENT ID, SEMINAR TUTOR, WORD COUNT)
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Task 1:

Structure the answer to explore the three following elements:

a) Self- acceptance: reflect on your personality leadership preferences and style according to the Big Five Personality Test (covered in seminar 1). What is personality style? How accurately this style describes you? What are the main struggles you might have?

b) Self- management: what characteristics you want to develop and why? (choose the 3 most important for you)

c) Self-development: how would you gain the new skills you need to develop these characteristics?

Guidance: Feel free to be as creative as you want; Use tables, charts, drawings, songs or dances!

Task 2:

a) INTRODUCTION

This section should briefly describe the industry and company profile. Finish with the purpose of the report.

b) MAIN BODY

This section should discuss each question. State the question before beginning the answer.

An indicative approach to structuring your answer is below;

d) Conclude with a brief of what you have discussed in the main body.

INTEXT CITATIONS AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE EXPECTED

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR THE REPORT

Task 1:

Assessment Criteria:

Each task is being marked according to the following rubric: -