ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

 

Assessment	Coursework
Assessment code:	010
Academic Year:	2020/21
Trimester:	2
Module Title:	Business Environment
Module Code:	MOD003353
Level:	4
Module Leader:
Weighting:	50%
Word Limit:	2500 Words This excludes bibliography and other items listed in rule 6.75 of the Academic Regulations: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf
Assessed Learning Outcomes	L01: Understand how the organisation is structured, governed and managed. L02: appreciate the key external environmental constraints on a business;
Submission Deadline :	This assignment must be received by no later than 14:00 on Monday, 22 March 2021

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] 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

4. 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.