The aim of the Assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts in strategic management and your capacity to craft a professional document. It will be very good preparation for your dissertation.

Part One - (approx 3000 words)

1. Choose a concept/model in strategic management. You can choose the concept from the ones discussed in the course or you can choose another one. Examples of concepts are: core competencies, generic strategies, mergers and acquisitions, alliances, CSR, blue ocean strategy, etc.

2. Critically examine the concept: define the concept; identify when it was first discussed and what the arguments were for its creation; discuss how the concept then evolved by identifying the arguments for and against it over time and by noting any adaptations.

3. Explain how the concept fits today with other concepts of strategic management, and discuss how/if the concept is relevant or not to today's business challenges.

Part Two - (approx 1500 words)

4. Present a real life case study of the concept that you chose in Part One 'in action'. You can use your own organisation or an organisation of your choice - we recommend you use an organisation you are personally familiar with as it will be easier for you to 'see inside' the organisation

Part Two should be like a mini-case study where you will present the situation of the organisation you choose, the issues faced, and how the concept was or is being used to solve the issues and raise the general performance of the organisation.

The overall structure should be as follows:

1. Cover Page (1 page)

2. Table of Contents/List of Exhibits (1 page)

3. Executive Summary

4. Main Report (within the 4,500word limit as above)

5. Exhibits (if any)

6. List of references

Submissions should be machine readable and in MS-Word format only; submit only one file.