The Integrated Management Project (IMP)

Assessment brief, which is to produce a report that:

Identifies an issue in your organisation that has multiple and varied approaches to
its resolution. The issue need not be one of failure but may be a challenge facing
an organisation. This should be current or impending but not a past issue. You will
identify and integrate a range of theories and techniques drawn from multiple
appropriate disciplines from your MBA in the creation of appropriate solutions.
How will you approach this assessment? Answer: By elaborating on the proposal
and addressing the areas that the unit tutor has indicated in the feedback to your
proposal. Explain which theories, tools and techniques are being used and justify
their choices. Remember that the integrated nature of the problem is critical
here.
In-text references and citations are required at this stage.
Once you have framed the problem you will identify and discuss theories, models
and paradigms related to the problem. Make sure that you look at the problem
from different points of view and relate them to your learning from as many
different units of the MBA. For example:
People - LMP, LP, MCI how does your problem/ solution impact on the team &
company? Performance, leadership, managing creativity/innovation etc.
Financial aspect AfL How will your solution improve/ impact positively on the
financial aspect of the company?
Marketing How does your problem/solution impact on the marketing
dimension?
Strategy From the Strategy unit (Business Strategy) TCGC (locating your
problem / organisation within the wider context of global business/ sector macroenvironmental impact PESTEL, etc.) or business models and strategies from the
unit on Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Operations Management How does the problem/solution impact on the supply
chain, procurement and operational management issues?
Project management Consider the models for managing change and other
project management theories or models. Can any of these be applied to your
problem area? You may use the soft and hard systems approach within this
context. Is there any other approach that would be appropriate? If so, present it
(with appropriate referencing) and explain how and why it is more suitable to the
task at hand.

This is not an exhaustive list and you may want to broaden the range of theories as
you see fit.
Again the unit tutor will be assessing the submission and indicating broadly
whether it is headed in the right direction. This is not a graded submission. It is,
however, critical that all students make this submission as it ensures that they are
well on track to have worked on a substantial part of the unit's final assessment.

You will produce a report that:

Section 1 (40%)
Identifies an issue in an organisation (ideally your own) that has a
multiple and varied approaches to its resolution. The issue need not be
one of failure but may be a challenge facing an organisation. This should
be a current or impending but not a past issue. You will identify and
integrate a range of theories and techniques drawn from multiple
appropriate disciplines from your MBA in the creation of appropriate
solutions
Section 2 (40%)
You will produce a critical review of the literature that:
Critically evaluates the concepts used in Part 1 and justifies their
selection for your analysis and solution generation. This selection will
reflect the debates in the literature about the concepts used.
(8,000 words)
Assessment 2, Reflective Report (20% Weighting)
You will produce a reflective account that:
Critically evaluates your capabilities at managing the process of
producing the Project and reflects upon your development and future
needs as a practitioner based on your learning during the Project.
PART 1: You would have produced a draft of this Report in Semester 3, as part of IMP
1:
Identifies an issue in your own organisation that has multiple and varied approaches to
its resolution. This should be a current or impending but not a past issue. You will
identify and integrate a range of theories and techniques drawn from multiple
appropriate disciplines from your MBA in the creation of appropriate solutions.
Once you have framed the problem you will identify and discuss theories, models and
paradigms related to the problem. Make sure that you look at the problem from
different points of view and relate them to your learning from as many different units
of the MBA. For example:

 People - LMP, LP, MCI how does your problem/ solution impact on the team &
company? Performance, leadership, managing creativity/innovation etc.
Financial aspect AfL How will your solution improve/ impact positively on the
financial aspect of the company?
Marketing How does your problem/solution impact on the marketing
dimension?
Strategy From the Strategy unit (Business Strategy) and from TCGC (locating
your problem / organisation within the wider context of global business/ sector
macro-environmental impact PESTEL, etc.)
Operations Management How does the problem/solution impact on the supply
chain, procurement and operational management issues?
Project management Consider the models for managing change and other
project management theories or models. Can any of these be applied to your
problem area? You may use the soft and hard systems approach within this
context. Is there any other approach that would be appropriate? If so, present it
(with appropriate referencing) and explain how and why it is more suitable to the
task at hand.

This is not an exhaustive list and you are expected to broaden the range of
theories as you see fit.

It is however most important to use an integrated approach rather than look at

each dimension on its own. The theories around your strategic problem constitute
around 90% of the literature reviewed. The rest 10% - you can use to talk about
soft, hard or alternative approaches to dealing with the strategic problem. These
proportions are purely for indicative purposes and not a strict measure.
PART 2: You will produce a critical review of the literature of your work in Part
A compilation and integration of a range of theories and techniques drawn from
multiple appropriate disciplines from your MBA.
You will do so by critically evaluating the concepts, theories, models used in
Part 1 and by providing a clear justification for their selection. This part of your
assessment will reflect the debates in the literature about the concepts used.
You will produce a reflective account that:
Critically evaluates your capabilities at managing the process of producing
the Project and reflects upon your development and future needs as a
practitioner based on your learning during the Project.