Contemporary Developments in Business and Management (SIM337)

Assessment weighted at 100% assessing all module learning outcomes.

Activity:

Prepare a management report of 3,500 to 4,000 words* on an organization within the manufacture of textiles, manufacture of wearing apparel or

food and beverage service activities ** in a country or countries with which you are familiar. [An organization profile must be included in your submission as "Appendix 1".]

This report should assess the impact of external business environmental factors on the organization and evaluate the organization's 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.

* This wordlimit does not include the executive summary, organization profile, tables, diagrams, appendices or references.

** Sectors C13, C14 or I56 respectively in the UK standard industrial classification (SIC) system or equivalent. See <>.

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:

- The changing competitive environment (Porter's Five Forces)
- Global political institutions
- Technological change

In relation to your chosen theme

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

b. critically evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's response.

c. 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 points i to 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.