Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Assignment Brief

Prepare a management report - Related to Zara garment manufacturing for this topic.

Activity:

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

1. Agriculture - perennial crops

2. Manufacture of textiles

3. Manufacture of wearing apparel

4. Food and beverage service activities

5. Civil engineering

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.

This word limit does not include the executive summary, organization profile, tables, diagrams, appendices or references. (Include a word count on your title page.)

Sectors: Refer to the UK standard industrial classification (SIC) system or country equivalent for activities that are included in the identified industrial/sector. See

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standardclassifications/standard-industrial-classification/sic2007---explanatory-notes.pdf

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:

a) International regional integration

b) Demographic factors

c) The importance of business law (employment law, consumer law, competition law, etc.)

d) Research and Development

e) The increasing global importance of 'newly-developing countries' excluding China

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.

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.