Edexcel Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY :

Unit Name: Unit Number: Credit: Assignment Submission Date: Assessor: Mode of submission:

STRATEGIC PLANNING 12 15 4 FEBRUARY 2010 PROF MIKE HARVEY LIVECAMPUS

Aim This unit provides the learner with an understanding of how to review current organisational management strategies and the skills to develop a strategy plan in an organisational context.

Summary of Learning Outcomes To achieve a pass learners must demonstrate the ability to deal with each of the following outcomes and present these in report form scripts will be checked against each of these:

1 Understand the external environment affecting an organisation 2 Be able to review existing business plans and strategies of an organisation 3 Be able to develop options for strategic planning for an organisation 4 Be able to construct a strategy plan for an organisation 5 Be able to examine factors affecting an organisational strategy plan 6 Be able to plan for the implementation of a strategy plan

Scenario:

(a) The candidate has to provide information related to a chosen organisation (See Task 1a) where this is clearly indicated in the assignment otherwise the answer can be in generic form (b) In your answers related to the tasks below you may make, and if you do so you should clearly state, any appropriate and reasonable assumptions that could be related to the situation depicted. However you should provide reasons for any assumptions that you may make (c)Remember that in your answers to the tasks below credit will be given for the use of analogy analysis, suitable examples and/or the names of appropriate authorities which you provide to enhance your descriptions and analysis. (d) Using the Harvard method statements, etc. should be appropriately referenced / sourced throughout the assignment as well as being listed at the end of this. (e)The total assignment should be from between 4,000 and 5,000 words. (f) L O = Learning Outcome covered and are shown in red

Tasks Task 1 LO 2.1 - use appropriate tools to analyse the effects of current business plans LO 3.1 - use modeling tools to develop strategic options for an organisation LO 3.2 - develop a comparative understanding of activity from organisation s in the market LO 3.3 - create options to form the basis of future organisational strategy (a) Select an organisation to use as a case study or example when completing the tasks to this assignment where this is indicated or is appropriate. This organisation may be from the private or public sectors and any business or industrial sector or country which the student wishes. Clearly state the name of the organisation you have chosen and provide brief details of it. You MUST also state the academic/learning reasons behind your choice (b) In general terms provide examples (3 to 5) of theories and principles that underlie strategic planning and go on to briefly explain these. (c) Using a diagram provide, in outline form, a framework which would enable your chosen organisation to develop its marketing plan. (d) Describe and critically evaluate a small range (3 to 5) of models, tools and techniques that could be used in the development of the strategy of your chosen organisation. Task 2 LO 1.2 - analyse the needs and expectations of stakeholders of an organisation LO 1.2 - analyse the needs and expectations of stakeholders of an organization LO 4.1 - propose a suitable structure for a strategy plan that ensures appropriate participation from all stakeholders of an organisation LO 4.2 - develop criteria for reviewing potential options for a strategy plan LO 6.2 - create appropriate dissemination process to gain commitment from stakeholders in an organisation (a) State a variety (7 to 10) of general and marketing strategic options which have been used or are available to the organisation of your choice. Then go on to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of four of these. (b) Who are stakeholders in the organisation of your choice? Select and explain the three major ones of these. (c) J of your organisation have on the strategy that the organisation has or could introduce. What considerations should be taken into account to ensure that the three major stakeholders can contribute to the development of the organisation s strategy through some form of participation? (d) How should the senior management of an organisation gain commitment from its employees at all levels to its strategies and the implementation of these?

Task 3 LO 5.1 - compare core organisational values (ethical cultural, environmental, social and business) with the current business objectives of an organisation LO 5.2 - develop appropriate vision and mission statements for an organisation LO 5.3 - produce agreed future management objectives for an organisation (a) In a layman s language define the terms: vision, mission statement, objectives and values. Then go on to provide professional definitions of these terms giving the sources of these. (b) Provide vision and mission statements and information on the strategy of your chosen organisation. Explain how the effectiveness of these three things can be measured. (c) Define the terms organisational cultural and ethical values . Explain the culture and ethical values of the organisation of your choice. (d) Explain the terms core competencies and critical success factors. State whether these are necessary to the success of the organisation of your choice. Task 4 LO 1.1 - explain the importance of external factors affecting an organisation LO 1.3 - analyse the major changes taking place in the external environment that will affect strategy LO 2.2 - review the position of an organization in its current market (a) Has the organisation of your choice amended its strategy in response to recent changes in the business and economic climate? (b) Explain how your organisation has responded to changes in its environment. Consider whether this response has been effective. (c) List what you would consider to be the major functional areas of organisations in general. Discuss the three major functional areas of the organisation of your choice and why you have given these. (d) How have the three major functional areas in your organisation been developed in recent years to provide it with a competitive advantage?

Task 5 LO 2.3 - evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of an organisation s current business strategies LO 4.3 - construct an agreed strategy plan that includes resource implications LO 5.4 - develop measures for evaluating a strategy plan. LO 6.1 develop a schedule for implementing a strategy plan in an organisation LO 6.3 - design monitoring and evaluation systems for the implementation of a strategy plan in an organisation (a) Discuss how a timetable for the implementation of a strategy could be developed. (b) Provide an example timetable for the implementation of your organisation s strategy which indicates the timings (rather than dates) associated with the key milestones involved. Indicate on this timetable the resources required for implementing the organisation s strategy in broad terms. (c) Once implemented how can the effectiveness, efficiency and economy of an organisation s strategy be evaluated? (d) Using examples explain why is it important, once it has been introduced, to continually monitor a new strategy?

Marking and Grading:  Pass Assessment Criteria To achieve PASS grade the student must meet all the learning outcomes mentioned below:
Outcomes 1 Understand the external environment affecting an organisation Criteria 1.1 explain the importance of external factors affecting an organisation 1.2 analyse the needs and expectations of stakeholders of an organisation 1.3 analyse the major changes taking place in the external environment that will affect strategy 2.1 use appropriate tools to analyse the effects of current business plans 2.2 review the position of an organisation in its current market 2.3 evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of an organisation s current business strategies

2 Be able to review existing business plans and strategies of an organisation

3 Be able to develop options for strategic planning for an organisation

3.1 use modelling tools to develop strategic options for an organisation 3.2 develop a comparative understanding of activity from organisations in the market 3.3 create options to form the basis of future organisational strategy 4.1 propose a suitable structure for a strategy plan that ensures appropriate participation from all stakeholders of an organisation 4.2 develop criteria for reviewing potential options for a strategy plan 4.3 construct an agreed strategy plan that includes resource implications 5.1 compare core organisational values (ethical, cultural, environmental, social and business) with the current business objectives of an organisation 5.2 develop appropriate vision and mission statements for an organisation 5.3 produce agreed future management objectives for an organisation 5.4 develop measures for evaluating a strategy plan

4 Be able to construct a strategy plan for an organisation

5 Be able to examine factors affecting an organisational strategy plan

6 Be able to plan for the implementation of a strategy plan

6.1 develop a schedule for implementing a strategy plan in an organisation 6.2 create appropriate dissemination processes to gain commitment from stakeholders in an organisation 6.3 design monitoring and evaluation systems for the implementation of a strategy plan in an organisation

Merit Assessment Criteria a. Identify and apply marketing strategies on a given situation b. Select/design and apply appropriate tools and techniques and analyse their impact on the organisation c. Producing the work in report format

Distinction Assessment Criteria a. Use critical analysis evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions b. Reflect the knowledge of strategic marketing throughout the work by relating it your chosen organisation. c. Be able to demonstrate convergent/lateral creative thinking d. Producing the work in a specific business report

Submission Guidelines: Your submission should be in a report format. 4000 - 5000 (+/-) words Excellent Formatting: y y y y y Preferred writing styles Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman Line spacing 1.5, Font Size 12 Consistency in Heading Scheme, bullets and numbering Consistency in top, bottom and left, right margins Alphabetical Harvard referencing and bibliography

Report Structure y y y y y y y y y y Cover Title Page Contents page. Acknowledgement (optional) Abstract/Executive Summary Main Body (Tasks) Conclusion. References (including weblioreferencing) Bibliography (including webliography) Appendices

*For Late Submission policy, please refer to your student course handbook available on Live Campus.