Corporate Strategy
4,000 words
Strategic Case Study – Corporate Strategy
This Corporate Strategy assessment requires students to undertake a critical strategic analysis of a chosen organisation and develop evidence-based recommendations for its long-term growth and competitive position. The assignment is presented as a 4,000-word Strategic Case Study and focuses on analysing practical business situations through the application of corporate strategy theories, analytical tools and strategic frameworks. The assessment aims to develop students' ability to evaluate an organisation's competitive advantage, identify significant strategic challenges and opportunities, and propose practical strategies for sustainable growth. The report begins with an introduction explaining the purpose of the case study and identifying the selected company. The strategic positioning section then examines the organisation's current competitive advantage, differentiation from competitors, fundamental competencies and resources. Relevant theories and strategic frameworks should be applied to support the analysis. The external environment section requires a critical evaluation of industry attractiveness using Porter's Five Forces. Students must also examine the factors driving organisational change, compare the selected organisation with close rivals and provide strategic recommendations for addressing identified challenges. The international strategy section critically analyses the effectiveness of the company's existing international expansion strategy and requires students to propose a new expansion strategy for a geographical location in an international market. An appropriate internationalisation theory and market-entry mode should be applied to support the proposed strategy. The challenges and opportunities section examines major issues affecting the organisation, including areas such as market competition, technological disruption and regulatory change. Students must identify opportunities that could strengthen the company's competitive position and use an appropriate framework to consider the development, leadership and implementation of organisational change. The proposed leadership-driven strategy should also be reflected upon in relation to the company's strategic goals. The final main section provides two to three actionable strategic recommendations that the organisation should implement to sustain or enhance its competitive advantage. Students are also required to include an appendix of no more than 500 words containing concise explanations, models or frameworks demonstrating their understanding of theories and concepts relevant to the assessment. The appendix should support the main analysis and be clearly referenced within the report. The assessment develops several strategic management capabilities. The assessed learning outcomes include critically analysing a company's strategic position using analytical tools and theoretical frameworks; developing corporate-level strategies and considering their implementation and control; integrating innovative and sustainable practices into strategic planning; and using performance measurement instruments to assess strategic initiatives. The brief also aligns with CMI Level 7 Strategic Management and Leadership Practice units covering strategy development and strategic change. The submission is an individual written coursework assignment submitted through Turnitin. The written assignment must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document rather than PDF. Students must acknowledge and reference any AI tools used in developing the assignment and provide appropriate acknowledgement of all sources.
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Entrepreneurial Practice
3,500 words
Entrepreneurial Practice – Critical Analysis, Business Venture Proposal and Reflective Practice
This assessment for the Entrepreneurial Practice module requires students to critically analyse a real organisational issue using one of three specified employer case study videos and develop a proposal for a new business venture. The assessment is an individual 3,500-word equivalent portfolio consisting of three tasks: a 1,500-word report, a 1,000-word briefing note, a narrated two-slide PowerPoint presentation, and a 500-word reflective personal and professional account. Students must select only one of the three case studies provided: Paragon, Reliance Housing, or Ovo Biomanufacturing. The chosen case study must be used consistently across the relevant tasks. Task 1 requires a short report based on the selected employer case study. Students must critically and strategically analyse the challenges and issues facing the organisation using one or more appropriate strategic analysis tools. The report must also critically evaluate the organisation's leadership model or models and communication strategies, including their impact on employee and organisational culture and performance. Finally, students must provide three justified recommendations designed to enable and improve organisational performance. This section is 1,500 words and represents 30% of the assessment. Task 2A requires a 1,000-word briefing note based on the same case study. It involves a critical appraisal of the phases of entrepreneurial practice from the idea stage through to delivery, including the benefits and potential funding sources for the proposed new business venture. Students must also critically analyse strategies for addressing and managing risks within the proposed venture and critically appraise the entrepreneurial traits, characteristics, skills and competences required for strategically positioning the new venture within the organisation. Task 2B requires a two-slide narrated PowerPoint presentation lasting three minutes. The presentation should pitch the proposed business idea to an audience of employees, managers, senior managers and the Board of Directors within the case study organisation. It should explain what informed the new business idea, its benefits to the organisation, potential funding prospects, risks and risk-management strategies, and the entrepreneurial traits, characteristics, skills and competences required for strategic positioning. Task 3 is a 500-word reflective personal and professional account. Students must select a professional area from the CMI Code of Conduct and Practice and reflect on how it can be applied to their current or future professional career. The brief allows the use of reflective models such as Gibbs, Kolb, Rolfe or Burton, or another appropriate professional and systematic reflective model. The assessment develops skills in communication, creative thinking, integrity, adaptability and completing tasks, with particular emphasis on leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The learning outcomes include evaluating ethical and inclusive approaches to leadership, diversity and entrepreneurship; reflecting critically on entrepreneurial practice and effective leadership; understanding principles for leading and developing people; understanding leadership and development strategy; and understanding entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial practice in strategic contexts. The submission requires Task 1, the Task 2A briefing note and Task 3 to be combined into one MS Word document, while Task 2B must be submitted separately as a narrated PowerPoint with audio. The written work should include a cover sheet, page numbers, Arial 12-point font and 1.5 line spacing. References and appendices are excluded from the word count, while words in tables count towards the final word count. The assessment also carries a 10% allocation for referencing and structured presentation across the three tasks. The assignment brief places particular importance on using the selected case study as the foundation for the analysis. Wider research may be used, but the primary focus should remain on the case study interview, CMI materials, module-related models and content. Students are expected to apply relevant models, tools and methods discussed in seminars and CMI learning journeys and support their analysis with appropriate evidence and academic literature.
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