Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment Assignment

Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Business Unit 1 Assignment: Business and the Business Environment

The aim of this unit is to provide students with background knowledge and understanding of business, the functions of an organisation and the wider business environments in which organisations operate. Students will examine the different types of organisations (including for profit and not for profit), their size and scope (for instance, micro, SME, transnational and global) and how they operate. Students will explore the relationships that organisations have with their various stakeholders and how the wider external environments influence and shape business decision-making. The knowledge, understanding and skill sets gained in this unit will help students to choose their own preferred areas of specialism in future studies and in their professional career. Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment

Assignment Submission Format

Submission will be a single written report which covers all of the unit learning outcomes for the unit.

The report should be presented in Arial or Times New Roman in font size 12 with single spacing.

The use of simple Harvard referencing system should be used throughout your assignment and a bibliography submitted at the end of your assignment.

The recommended word limit is 2,000–2,500 words, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit.

The format, structure, and overall presentation of the assignment is expected to be to a professional standard. The assignment should be written in a concise, formal, business style with the use of headings, paragraphs and subsections.

The assignment should be saved in Word or PDF format and should include the Brighton School of Business and Management assignment front cover sheet.

You have been allocated six weeks for this assignment – please refer to your timetable issued on your enrolment day

The final version of your assignment must contain the assignment front sheet.

If your final version is deemed a referral, it cannot be re-submitted unless agreed at an assessment board meeting.

Assignment Introduction: Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment

The assignment is aimed at providing you with an understanding of different organisations, the influence of stakeholders and the relationship between businesses and the local, national and global environments.

Learning Outcomes (LO)

LO1 Explain the different types, size and scope of organisations

LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organisation and how they link to organisational structure

LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations.

LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors.

Assignment Brief

Students should use their own employment context or that of an organisation they are very familiar with.

For students who are not able to do this, they should use the following scenario.

Scenario: Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment

You are employed as a junior manager in a business sector of your choice and have been asked to produce a written report for senior management. The purpose of the report is to provide senior management with a better understanding of the business environment that their business operates in.

Assignment Guidance – Management Report

This management report should include an introduction and an overview of the business sector you have chosen or you are employed in or you are very familiar with. This should include an explanation of the products or services they supply, the organisations vision, mission and business objectives and information about the business stakeholders.

The report will include the use of models, frameworks and tools for example:

• Power / interest stakeholder matrix – to identify the different types of stakeholders
• PESTLE analysis – to identify and discuss the macro environment factors

• SWOT or TOWS analysis – to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the business

The report should contain information and detail to cover the assessment criteria and the essential content for this unit. In addition students should note the command verbs for the assessment criteria. A list to explain the command verbs can be found in the student study guide.

Section 1 – Learning Outcome 1 and 2 Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment

LO1 Explain the different types, size and scope of organisations

P1 Explain different types and purposes of organisations; public, private and voluntary sectors and legal structures.

P2 Explain the size and scope of a range of different types of organisations.

M1 Analyse how the structure, size and scope of different organisations link to the business objectives and product and services offered by the organisation.

LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organisation and how they link to organisational structure

P3 Explain the relationship between different organisational functions and how they link to organisational objectives and structure

M2 Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of interrelationships between organisational functions and the impact that can have upon organisational structure

LO1 and LO2

D1 Provide critical analysis of the complexities of different organisations and structures.

Word count guideline: 1,000 - 1,250 words Section 2 – Learning Outcome 3 and 4

LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations.

P4 Identify the positive and negative impacts the macro environment has upon business operations, supported by specific examples.

M3 Apply appropriately the PESTLE model to support a detailed analysis of the macro environment within an organisation

LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors

P5 Conduct internal and external analysis of specific organisations in order to identify strengths and weaknesses.

P6 Explain how strengths and weaknesses interrelate with external macro factors.

M4 Apply appropriately SWOT/TOWS analysis and justify how they influence decision-making.

LO3 and LO4

D2 Critically evaluate the impacts that both macro and micro factors have upon business objectives and decision-making.

Word count guideline: 1,000 - 1,250 words Delivery

Delivery is by self study, online distance learning, with email and telephone support available from your Personal Tutor.

Guidance and advice on study techniques can be found on Moodle, and can be given by your Personal Tutor.

Guidance and advice on unit assignments can be found on Moodle.

Your Personal Tutor will also give you advice and guidance on format, structure, content, and give feedback on one draft per assignment.

Guidance on Grade Awarded - Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment

The final unit grade assessment is based on how well you have met the Learning outcomes and assessment criteria. We look primarily for evidence that you have

followed the assignment “instructions” and have responded to the assignment in a way that meets the specific outcomes / requirements / criteria.

We also look at the depth and breadth of your work: where we look for evidence of supplementary reading and research, appropriate examples, some “original” thought, a professional standard of layout, structure, and overall presentation in order to come to a decision about the actual grade.

Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment