Contemporary Developments in Business and Management

Activity:

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

1. Human health and social work activities (Q)
2. Financial and insurance activities (K)
3. Programming and broadcasting activities (J60)
4. Fishing and aquaculture (A03)

[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 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.

* You are advised to write between 3.500 and 4,000 words and the word limit is 4,000 words. This word limit does not include the title page, the executive summary, the contents page, the organization profile, tables, diagrams, appendices or references. You must include an accurate a word count on your title page.

** If you wish to select a firm from outside the identified industries/ sectors, you are required to seek approval from your module tutor (your lecturer). A note from your lecturer confirming her/ his approval should be uploaded to JIRA. This is your (student) responsibility.

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 theorganization.

This first task should contribute no more than one third of your overall report.

Task 2

Choose one of the following themes:

1. Disruptive Innovation
2. Competitive Dynamics
3. Global Warming
4. Financial Regulation/Deregulation
5. Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
6. Demographic factors

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. If you consider it not possible and appropriate to suggest areas for improvement, justify your position.