Module Name BUS707: Strategic Direction

Assignment Name BUS707: Strategic Direction Assignment

Level Level 7 Business and Management

Plagiarism and Collusion

In submitting the assignment Learner’s must complete a statement of authenticity
confirming that the work submitted for all tasks is their own. The statement should also
include the word count.

Plagiarism and collusion are treated very seriously. Plagiarism involves presenting
work, excerpts, ideas or passages of another author without appropriate referencing
and attribution.

Collusion occurs when two or more learners submit work which is so alike in ideas,
content, wording and/or structure that the similarity goes beyond what might have been
mere coincidence.

Referencing
A professional approach to work is expected from all learners. Learners must therefore
identify and acknowledge ALL sources/methodologies/applications used.

The learner must use an appropriate referencing system to achieve this. Marks are not
awarded for the use of English; however, the learner must express ideas clearly and
ensure that appropriate terminology is used to convey accuracy in meaning.

Please use ​Harvard Style of Referencing​ throughout your work.

Appendices
You may include appendices to support your work, however appendices must only
contain additional supporting information, and must be clearly referenced in your
assignment.

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You may also include tables, graphs, diagrams, Gantt charts and flowcharts that
support the main report should be incorporated into the back of the assignment report
that is submitted.

Any published secondary information such as annual reports and company literature,
should be referenced in the main text of the assignment, in accordance with Harvard
Style Referencing, and referenced at the end of the assignment.

Confidentiality
Where a Learner is using organisational information that deals with sensitive material or
issues, they must seek the advice and permission from that organisation about its
inclusion.

Where confidentiality is an issue, Learners are advised to anonymise their assignment

report so that it cannot be attributed to that particular organisation.

Word Count Policy

Learners must comply with the required word count, within a margin of +10%. These
rules exclude the index, headings, tables, images, footnotes, appendices and
information contained within references and bibliographies.

When an assessment task requires learners to produce presentation slides with

supporting notes, the word count applies to the supporting notes only.

Submission of Assignments
-All work to be submitted on the due on the last day of the month.
-All work must be submitted in a single electronic document (.doc/.dox file).
-Add the Student Submission Form at the beginning of the assignment and the
Feedback Form at the last page of the assignment document.

Marking and Grades

A standard marking rubric for all assignments, and you can find the details at the end of
this document.

Unless stated elsewhere, Learners must answer all questions in this document.

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Assignment Question

Scenario
Learners may use their own employment context, or that of another organisation with
which they are very familiar, to base their assignment. However, in the case that they
are not able to do so, please use the below scenario: -
You are a manager at a medium sized organisation. You have been asked to review
your organisational strategic plan to establish if suitable progress is being made to meet
the organisation’s strategic objectives. Analysis of internal and external factors affecting
the plan is part of your remit and it has been suggested you examine options to meet
the plan which are more effective and cost efficient. From your analysis you need to
justify your recommendations and so, valid and realistic options need to be produced.
If you will be using the scenario please select and research an organisation of your
choice with regards to their strategic plan. Provide details of your research and a short
summary of the information you have found in order that the assessor may
contextualise your responses to the tasks below. The summary is expected to be
between 200 and 250 words.

Task 1 – 500 words

1.1: ​Critically analyse the current strategic aims and objectives of your chosen scenario
/ organisation, you may wish to consider the fuller hierarchy of objectives, within your
critical analysis, enable greater detection of misalignment. Use techniques and
modelling to underpin your critical analysis, where feasible.
1.2: ​Decompose your organisational strategy into logical component parts, it is likely
that each functional area will have their own customized strategies and tactics; it is
within this sphere that misalignment often occurs. Not all component parts of the
strategy will have the same value or level of risk; this may be considered in your
analysis.
1.3: ​Critically conduct an environmental scan focused on environmental factors in the
short and medium term, short being up to one year, longer term being up to three years.

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Assessment Criteria
1.1: ​Critically analyse the existing strategic aims and objectives of the
organisation.
1.2: ​Undertake a critical evaluation of the components of current organisational
strategy.
1.3: ​Critically analyse the factors affecting the strategic aims of organisational
strategy over the short and medium term.

Task 2 – 500 words

2.1: ​Conduct an audit customised for the purpose of signposting the activities within the
processes of working towards existing strategic aims and objectives. Embed diagnostic
tools from across the business domain to add validity and confidence in the auditing
activity.
2.2: ​Identify ten stakeholders connected with the organisation and evaluate their
expectations. Undertake stakeholder mapping to analyse the power and influence they
have upon the organisational strategy. Strategic Stakeholder Tooling is recommended
for this task.
2.3: ​Evolve a strategic positioning map or tool(s) to enable critical analysis of the
business processes and activities towards the achievement of the current strategic
position.

Assessment Criteria
2.1: ​Apply a range of diagnostic and analytical tools to audit and assess progress
towards existing strategic aims and objectives.
2.2: ​Take responsibility for and critically assess the expectations of all
stakeholders and their influence upon future organisational strategy.
2.3: ​Critically analyse, interpret and produce an evaluation of the existing
organisational strategic position and progress towards achieving the existing
strategy. Use at least three recognised strategic tools.

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Task 3 – 500 words
3.1: ​Deploy strategic options tools to support the critical evaluation of your identified
range of strategic options in the short and medium term. Conduct critical analysis of the
value of your chosen tools, together with suitable criteria for the selection of use of such
tools. Supporting factors may be such factors as profit, core competencies, quality,
competitive factors and business processes.
3.2: ​Determine and justify the evolved strategic option(s) and assess its suitability in
contributing to meeting any revised strategic position.

Assessment Criteria
3.1: ​Critically evaluate and develop a range of alternative strategic options to
meet organisational strategic aims, direction and objectives in the short and
medium term.
3.2: ​Determine and justify the existing strategic option that can meet the revised
strategic position.

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 Distinguished Excellent Good Proficient Basic Marginal Unacceptable

Criteria ​80+ 70 60 50 40 30 0

Content Extensive Comprehensive Adequate Describes Describes some Largely Inadequate

(alignment with evaluation and critical evaluation and main ideas of the main incomplete information or
assessment synthesis of evaluation and synthesis of with evidence ideas but omits description of containing
criteria) ideas; includes synthesis of key ideas of evaluation; some concepts; main issues; information not
substantial ideas; includes beyond basic includes some limited evidence misses key relevant to the
original thinking coherent descriptions; original of evaluation; concepts; no topic
original thinking includes thinking confused original
original thinking original thinking thinking

Application of In-depth, detailed Clear and Appropriate Adequate Limited Confused Little or no
Theory and and relevant relevant application of application of application of application of evidence of
Literature application of application of theory; theory; uses theory; refers to theory; does application of
theory; expertly theory; fully integrates literature to literature but not use theory and
integrates integrates literature to support ideas may not use it literature for relevant
literature to literature to support ideas and concepts consistently support literature
support ideas support ideas and concepts
and concept and concepts

Knowledge and Extensive depth Comprehensive Sound Basic Limited and Confused or Little or no
Understanding of understanding knowledge and understanding Knowledge superficial inadequate evidence of
and exploration depth of of and knowledge and knowledge knowledge or
beyond key understanding principles and understanding understanding and understanding of
principles and key principles concepts of key of key concepts understandin key concepts
concepts and concepts concepts and and principles g of key and principles
principles concepts and
principles

Presentation and Logical, coherent Logical, Logical Orderly Somewhat weak Confused Illogical
Writing Skills and polished coherent structure to presentation; presentation; presentation; presentation
presentation presentation presentation; minor errors in errors in errors in lacking
exceeding demonstrating makes few mechanics and mechanics and mechanics cohesion;
expectations at mastery; free errors in syntax syntax may and syntax contains
this level; free from errors in mechanics and interfere with often significant errors
from errors in mechanics and syntax which meaning interfere with that interfere
mechanics and syntax do not prohibit meaning with meaning
syntax meaning

Referencing Advanced use of Mastery of Appropriate Adequate use Limited use of Inadequate Little or no
in- text citation in-text citation use of in-text of in- text in- text citation use of evidence of
and references and referencing citation and citation and and referencing citation and appropriate
referencing referencing referencing referencing or
use of sources

Instructor’s Comments

Directions:

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1. ​For each of the criteria listed in the first column, circle one box in the corresponding
column to the right which best reflects the student’s work on this particular assessment
activity (e.g., project, presentation, essay).

2. ​Provide specific feedback to a student about each of the criteria scores he/she
earned by writing comments and suggestions for improvement in the last row titled
“Instructor’s comments.”

3. ​To arrive at a mark, total the boxes and divide by 5 to arrive at the final mark.

Example:

Distinguished Excellent Good Proficient Basic Marginal Unacceptable

Range 80-100 70-79 60-69 50-59 40-49 35-39 0-34

Criteria Score

Content 50

Application of Theory and Literature 40

Knowledge and Understanding 50

Presentation/Writing Skills 40

Referencing 40

Total Score 220/5 = ​44, Basic

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