Governance, Structure, and Environmental Analysis

Assignment Brief

WRITING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

• This assignment must be completed individually.
• You must use the Harvard referencing system.
• Your work must indicate the number of words you have used. Written assignments must not exceed the specified maximum number of words. When a written assignment is marked, the excessive use of words beyond the word limit is reflected in the academic judgement of the piece of work which results in a lower mark being awarded for the piece of work (regulation 6.74).
• Assignment submissions are to be made anonymously. Do not write your name anywhere on your work.
• Write your student ID number at the top of every page.
• Where the assignment comprises more than one task, all tasks must be submitted in a single document.
• You must number all pages.

SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

In order to achieve full marks, you must submit your work before the deadline. Work that is submitted late – up to five working days after the published submission deadline - will be accepted and marked. However, the element of the module’s assessment to which the work contributes will be capped with a maximum mark of 40%.

Work cannot be submitted if the period of 5 working days after the deadline has passed (unless there is an approved extension). Failure to submit within the relevant period will mean that you have failed the assessment.

Requests for short-term extensions will only be considered in the case of illness or other cause considered valid by the iCentre Adviser. Please contact iCentre@lca.anglia.ac.uk. A request must normally be received and agreed by the iCentre Adviser in writing at least 24 hours prior to the deadline. See rules 6.56-6.65: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf

Mitigation: The deadline for submission of mitigation in relation to this assignment is no later than five working days after the submission date of this work. Please contact iCentre@lca.anglia.ac.uk See rules 6.103 – 6.132: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

You are required to produce a 2,500- word report that looks to satisfy three tasks.

INTRODUCTION

“A common tool of analysis of the business environment is the PESTEL analysis. PESTEL stands for political, economic, social-cultural, technological and environmental dimensions. The dimensions of the environment are interrelated. In so far as the PESTEL takes the dimensions separately, it is a blunt tool for analysis” (Morrison, 2020).

ASSESSMENT:

Choose one company from the following list:

• Pearson PLC
• Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
• Rightmove PLC
• Sanne Group PLC
• National Express PLC

Task 1

Examine how your chosen company is governed and structured.

(30 marks)

Task 2

Evaluate the importance of carrying out PESTEL analysis for an organisation.

(20 marks)

Task 3

Use the PESTEL framework to analyse the external environment of your chosen company.

(40 marks)

NOTE:

Presentation, referencing and grammar. (10 marks)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

1. Knowledge and understanding of how the organisation is structured, governed and managed.
2. Abilities to appreciate the key external environmental constraints and opportunities on a business.

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

• You must give a general overview of your chosen company, including its history, its organisational structure, and how it is governed. For example, demonstrate that you have conducted some research on the history of the company. How many directors are on the Board, and how many of these are executive and non-executive directors? Who is the Chairperson of the organisation, and when was he/she appointed to the Board?
• Evaluate the importance of PESTEL analysis for a business organisation. Why is it important for organisations to carry out PESTEL analysis?
• Make a list of the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal (PESTEL) factors that influence the environment of your chosen company, and discuss how these factors impact your chosen company.
• You must illustrate your answers with relevant practical examples.

Reading List:

1. Morrison, J. (2017) The Global Business Environment, (4th edition), Palgrave.
2. Needle, D. (2015) Business in Context, An Introduction to Business and Its Environment, (6th edition), Cengage Learning.
3. Boddy, D. (2016) Management An Introduction, (7th edition), Pearson Press

Please visit the web site of your chosen company for its annual report and other necessary information

In addition to the recommended textbook, you are expected to read other textbooks and journals for your research.

Further Details:

This assignment must be completed individually as a management report, following the appropriate academic structure:

• Executive summary
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Main body
• Conclusions
• Reference list
• The word limit for this assignment is 2500 words. This word limit does not include the executive summary, tables, diagrams, appendices or references.
• Assignment submissions will be made via Turnitin. Please ensure you have your user login and password well before the submission date.
• If you share your work or, parts of your work, with another student this is an academic offence (collusion) and will result in a fail grade.
• You must use Harvard Referencing (Citations in-text) to acknowledge your sources of information and provide a reference list (and bibliography where appropriate). Failure to do this is an academic offence and will result in a fail grade.
• Any bibliography provided must be included as an appendix.
• Marks will be awarded for the professionalism of the report.

Sample Answer

National Express PLC: Governance, Structure, and Environmental Analysis

Executive Summary

This report examines the organisational governance and structure of National Express PLC, one of the UK’s leading transport providers. It then evaluates the importance of PESTEL analysis for businesses before applying the PESTEL framework to explore the external environment of National Express. The findings show that effective governance ensures accountability and decision-making, while PESTEL analysis helps the company anticipate risks and opportunities in areas such as political regulation, economic shifts, technological innovation, and environmental sustainability. The report concludes that National Express must continue adapting its strategies to remain competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Governance and Structure of National Express PLC

3. Importance of PESTEL Analysis

4. PESTEL Analysis of National Express PLC
   4.1 Political Factors
   4.2 Economic Factors
   4.3 Social Factors
   4.4 Technological Factors
   4.5 Environmental Factors
   4.6 Legal Factors

5. Conclusion

6. References

Introduction

Understanding the business environment is crucial for organisations that operate in competitive markets. Tools such as the PESTEL analysis provide insights into the external environment, while corporate governance and organisational structures ensure internal accountability and effectiveness. This report focuses on National Express PLC, a multinational public transport company headquartered in Birmingham, UK. Established in 1972, National Express operates bus, coach, and rail services across the UK, North America, Spain, Morocco, and Germany. Its scale of operations, international footprint, and exposure to multiple environmental factors make it a strong case for analysis.

Governance and Structure of National Express PLC

National Express PLC is a public limited company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It follows the UK Corporate Governance Code, which requires transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

The company is governed by a Board of Directors comprising executive and non-executive members. The current Chairperson, Sir John Armitt (appointed in 2020), is responsible for leading the Board and ensuring effective governance. The Board also includes the Chief Executive Officer, Ignacio Garat, and several executive directors overseeing finance, operations, and strategy. Non-executive directors provide independent oversight and hold management accountable.

The governance structure ensures compliance with financial regulations, effective risk management, and strategic decision-making. Committees within the Board, such as the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, and Safety and Environment Committee, ensure that issues of financial integrity, executive pay, and sustainability are properly managed.

Organisationally, National Express operates a divisional structure, with separate divisions for UK Bus, UK Coach, German rail, North America school bus, and Spanish/Moroccan bus services. This structure allows for local responsiveness while maintaining overall corporate control from headquarters.

Continued...