Global Business Strategy
2,500 words
Global Business Strategy – Strategic Analysis of a Global Company
This assessment is an individual portfolio for the Global Business Strategy module. The assignment requires students to conduct a comprehensive strategic analysis of a named global company that is facing a significant business problem and to develop strategic options that can support the organisation's sustainable growth and future success. The selected company can be from any industry and may be a large or small global organisation. Students must identify a company that has experienced significant challenges during the past five years or is currently facing strategic difficulties. These may include loss of market position, inability to gain or regain market share, operational challenges, or declining revenues and profits. The assessment requires students to investigate the company's strategic purpose, vision, mission and objectives before examining the internal and external global business environment that may have contributed to its challenges. Relevant strategic theories and models should be applied to support the analysis. The portfolio is developed progressively across the semester. The first stage focuses on selecting the global company, identifying its key problem and analysing the internal and external business environment. The second stage examines sustainable business strategies, diversification and competitive advantage through a resource audit, together with an appropriate model for supporting global business growth. Students must also propose an appropriate mode and strategy for entering an international market in which the selected company does not currently operate. The third stage focuses on strategic change, leadership and governance. Students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of effective leadership styles, the role of leadership in strategic change, good governance and the importance of ethics in international business. Practical examples should be used to demonstrate how leadership, governance and ethical considerations can contribute to business growth. The fourth stage addresses good strategy execution and evaluation. Students must justify how the proposed strategy can be effectively implemented using available organisational resources and process management tools that support continuous improvement. The analysis should lead to strategic recommendations and an evaluation of how the proposed strategies could affect the company's future performance and competitiveness in the global market. After completing the individual portfolio tasks, students must prepare a summary report of approximately 1,000–1,500 words. This report should synthesise the key learning and insights gained from each task and demonstrate how the different strategic concepts have been applied to the selected organisation. The final e-portfolio is compiled as a single academic report in PebblePad and submitted as a PDF through Turnitin. The overall report should be approximately 2,500 words ±10%, excluding references and appendices, and sources should be cited using the ULBS Harvard referencing style.
Read Model Answer →
Organisational Strategy and Sustainability
2,500 words
Strategic Evaluation and Analysis of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
This 2,500-word coursework for the MSc Management module Organisational Strategy and Sustainability requires a strategic evaluation and analysis of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). The assignment is written from the perspective of a management consultant at BPP Consulting Group and is addressed to HUL’s Board of Directors. It focuses on HUL’s strategic management, sustainability initiatives and responsible leadership within a global business context. The report begins by examining HUL’s internal capabilities and external business environment. Students are required to apply one strategic model to analyse the internal environment and one model to assess the external environment, such as VRIO, PESTEL or Porter’s Five Forces. The analysis should identify internal competencies, external opportunities and threats, sources of competitive advantage, and the influence of global and local market dynamics on HUL’s strategic choices. Particular consideration may be given to key regions such as the European Union, Asia and North America. The second section evaluates HUL’s ethical, sustainable and responsible business practices. The brief requires the use of one framework, such as the Triple Bottom Line or Sustainable Supply Chain Management, to assess one selected area of CSR, sustainability or ethical practice. The discussion should consider stakeholder engagement, regulatory influences such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and European Union legislation, and one HUL sustainability initiative such as product lifecycle management, eco-design, renewable energy integration or supply chain transparency. The third section critically evaluates HUL’s strategic responses to current and future challenges, including climate change, artificial intelligence and digital disruption. One strategic framework, such as the Ansoff Matrix, Blue Ocean Strategy or VRIO, should be applied to evaluate strategic options and their implications for long-term sustainability, competitiveness and market relevance. The final section provides a personal leadership and sustainability reflection. Students select one leadership model, such as Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions or Transformational Leadership, and reflect on their learning from the previous sections. The reflection covers personal development, ethical, cross-cultural or sustainable leadership, career aspirations, and values-driven leadership. The report concludes by summarising recommended changes to HUL’s organisational strategy and sustainability initiatives. The assessment requires Harvard referencing and a professional academic structure. The main body has a 2,500-word limit, with suggested allocations of approximately 50 words for the introduction, 600 words each for LO1, LO2, LO3 and LO4, and 50 words for the conclusion. The cover page, contents, references and appendices are excluded from the word count.
Read Model Answer →
People Practice / Human Resource Management
2,500 words
Business, Culture and Change in Context: Organisational Acquisition Case Study
This CIPD Level 3 assessment examines how the external business environment, organisational culture and planned change influence organisations and their people. The assessment is based on a case study involving Best Pharmacy Ever (BPE), a small group of local pharmacies considering the acquisition of Emrosu, a much larger national pharmacy chain with approximately 100 stores and an established online pharmacy operation. The acquisition creates significant implications for organisational structure, culture, technology, people practices and change management. Learners are required to provide written responses to nine case-based questions. The assessment begins by examining external factors that may affect the acquisition and identifying appropriate post-acquisition business goals. It also requires consideration of the organisations' products, services and customers and the ways technology could support people professionals, improve working practices and strengthen collaboration following organisational growth. A central component of the assessment concerns organisational culture. Learners must explain the meaning and importance of culture, consider organisations as interconnected systems, and assess how the actions of people professionals can influence wider organisational outcomes. The final questions focus on planned organisational change, the contribution people professionals can make during periods of transition and the potential impact of significant change on employees. The unit therefore develops understanding of environmental analysis, organisational systems, workplace culture, technology and effective change management from a people-practice perspective. Written answers should make clear and consistent use of the case study and demonstrate application of relevant people-practice concepts rather than providing generic theoretical descriptions. The required submission is approximately 2,500 words, with a permitted variation of ±10%, subject to the CIPD word-count policy.
Read Model Answer →