LO1: Analyse the external environment of an organisation and justify critical opportunities and threats appropriate to that organisation

Assignment task

This 2,000-word assignment evaluates your ability to apply business models to analyse a firm`s competitive position, evaluate contemporary macro environmental challenges, formulate and critically assess strategic options, and make business decisions.

Identify a local SME (Small/Medium Sized Enterprise) within a 10-mile radius of your College that operates in the independent hotel sector to complete the following tasks:

• Using appropriate data collection methodologies suitable for the task, critically analyse the chosen business`s current SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and identify the firm’s strategic capabilities, including any strengths and weaknesses.
• Using appropriate data collection methodologies suitable for the task, provide a competitor overview for the chosen firm and conduct a macro environmental analysis. Clearly identify the factors involved and discuss their potential impact on the chosen firm.
• Formulate two potential strategies that will enable the firm to achieve more responsible business practices in line with their SDGs, considering present and future challenges. These strategies should be presented as two detailed strategic plans, including specific information, rationale, costs, and predicted revenue.
• Critically evaluate the two potential strategies to recommend one preferred strategy for the business to adopt in order to succeed as a sustainable and responsible enterprise.

If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your module leader to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO1: Analyse the external environment of an organisation and justify critical opportunities and threats appropriate to that organisation;

LO2: Analyse the strategic capability of an organisation and justify critical strengths and weaknesses linked to competitive advantage;

LO3: Develop suitable strategic choices for an organisation;

LO4: Evaluate strategic choices for an organisation, referring to previous analysis in 1 and 2 above;

LO5: Recommend and justify an appropriate strategic choice for an organisation.

Practicalities: Referencing, presenting and submitting your work

Please see your programme handbook for information on the required referencing style, any presentational requirements and the process for submitting your work.

Please  reference  your  work  using  the  Harvard  style  as  defined  in     Cite  Them  Right  Online

(http://www.citethemrightonline.com).

• Pages should be numbered.
• All work must be submitted in Arial 11 font with single-line spacing.
• All writing should be in the third-person passive voice.
• Written work must be word-processed.
• The module title and code number must be clearly marked on the front cover.
• Submitted work must be properly referenced. A guide to the Harvard system of referencing can be found on the Bucks website at bucks.ac.uk/referencing.
• Clarification can be sought from the module tutor at any time.
• Failure to submit work in accordance with the provided guidance will result in marks being adjusted accordingly.
• No collaboration is allowed.
• The front cover, executive summary, contents page, reference pages, and appendices are not included in the page count or the word count. Words used in tables, charts, and diagrams are also not included in the word count.
• Non-academic and non-reputable sources such as Wikipedia, Investopedia, Business Balls, Slide Share, Essays4U, Term Papers, or similar are not acceptable within your work or reference list.
• A maximum of 4 pages is allocated for appendices, which do not form part of the total page count of 16 pages.
• Work must be submitted electronically via the relevant submission point in the `Submit your work` area in your Blackboard module shell by the specified time and date.
• Ensure that your work is saved in an appropriate file format. Turnitin will accept the following file types: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, OpenOffice (ODT), Hangul (HWP), Google Docs, or plain text. Your file must contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages, and be less than 40MB in size.
• Files can be submitted multiple times before the submission date, with the most recent version replacing earlier submissions.

Upon file submission, a digital receipt will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided it is set up). Please retain this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of the file.

Confidentiality

You should maintain and respect confidentiality in relation to the protection of personal, technical and/or commercial information of a sensitive nature in your assessed work.

For further information and guidance, please see your programme handbook.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity means taking responsibility for your own work.

When you submit an assignment, you are making a declaration that it is your own work and that you have acknowledged the contribution of others and their ideas in its development (for example, by referencing them appropriately).

For further information and guidance, please see the University website: https://www.bnu.ac.uk/current- students/registry-helpdesk-and-academic-advice/academic-integrity-and-misconduct

0-34 (F) –

Fail

Not successful

35-39 E –

Marginal fail Below required

standard

40-49 (D)

Pass Satisfactory

50-59 (C)

Pass Good

60-69 (B)

Pass Very Good

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

Criterion 1

Knowledge and understanding 25%

(Key indicators for Knowledge and understanding)

• Depth of knowledge and understanding

• Engagement with subject-specific theories, paradigms, concepts, and principles

• Background investigation, analysis, research, enquiry and/or study.

The work demonstrates a limited and/or substantially inaccurate or no understanding of key aspects of the subject, with few if any examples of coherent and detailed knowledge, which is unlikely to be at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

The work demonstrates insufficient understanding of key aspects of the subject, including some coherent and detailed knowledge, little of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

The work demonstrates a basic yet systematic understanding of key aspects of the subject, including some coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

The work demonstrates a sound breadth and depth of systematic understanding of key aspects of the subject, including some coherent and detailed knowledge, some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

The work demonstrates a sophisticated and critical systematic understanding of key aspects of the subject, including coherent and detailed knowledge, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

The work demonstrates a highly accomplished systematic understanding of key aspects of the subject beyond what has been taught, including coherent and detailed knowledge, most of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

The work demonstrates an exceptional systematic understanding of key aspects of the subject, including coherent and detailed knowledge well beyond what has been taught, all of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of the discipline e.g., recent research, latest techniques.

Criterion 2

Analysis and criticality 25%

(Key indicators for analysis and criticality)

• Logic and argument

• Use and range of independently selected sources
• Analysis and synthesis

• Organisation and communication of ideas and evidence

The work demonstrates a limited or no ability to work independently and deploy relevant techniques of analysis and enquiry accurately;

The work shows insufficient knowledge of the subject areas; strategy,

leadership, management, firm performance, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate a coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is inappropriate.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis of relevant academic theory is absent.

The communication and organisation of the work lacks flow and coherency.

The work demonstrates an insufficient ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;

The work shows limited knowledge of the subject areas; strategy,

leadership, management, firm performance, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate a coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is mostly inappropriate.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis of relevant academic theory is absent.

The communication and organisation of the work is weak and lacks flow and coherency.

The work demonstrates a sufficient ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;

The work shows satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas; strategy, leadership, management, firm performance,

performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate a coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is satisfactory.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis of relevant academic theory is satisfactory but lacks depth and breadth.

The communication and organisation of

The work demonstrates a sound ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;

The work shows good knowledge of the subject areas; strategy,

leadership, management, firm performance, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate a coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is good.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis of relevant academic theory is good.

The communication and organisation of the work is good, with the flow and coherency of the

The work demonstrates a sophisticated ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline.

The work shows very good knowledge of the subject areas; strategy,

leadership, management, firm performance, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate a coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is very good. The use of wider and less obvious sources enhances the work.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis of relevant academic theory is very good, with excellent integration within the argument and evidence used.

The work demonstrates a highly accomplished ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;

The work shows excellent knowledge of the subject areas; strategy, leadership, management, firm performance, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate a strong, coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is excellent. The use of wider and less obvious sources enhances the work and demonstrates originality in their thinking and work.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis of relevant academic theory is excellent, with excellent

The work demonstrates a highly accomplished ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;

The work shows outstanding knowledge of the subject areas; strategy, leadership, management, firm performance, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, with which to formulate an exceptionally strong, coherent and logical argument.

The range, age and validity of secondary research sources & literature is outstanding. The use of wider and less obvious sources enhances the work and demonstrates originality in their thinking and work.

Analysis of the case study and synthesis

0-34 (F) –

Fail

Not successful

35-39 E –

Marginal fail Below required standard

40-49 (D)

Pass Satisfactory

50-59 (C)

Pass Good

60-69 (B)

Pass Very Good

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

the work is satisfactory and struggles for flow and coherency.

argument clear to the reader.

The communication and organisation of the work is very good, with the flow and coherency of the argument clear to the reader.

integration within the argument and evidence used.

The communication and organisation of the work is excellent, with the flow and coherency of the argument clear to the reader and presents original conceptual thinking.

of relevant academic theory is outstanding, with exceptional integration within the argument and evidence used.

The communication and organisation of the work is outstanding, with the flow and coherency of the argument clear to the reader and presents original conceptual thinking.

Criterion 3

Application and practice 25%

(Key indicators for application and practice)

• • Development and/or application discipline-specific specialist skills

• • Accuracy, coordination, and proficiency in completion of practical tasks/processes

Work demonstrates a limited or no ability to select and apply appropriate, discipline-specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is not evident within the work.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is clearly missing and/or inappropriate for the standard required as a manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is clearly absent with no evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business contexts involved that could be researched and/or integrated into

the work.

Work demonstrates an insufficient ability to select and apply appropriate, discipline specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is weak within the work.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is clearly missing and/or inappropriate for the standard required as a manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is clearly absent with no evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business contexts involved that could be researched and/or integrated into the work.

Work demonstrates a sufficient ability to select and apply appropriate, discipline specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is acceptable within the work.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is evident but this is acceptable and mostly appropriate for the standard required as a manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is acceptable with some evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business contexts involved that could be researched

Work demonstrates an ability to select and apply in a consistent and informed manner appropriate, discipline specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is good.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is evident and what is presented is to a good standard and appropriate for the standard required as a manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is good with some evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business contexts involved that could be researched and/or integrated into the work.

Work demonstrates an ability to select and apply in a capable and effective manner appropriate, discipline specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is very good.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is evident and what is presented is to a very good standard and appropriate for the standard required as a manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is very good with clear evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business

contexts involved that could be researched

Work demonstrates an ability to select and apply in a highly accomplished manner appropriate, discipline specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is excellent.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is evident and what is presented is to an excellent standard and appropriate for the standard required as a middle manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is excellent with clear evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business contexts involved that could be researched

Work demonstrates an ability to select and apply in a highly accomplished and innovative manner appropriate, discipline specific methods and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and understanding and to initiate, and in turn:

The development and application of secondary research skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of data and information is outstanding.

The ability to draw conclusions for the reader is evident and what is presented is to an outstanding standard and appropriate for the standard required as a senior manager.

The ability to read and follow instructions is outstanding with clear evidence of conceptual awareness of the wider business contexts involved that could be researched

0-34 (F) –

Fail

Not successful

35-39 E –

Marginal fail Below required

standard

40-49 (D)

Pass Satisfactory

50-59 (C)

Pass Good

60-69 (B)

Pass Very Good

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

The work fails to address all the required elements set out in the briefing.

The work fails to address all the required elements set out in the briefing.

and/or integrated into the work.

The work mostly addresses the required elements set out in the briefing.

The work meets all the required elements set out in the briefing.

and/or integrated into the work.

The work meets all the required elements set out in the briefing.

and/or integrated into the work.

The work meets all the required elements set out in the briefing.

and integrated into the work.

The work meets all the required elements set out in the briefing.

0-34 (F) –

Fail

Not successful

35-39 E –

Marginal fail Below required

standard

40-49 (D)

Pass Satisfactory

50-59 (C)

Pass Good

60-69 (B)

Pass Very Good

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

Criterion 4

Transferable skills 15%

(Key indicators for transferable skills)

• Written, verbal and electronic communication

• Numeracy and digital literacy
• Personal motivation, organisation, and time-management

Work demonstrates limited or no ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

- an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs.

Work demonstrates insufficient ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

-an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs.

Work demonstrates a sufficient ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

-an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs.

Work demonstrates a consistent and confident ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

-an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs

Work demonstrates a highly proficient ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

-an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs.

Work demonstrates a highly accomplished ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

-an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs.

Work demonstrates an exceptional ability to:

-communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions accurately and reliably utilising relevant numeracy, digital literacy, oral and written communication skills in a manner fit for purpose.

-an ability to manage their learning and work with minimal or no supervision.

-use initiative to take responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and/or outputs.

- consideration of sustainability (environmental, economic, and personal) and social and ethical matters in their work/solutions.