Strategic decision making
Company has to be one of them: Prett a Manger, Thorntons, Twitter and Aston martin
Your task is to analyse a chosen organisations* strategic position and critically assess the strategic options open to it in order to
recommend an appropriate strategy that would be suitable.
a)Strategic Purpose including an Introduction to the Organisation
External environment analysis: PESTLE
Competitive Industry analysis: Porters 5 Forces
Strategic Capability analysis: Threshold and distinctive resource/capabilities
Use a SWOT table or other appropriate framework to summarise the analysis for your organisation
b)Building on the analysis in the first task, propose strategic choices for that organisation. These should include strategic choices
in the areas of EITHER Business or International strategy.
c)Critically evaluate the strategic choices developed in the second task, including critical assessment and justification of the
criteria for that evaluation. This should include an assessment of the level and type of innovation and the application of a SAFe
evaluation. Evaluation criteria should also include stakeholder expectations and mention of potential barriers to implementation such
as organisation, funding and leadership.
d)Based on the evaluation in the third task, recommend a preferred strategic choice and explain how this meets stakeholder
expectations.
*You will be advised about the chosen organisation at the CW1 briefings.
Instructions to Students:
Please note that this assignment is an INDIVIDUAL piece of work. Although it builds on analysis undertaken POSSIBLY as a group, the
strategic choices and evaluation need to be developed independently. Excessive similarity between members of the same CW1 group will be
treated as plagiarism.
Word limit: 2,000 words MAXIMUM +/-10%
A recommended structure for the assignment is as follows:
Front cover including word count, Table of contents.
Abstract (brief summary of your work including recommendations 200 words maximum not included in word count).
a)Introduction to your organisation, summary of internal and external factors and SWOT analysis with clear identification of critical
points. (500 words).
b)Development of strategic choices (500 words).
c)Evaluation of strategic choices (500 words).
d)Recommendation of preferred strategic choice and conclusion (500 words).
e)References.
f)Appendices.
The table of contents, the abstract, the references and the appendices are not included in the word count.
Any parts of the main analysis should be in the main text and not in tables in the appendices.
Your assignment will be marked on the basis of the justification you provide, the conceptualisation of the idea, the applicability of
the relevant theory and the managerial relevance of your work.
Regarding your assignment, you should focus on the following aspects:
a)Summary of the internal and external analysis for your organisation INCLUDING:
1. Strategic Purpose including an Introduction to the Organisation
2. External environment analysis: PESTLE,
3. Competitive Industry analysis: Porters 5 Forces
4. Strategic Capability analysis: Threshold and distinctive resource/capabilities
5. SWOT analysis
b) Development of appropriate strategic choices using either: Generic Competitive business strategy or Strategy Clock; Porters 4
International Strategies.
c) Development of appropriate evaluation criteria and evaluation of strategic choices, SAFe analysis
d) Selection and justification of the optimum strategy. You should use your own critical ability to analyse the issue properly and
provide the rationale for your reply.
Structure
A recommended structure for the assignment is as follows:
Front cover including word count, Table of contents.
Abstract (brief summary of your work including recommendations 200 words maximum not included in word count).
Introduction to your organisation, summary of internal and external factors and SWOT analysis with clear identification of critical
points. (500 words).
Development of strategic choices (500 words).
Evaluation of strategic choices (500 words).
Recommendation of preferred strategic choice and conclusion (500 words).
References.
Appendices.
All applied models should be in diagrams or tables and DO NOT count towards the final word count.
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