Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Report Brief -

Activity: Prepare a management report of 3,500 to 4,000 words on an organization within one of the following industry-sectors:

 1. Public administration O84

2. Human health activities Q86

3. Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities R91

4. Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security K65

5. Construction of buildings F41

This report should assess the impact of external business environmental factors on the organization and evaluate the organization's position and responses. In the case of a large organization it is permissible to confine your report to part of the organization. An organization's activities may range beyond the designated industrial sector in which case the focus of your report must be on the organization's activities within the designated sector.

Task 1 -

Give a brief overview of the primary external influences to which the organization is subject and briefly explain the particular importance of each to the organization. This first task should contribute no more than one third of your overall report.

Task 2 -

Choose one of the following themes: 

1. The changing competitive environment 

2. Globalization and barriers to globalization  

3. Cultural differences and/or cultural change 

4. "Knowledge management"

In relation to your chosen theme

i. Analyse its relevance to your chosen organization and how it influences policies and decision-making within your chosen organization or industry-sector.

ii. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's response.

iii. (if possible and appropriate) demonstrate some areas for improvement in the response of the organization.

Guidance notes: 

Whatever organization you choose and whichever theme you chose, you must clearly demonstrate knowledge and understanding from research and reading wider than that contained in the module pack and core textbook. This is a REPORT and so must be presented in business report format and style. You must also structure your report to cover the tasks including points 2.i to 2.iii above. This is an academic piece of work therefore you are expected to link theory and practice. You should take care to ensure that the work you submit has a high standard of presentation. This is an individual assignment. You must acknowledge your sources of information and evidence using the Harvard referencing system. All assignments are subject to the University's regulations on collusion and plagiarism and must be submitted in electronic form for checking on SunSpace for Turnitin and the Turnitin report must be submitted to JIRA along with your assignment.

Summary Assessment Criteria

1. Relevance: Directly relevant to the requirements of the assessment.

2. Knowledge: A substantial knowledge of relevant material, showing a clear grasp of themes, questions and issues therein.

3. Analysis: Good analysis, clear and orderly

4. Argument and structure: Coherent and logically structured, using an appropriate mode of argument and/or theoretical model(s).

5. Critical evaluation: Contains distinctive or independent thinking; may formulate an independent position in relation to theory and/or practice.

6. Presentation: Well written, with standard spelling and grammar, in a readable style with an acceptable format.

7. Reference to literature: Critical appraisal of up-to-date and/or appropriate literature.  Recognition of different perspectives.  Good use of a range of sources.