RBP020L056 A Strategic Management Assignment Report: External & Internal Analysis with Strategic Options for Business Growth, Singapore

Instructions for assessment: report

For the purpose of this assignment you should select one firm from the list of 5 companies given.

Please note that marks will not be allocated for discussion about models, so do not waste your words on description (or critical appraisal) of models you have been asked to use. It is all about application and marks will be allocated only for that.

Address the following analyses for the chosen industry and company:

Section 1 of your paper – Strategic Position of the organisation

Task 1 (25%)

An analysis of the industry structure and forces in strategy context

External analysis. Systematically identify and critically discuss:

1. Growth Opportunities and current emerging Threats in the chosen industry environment. Apply PESTEL model to identify and discuss a number of important external strategic issues each concluded as an Opportunity (O) or a Threat (T). Use appropriately referenced data (figures, charts etc.) to support your arguments.
2. Industry attractiveness (including competition pressures in the industry in setting). Apply 5 Forces model to discuss industry attractiveness (each force should be concluded as High, Moderate or Low and industry attractiveness should be assessed having these forces in mind.

It is expected that you use common toolkits such as PESTLE and 5 Forces, but please note that you are asked to apply these models not to discuss these critically. Marks are not assigned for description but for the in-depth analysis of the above highlighted external aspects.

Task 2 (25%)

Internal analysis: Identify and discuss unique resources and distinctive and core competences (capabilities) of the chosen company using appropriate strategy tools

1. Identify and discuss/analyse unique resources for the organisation (human, physical, financial – using accounting ratios and intangible)
2. Use the Value Chain concept to map a number of company’s activities.
3. Use the VRIO concept to identify their core competences (select two of these to discuss in detail).

You may attach a SWOT matrix as Appendix. Please note for marking purposes that a SWOT matrix is only a summary of company’s Strengths and Weaknesses as well as Opportunities and Threats identified for the business environment and does not substitute for an in-depth discussion of strategic issues.

Section 2 of your paper – Strategic recommendation and evaluation

Task 3 (40%)

Apply the TOWS matrix in order to:

• Recommend a set of new strategic options (at least TWO) for the organisation from 2021– 2026. While making suggestions name a new strategy in terms of a direction (what – Ansoff matrix) and a method (how – Organic, M&A, JV …).
• Then choose one of the new strategic options and evaluate it using SAFe While justifying your recommendations (evaluating the strategy), make references to findings from Q1 (reflect upon growing Opportunities and emerging Threats) and Q2 (reflect upon what resources and competences/capabilities the company should utilise to outcompete other firms of the strategic group).

The paper should begin with a short introduction as first section (explaining the organisation and defining the industry in context). We do not require a conclusions section and no abstract.

Make sure that you use plenty of appropriately referenced data to support your arguments where applicable.

Further marks for Presentation of writings

Remaining 10% will be allocated for presentation including academic standards of referencing. Also make sure that you provide above sections and an introduction. These marking criteria may not apply to the re-sit.

Formative feedback

For the purposes of the formative assignment address the tasks 1 and 2 of the above assessment brief. It is enough to list the most important strategic issues (both external and internal and provide an in-depth discussion for one or two of each).

The purpose of the formative submission is to receive feedback and to be advised about the points with most radical potential to improve the work.

You may also seek oral feedback for your summative draft in progress.

Additional instructions for Re-sit

The same assignment task as for the main assignment period applies to the re-sit, with further instructions see below.

Re-sit deadlines will be published via Moodle. Visit the module’s Moodle site and check your Roehampton email account on a regular basis. The school is not obliged to check whether you have noticed re-sit deadlines.

You are required to improve your original work (according to the feedback given) and resubmit it using the specific re-sit Turnitin link/s on Moodle. Re-sit generic rubric will be used for marking purposes.

Structure and presentation

You should produce a professional, well written and organised report (not an essay) with clear report style (e.g. front sheet, contents, clear sections, tables and diagrams). The word count should be clearly stated. You are advised to provide plenty of evidence to support your arguments (all data should be appropriately referenced).

Any written work should be spell-checked and a contents page should be included. Do not use various font sizes and colours Black ink, Arial, size 11, 1.5 lines spaced is recommended. Use DIN A4 format and page margins of 2.5 cm or 1 inch.