Assessment Stakeholder Meeting Simulation and White Paper
PART A: Preliminary Outline (Hurdle)
Learning Outcomes b) Critically evaluate different strategy formulation processes utilised by organisations and evaluate their relevance to particular organisational contexts
c) Develop and plan the implementation of a selected strategy for different organisational levels including for change management processes
Context:
The assessment of this subject supports students in developing their skills and knowledge in topics that include environmental assessment, problem diagnosis, strategy development, and cultural and ethical contexts. Stakeholder meetings are a critical element in strategic management. This assessment task provides experience and immersive understanding of the complex interactions involved in the development of strategic choices, and the need to take an integrative approach to problem solving.
Instructions
PLEASE NOTE: Part A is a Hurdle Assessment and must be submitted.
A Stakeholder meeting is to be conducted along with a strategy white paper drafted based on the below scenario. Students will be assigned a role to play in simulated stakeholder meeting. Roles will be assigned to ensure each group has one of each stakeholder.
Stakeholders will be:
a) General Manager
b) General Manager of key supplier
c) Union official
d) Production manager
e) Senior finance manager
The white paper is to be completed individually by each member of the team reflecting the impact of the proposed strategy on their particular part of the business and should be completed to the professional standard that would be required if the scenario were real.
The scenario provides you with a brief overview of a hypothetical project for a real-life organisation. Be aware that the scenario may not cover every detail that you will need to address in the White Paper, in which case, you will need to conduct additional research, including further research into the industry concerned.
Part A: Scenario - Five-year strategy White Paper Overview
Pro-Go Pty Ltd is a privately-owned manufacturer of small, high-quality action cameras based in Geelong, Victoria. Founded in 2004 it has enjoyed continuous year-on-year growth until the last financial year. Pro-Go has a track record of innovation, and technology that provides excellent quality results in a small package able to operate with small batteries for extended periods of time. The video files these cameras produce are known for having superior colour, and operate effectively in lower lighting conditions than competitor's cameras. They are also marketed on the basis of their extreme ruggedness, and reliability. Much of the technology used in its devices has been patented by Pro-Go and is not currently available to other manufacturers.
The Pro-Go management team has recognised that the ability to capture videos is now a feature of most phones. It suggests to them that the future of the stand-alone camera may be limited. Pro-Go's CEO has requested the executive team meet independently to develop a strategy to guide the company over the next five years.
Students are to address the assessment task from the perspective of their own functional area of responsibility. For example, the Senior Finance Officer would be mindful of issues such as risk, capital availability, likely timing and amount of returns, etc.
The deliverables required of each student are:
1. Determine three options that exist in adjacent markets or with related but different products or technologies;
2. Nominate the preferred option and state why you believe it to be so; and
3. Discuss the implications specifically relating to your part of the business, and what challenges these might represent. Separate the discussion into short-term and long-term issues.
Students will be assessed on the overall quality of their White Paper and their ability to comprehensively address all the areas that should be contained in such a document. Please ensure you are familiar with the marking criteria in the attached rubric before you commence planning your submission.
Suggested format
Your 500 word, individual, Preliminary Outline of your White paper should be structured as follows:
- Executive Summary - Summarise the entire report - i.e., don't tell the reader that the report discusses the external environment, summarise the points the report makes about the internal environment.
- Introduction - Provide background and context to the report. Tell the reader what has happened in the past that has led to this report being needed.
- Aim - State in a single sentence what this report is seeking to achieve.
- Discussion - Cover the key themes you wish to address. Generally try to address three (3) key themes (as suggested above), and provide three (3) discussion points for each.
Remember, you are providing an outline only. This can be comprised of dot points if you choose. Adhere to the word limit and be thoughtful in your response. The first attempt at an outline is rarely comprehensive or correct. Please recognise that this will likely need to be revised through a number of iterations to arrive at an outline that is of impact.Assessment Stakeholder Meeting Simulation and White Paper
PART B: Submission
Learning Outcomes b) Critically evaluate different strategy formulation processes utilised by organisations and evaluate their relevance to particular organisational contexts
c) Develop and plan the implementation of a selected strategy for different organisational levels including for change management processes
Context:
The assessment of this subject supports students in developing their skills and knowledge in topics that include environmental assessment, problem diagnosis, strategy development, and cultural and ethical contexts. Stakeholder meetings are a critical element in strategic management. This assessment task provides experience and immersive understanding of the complex interactions involved in the development of strategic choices, and the need to take an integrative approach to problem solving. The increasing pace of technological change and the increased impact of social media provides many challenges for businesses attempting to navigate towards growth and increased profitability. Rapid cycle times for new products can lead to decisions being made that are not always in the best interests of the long-term survival of the firm. Disruptions to the everyday course of business come from anywhere and need to be responded to often in short time frames.
Instructions:
Please watch the below video Announcements from the CEO of Pro-Go Pty Ltd.
Disruption 1
Emergency stakeholder meetings are required to address these concerns and a modified strategic plan/white paper developed. Please return to your groups immediately to discuss these events and adjust your strategic approach accordingly.
Please ensure to address
- Privacy legislation
- Technological advances
- Connected devices
- Adjacent products/adjacent markets
Pro-Go Pty Ltd is relying on its management team, of which you are a part, to adjust the strategy developed in previous stakeholder meetings (Assessment 2 Part A) in light of these developments, and for the individual team to finalise their report to the CEO.
Suggested format
Your 2000 word, individual, White paper should be structured as follows:
- Executive Summary - Summarise the entire report - i.e., don't tell the reader that the report discusses the external environment, summarise the points the report makes about the internal environment.
- Table of Contents - Make it look good. Include page numbers and ensure the layout looks balanced on the page.
- Introduction - Provide background and context to the report. Tell the reader what has happened in the past that has led to this report being needed.
- Aim - State in a single sentence what this report is seeking to achieve.
- Discussion - Cover the key themes you wish to address. Generally try to address three (3) key themes, and provide three discussion points for each.
- Conclusion - Restate the aim and sum up the discussion to demonstrate to the reader that the aim has been satisfied. There should be no new content in the conclusion.
- Recommendations - What are the next steps? What is required to progress into the future? How would you evaluate your recommendations and success?
- References - Please ensure you use the correct APA referencing style throughout. Remember EVERY factual statement requires a reference.
- Appendices - Additional material to substantiate or add greater depth to the material presented in the report, and your Teamwork log.
The white paper is to be completed individually by each member of the team reflecting the impact of the proposed strategy on their particular part of the business after the disruption and should be completed to the professional standard that would be required if the below scenario were real.
Below is a recap of the scenario and the requirements of the Five-year strategy white Paper which was outlined in Assessment 2 Part A.
Scenario Recap: Five-year strategy White Paper
The below scenario provides you with a brief overview of a hypothetical project for a real-life organisation. Be aware that the scenario may not cover every detail that you will need to address in
the White Paper, in which case, you will need to conduct additional research, including further research into the industry concerned.
Overview
Pro-Go Pty Ltd is a privately-owned manufacturer of small, high-quality action cameras based in Geelong, Victoria. Founded in 2004 it has enjoyed continuous year-on-year growth until the last financial year. Pro-Go has a track record of innovation, and technology that provides excellent quality results in a small package able to operate with small batteries for extended periods of time. The video files these cameras produce are known for having superior colour, and operate effectively in lower lighting conditions than competitor's cameras. They are also marketed on the basis of their extreme ruggedness, and reliability. Much of the technology used in its devices has been patented by Pro-Go and is not currently available to other manufacturers.
The Pro-Go management team has recognised that the ability to capture videos is now a feature of most phones. It suggests to them that the future of the stand-alone camera may be limited. Pro-Go's CEO has requested the executive team meet independently to develop a strategy to guide the company over the next five years.
Students are to address the assessment task from the perspective of their own functional area of responsibility. For example, the Senior Finance Officer would be mindful of issues such as risk, capital availability, likely timing and amount of returns, etc.
The deliverables required of each student are:
1. Determine three options that exist in adjacent markets or with related but different products or technologies;
2. Nominate the preferred option and state why you believe it to be so; and
3. Discuss the implications specifically relating to your part of the business, and what challenges these might represent. Separate the discussion into short-term and long-term issues.
DISRUPTION
A number of Pro-Go cameras have burst into flames without an explanation being found. In addition, the company's largest customer - a major retail chain throughout China - exercised their right, under our sales agreement, to cancel their contract with us. Sales have halved in the last 24 hours and immediate action must be taken.
Students will be assessed on the overall quality of their White Paper and their ability to comprehensively address all the areas that should be contained in such a document. Please ensure you are familiar with the marking criteria in the attached rubric before you commence planning your submission.