This assignment will assess the following learning outcomes:
1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical evaluation of the key aspects of the strategic management process;
2. Demonstrate the ability to compare different theories and perspectives of strategic management and use and appraise them appropriately;
3. Critically evaluate theories and concepts of strategic management. Analyses and apply appropriate problem solving techniques plus knowledge learned to solving complex business problems;
4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex issues.
Portfolio Brief
This portfolio will evaluate varied elements that you are required to answer, covering the extent of learning you acquired. There are four parts included in this portfolio and subdivided into sections respectively.
Follow the instructions specified in each part and answer carefully.
Part I. Analogical Measurement: Coherent and Relevant Aspects of Strategy.
Section A:
Instruction: Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Explain why (not).
Defend each answer using 20-25 words.
1. The focus of strategic management is on long-term range planning.
Answer: Yes or No (please tick);
Justify your answer, why? :
2. It is important to distinguish between objectives and strategy.
Answer: Yes or No (please tick);
Justify your answer, why? :
3. The most important corporate objective is to maximise profit.
Answer: Yes or No (please tick);
Justify your answer, why? :
4. "Positioning" is how a firm or business organisation fights competition.
Answer: Yes or No (please tick);
Justify your answer, why? :
5. Logical incremental strategy is the process of developing a detailed plan in a logical manner.
Answer: Yes or No (please tick);
Justify your answer, why?
Section B:
Instruction: Answer briefly but completely. This requires a 200-word essay composition.
Using your own knowledge, identify two organisations, one that you would describe as highly successful and one as unsuccessful. Which approach to strategy formulation did they adopt and what conclusions do you draw from this? (Note: Support your answers with
references.)
Part II Logical Evaluation of Conceptual Forces that Influenced Strategic Management.
Instruction: Classify the strategic activities (1-10) with the appropriate decisions (a-e) that influenced strategic management. Write only the letters of the correct answer. Each letter may be used more than once.
Strategic Activities
1. A computer manufacturer procuring a competitor to be run independently.
2. A food manufacturer acquiring the chain of franchise food industry.
3. A pharmaceutical company leveraging their Research and Development activities.
4. A tobacco company purchasing a computer software producer.
5. A sport gear and wear manufacturer starting to export through and overseas agent.
6. A computer producer acquiring a competitor whose products they will sell as their own.
7. A cinema and film production company licensing an overseas similar industry to produce their film.
8 A computer company adapting its product to sell as a game machine.
9. A car distributor merged with a titanic car manufacturing industry.
10. A food chain industry converts another product line in cosmetics locallT and internationally.
Instruction: Answer briefly but completely, This requires 100 word essay composition
Strategic decisions are basically used in order to utilize organizational resources to achieve the set objectives. What are the major resources required for expected success in the questions from Section A activities above?
Suggest possible reasons for adopting these reasons.
Part III. Development of Judgment on Arguments Relating to Practical Strategic Situations:
Section A:
Sarah del Serrano, a beauty expert, said "I don't sell cosmetics, I sell hope", and an insurance company advertises that it sells "Peace of Mind".
Question 1:
Suppose you are an employee in one of the following organisations. How might you answer the question: What business are we in? Answers can be benchmarked against those statements given above. (10 words are required to obtain 2 marks in each of the following)
a. A Luxury Ice-cream Manufacturer
b. A Travel Agent
c. The Automobile Association
d. A Hypermarket
e. A House-Builder
Question 2.
Being the stakeholder in one of the organisations above, what quantifiable measurement/8 would you consider to be the most important way to judge the performance of the firm? Explain.
Part IV. Critical Evaluation and Analysis.
Instruction:
Make a strategic evaluation of an organisation of your choice (one that is very familiar to you) and accomplish the structured tasks enumerated below. The purpose of this assessment is to measure your acquired competencies that relate to strategic management theory and practice.
Title: The Strategic Evaluation of (Name of the Company/Organization).
A. Introduction: Write a brief introductory paragraph of the organisation you chose. Mentioning the following: a. Name of the Company; b. Its location; c. Years of Existence; d. The Type of Industry it is Engaged in; and the its (MVO) Mission, Vision and Objective Statements. Specify also the objective of this essay.
B. Strategic Evaluation and Analysis: Make a concrete SWOT analysis about the company you chose. The diagram presented below can help the sequential analysis that is structured on the ten-net model of strategic management elements. Include citations to support your arguments.
A model of the elements of strategic management
C. Conclusion:
Write a concluding paragraph to summarise the important points of the discussion. It should draw-out ideas according to the objectives mentioned in the introduction.
D. Reference: Acknowledge at least three sources of information that are used in your essay and follow the appropriate Harvard referencing format.