LO 1 Analyses a business context and its influence on management decision

Module code and title:

Business Contexts and its Management

Module leader:

Assignment No. and type:

Industry Trend Analysis 2000 words Client   Report 500 words

Assessment weighting:

100%

Submission time and date:

Target feedback time and date:

3 weeks from the date of final submission

Assignment task

Aim

To provide an insight into what tools business can use to define their business context and how they use reactive and pro-active strategies to build and manage a competitive business.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1

Analyses a business context and its influence on management decision;

LO 2

Apply a range of analytical tools to aid in defining a given organisations business context and markets;

LO 3

Demonstrate an understanding of management practice in response to a business context challenge;

LO4

Reflect on a response by management functions to a business challenge and describe an alternative strategy.

Task requirements

OVERVIEW

The Coronavirus brought the world to a standstill, and as a result many businesses are struggling to stay afloat or have ceased trading. However, some industries have seen profits increase, and are likely to continue to do so after the COVID-19 crisis is over. Industries likely to see post-pandemic profits include online meeting platforms, dating apps, cybersecurity, online teaching, e-learning resources and classes, online fitness, video games, children`s toy, entertainment streaming service, books, online supermarket deliveries, food delivery, online shopping, major supermarkets, legal services, pharmaceuticals, cleanliness products, remote medical services, electric cars, electric scooters, cycling, gardening and private jets

According to Deloitte 2020 proved to be a tough year for the retail sector and while they looked forward to a better year, a second wave of the COVID-19 virus pushed back the prospect of a consumer-led recovery to the second half of the year. The McKinsey and company reported that disruptions in the auto industry will result in billions lost, with recovery years away. Companies that reimagined their operations during this period in this industry saw an increase in electric and hybrid vehicles sales. As COVID-19 shook the global economy some sectors experienced rapid growth.  Amazon.com Inc.`s e-commerce revenue saw gains of 47.0% year over year for second quarter 2020. A spike in sales from Amazon`s core e-commerce operations, which include online stores, third-party seller services and retail subscription services has fuelled its revenue growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a management consultant you have been contracted to provide recommendations and advise for businesses seeking to formulate ‘post-pandemic’ strategic plans.

1)Select an organisation from either high street retail, automotive or E-commerce industries(sectors) and analyse the industry trends (Learning​ ​Outcomes 1,​ ​2​ ​&​ ​3)​

2) Produce a report recommending business strategies and approaches to be employed by the organisation in the next few years. (Learning Outcomes 4)

DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK – WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO?

PART 1:​ ​Industry​ Trend ​Report​ ​–​ 2,000 words  

The analysis should include the following:

a) External environment: Recent revenue growth statistics (the data should not be older than 3 years preferably) Trends in the external environment of the industry: Identify three trends in the external environment based on research that you conduct. Include a supporting from Market size (TAM, SAM, SOM), the Business Cycle model, Industry sector analysis or Blue ocean strategy). Analyses a business context and its influence on management decision;

b) Analyse the Internal environment based on organisational competence analysis utilising McKinsey 7s, VRIO Framework.

c) Operational management: Assess the effectiveness of operational management and include theoretical models (TQM, JIT, Kaizen, Six Sigma)

d) Managing change: Assess the potential impact of change justified by Kurt Lewin, John Kotter, Kubler Ross theories on change.

e) Stakeholder analysis: Analyse the impact on stakeholders employing Edward Freeman Stakeholder theory tool or Stakeholder mapping. Analyses a business context and its influence on management decision;

PART 2-CLIENT REPORT 500 words

a) Report- Prepare a report outlining the conclusions of the analysis.

b) Strategy recommendation: Suggest business strategy utilising approaches such as Plan, Do, Check Act(PDCA).

See attached grid for grade descriptors.

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style; you can access guidance on this here: https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/academic/referencing/Harvard

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning outcomes for this assignment (see above) and against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject area, a proportion of your marks will also depend upon your use of academic referencing conventions.

This assignment will be marked according to the grading descriptors for Level 4

Submission details

This assignment should be submitted electronically via Moodle (module tutors will discuss this process with you during class time).

• Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format (Microsoft Word or PDF are the most widely used). Your file must also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in size.

• You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

• Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment

• You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on the University website: https://www.uos.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations Analyses a business context and its influence on management decision;

Submission date and time

This assignment should be submitted before 14:00 UK time on Monday 14 February 2022

You should submit all work for summative assessments by the above deadline. Work submitted up to three working days after the deadline will be accepted and marked, but the mark will be capped at the pass mark (40%) unless there is a valid reason for the late submission (i.e., having been granted an extension to the deadline or a deferral under the terms of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy).

Work submitted more than three working days after the deadline without a valid reason will not be accepted and will be recorded as 0% RN (refer, no work submitted).

For more information please refer to: http://studenthandbook.uos.ac.uk/index.php/student-guides/assessment-the-basics-undergraduate

Feedback and marks for this assignment will be available in three weeks from the deadline.