Business Strategy

Assignment

Learning Outcomes ( LO)

1.Understand the process of

strategic planning.

2.Be able to formulate a new

strategy.

Assessment Criteria ( AC)

1.1 explain strategic contexts and terminology missions,

visions, objectives, goals, core competencies
1.2 review the issues involved in strategic planning
1.3 explain different planning techniques

2.1 produce an organizational audit for a given organisation

2.2 carry out an environmental audit for a given organisation
2.3 explain the significance of stakeholder analysis

3.Understand approaches to
strategy evaluation and
selection.

3.1 analyse possible alternative strategies relating to

substantive growth, limited growth or retrenchment
3.2 select an appropriate future strategy for a given
organisation

4.Understand how to
implement a chosen strategy.

4.1 compare the roles and responsibilities for strategy

Implementation
4.2 evaluate resource requirements to implement a new
strategy for a given organization
4.3 discuss targets and timescales for achievement in a
given organisation to monitor a given strategy.

Context
Briefly describe your organisation and what it does.

Context of
assignment is
provided

Understand the process of strategic planning (learning outcome 1)

Task 1
A business mission statement is an integral part of a business strategy. It
provides direction for formulating, implementing and evaluating strategic
activities. To get started on your assignment, start the report with an overview
and explanation:
Explain the strategic contexts and terminology based on the 5 criteria listed:
Missions

Visions

Objectives

Goals

Core Competencies.

Task 2
Different organisations will have different issues when planning a strategy. Carry
out a review of the issues faced by your organisation and describe in detail:
what are the issues? And why do they exist?

Task 3
Describe 3 different planning techniques that you will adopt for planning the
business strategy. Explain why these techniques are relevant and appropriate to
your organisation.

AC 1.1
AC 1.2
AC 1.3

Assignment
Format / Style

Produce an informal report that addresses all the tasks in

the assignment brief.

You are encouraged to use diagrams or tables to

illustrate and reinforce your findings.

Any references to academic theory should be correctly

cited and referenced in a bibliography at the end of the
report.

(please do not copy and paste information)

Assignment
Format / Style
Fully completed assignment cover page

Title page
Table of contents
Introduction
Main body of the report clearly identifying the separate
outcomes and assessment criteria
Conclusion and recommendations
References and bibliography
Appendices only if relevant and necessary

Assignment
Assignment Content
The assignment brief includes headings relevant to the
unit outcomes, read and follow the tasks listed under each
heading and this will make certain that you cover all the
outcomes and assessment criteria to achieve the unit.

Assessment and Grading

Read the assessment grading criteria before attempting
the assignment tasks, as it contains important information
about how you should approach your assignment and how
grading is applied in order for you to achieve a pass, merit
or distinction.

Assignment
Assignment Submission

All assignments must be submitted by the agreed date,

via MOODLE.

Assignments submitted late, but with permission, will be

marked as a pass only.

Assignments submitted late, without permission, will not

be marked until the end of the year, or the next time the
unit is scheduled.

Please ensure that your assignment is attached to the

assignment submission receipt and that you read and
sign the statement confirming authenticity.

Check that all relevant fields are completed fully before

submission.

Assignment
Assignment Feedback

Once the assessor has marked your assignment, you will

receive written feedback,

either confirming that you have met the required standard and
grade awarded,

or that you have not yet met the standard and what you need to
do to make the necessary improvements.

Please note that achieved and confirmation of grades is

provisional until signed off by the Internal Verifier.

Student Guide to Writing an Assignment

This is an assignment guide to help support you while

completing your BTEC Assignments. It includes:

Assignment writing guidance

Referencing guidance
8

Assignment
Recommended Reading

A reading list will be given to you at the first session unit

session.

You should also read a good quality newspaper and/or

use relevant internet sites regularly and identify key
influences and recent and relevant research with regard
to your subject area.

You should read topical case studies and read about

national campaigns and government initiatives in your
area of interest.

Assignment
Assessment and grading criteria

Learners will be awarded a merit or distinction grade by

the aggregation of points gained through the successful
achievement of individual units.

The points will be calculated based on the unit credit

size,

the points available for each credit is:

pass = 0

To achieve a merit grade overall you will need to

accumulate a minimum of 75 points

and for a distinction a minimum of 150 points.

merit =1

distinction= 2.

10

Assignment Learning Outcome (LO1)

Understanding the process of Strategic Planning
a. Strategic contexts and terminology:
i.

Role of strategy

ii.

Missions; visions

iii. Strategic intent; objectives; goals

iv. Core competencies; strategic architecture; strategic control

b. Strategic thinking:
i.

Future direction of the competition

ii.

Needs of customers

iii. Gaining and maintaining competitive advantage

iv. Ansoffs growth-vector matrix; portfolio analysis

11

Assignment Learning Outcome (LO1)

Understanding the process of Strategic Planning
c. Planning systems:
i.

Informal planning

ii.

Top-down planning; bottom-up planning

iii.

Behavioral approaches

d. Strategic planning issues:

i.

Impact on managers

ii.

Targets

iii.

When to plan; who should be involved; role of planning

e. Strategic planning techniques:

i.

BCG growth-share matrix

ii.

Directional policy matrices

iii.

SPACE, PIMS
12

Assessment Criteria for (LO1)

Understanding the process of Strategic Planning
1.1

explain strategic contexts and terminology missions, visions,

objectives, goals, core competencies

1.2

review the issues involved in strategic planning

1.3

explain different planning techniques

13

Context
Briefly describe your organisation and what it does.

Context of
assignment is
provided

Understand the process of strategic planning (learning outcome 1)

Task 1
A business mission statement is an integral part of a business strategy. It
provides direction for formulating, implementing and evaluating strategic
activities. To get started on your assignment, start the report with an overview
and explanation:
Explain the strategic contexts and terminology based on the 5 criteria listed:
Missions

Visions

Objectives

Goals

Core Competencies.

Task 2
Different organisations will have different issues when planning a strategy. Carry
out a review of the issues faced by your organisation and describe in detail:
what are the issues? And why do they exist?

Task 3
Describe 3 different planning techniques that you will adopt for planning the
business strategy. Explain why these techniques are relevant and appropriate to
your organisation.

AC 1.1
AC 1.2
AC 1.3