Brighton School of Business and Management LimitedBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedAssignment Session: 2014-2015Edexcel BTEC Level 4 HNC BusinessUnit 7 Assignment: Business StrategyAssignment IntroductionThe assignment aim is to give you the knowledge and understanding of how a business unit can strategically organise and plan for likely future outcomes in order to be successful.Learning outcomesOn successful completion of this assignment you will be able to:1 Understand the process of strategic planning2 Be able to formulate a new strategy3 Understand approaches to strategy evaluation and selection4 Understand how to implement a chosen strategy.AssignmentFocusing on a work role, previous work experience or a voluntary work position, using examples from your own workplace experiences where possible, and drawing on your studies of this subject, please answer ALL four sections below.Deadline for Submission: Please see your time tablePlease answer ALL four sections:Section 1Word Length: Approx. 1500 wordsUnderstand the process of strategic planningYou will need to:? assess how business missions, visions, objectives, goals and core competencies inform strategic planning? analyse the factors that have to be considered when formulating strategic plans? evaluate the effectiveness of techniques used when developing strategic business plansSection 2Word Length: Approx. 1500 wordsBe able to formulate a new strategyYou will need to:? analyse the strategic position of a given organisation, by carrying out an organisational audit? carry out an environmental audit for a given organisation? assess the significance of stakeholder analysis when formulating new strategy? present a new strategy for a given organisationBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedSection 3Word Length: Approx. 1500 wordsUnderstand approaches to strategy evaluationYou will need to:? analyse the appropriateness of alternative strategies relating to market entry, substantive growth, limited growth or retrenchment, for a given organisation? justify the selection of a strategySection 4Word Length: Approx. 1500 wordsUnderstand how to implement a chosen strategyYou will need to:? assess the roles and responsibilities of personnel who are charged with strategy implementation? analyse the estimated resource requirements for implementing a new strategy for a given organisation? evaluate the contribution of SMART targets to the achievement of strategy implementation in a given organisationBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedDeliveryDelivery is by self study, online distance learning, with email and telephone support available from your Personal Tutor.Guidance and advice on study techniques can be found on Moodle, and can be given by your Personal Tutor.Guidance and advice on unit assignments can be found on Moodle. Your Personal Tutor will also give you advice and guidance on format, structure, content, and give feedback on one draft per assignment.Assignment Completion and AssessmentThe unit assignments are designed to cover the specific unit learning outcomes.Assignments may be focused on actual workplace activity, case studies, or desk- research.All assignments need to cover the assignment-specific assessment criteria, as shown in each assignment section.The format, structure, and overall presentation of the assignment is expected to be to a professional standard.The assignment word length is approximate and is given on each sectionWord process the reportUse 10 point Arial or Times New Roman scriptUse the Simplified Harvard referencing systemComplete an assignment front sheetSave the assignment in one single Word format document or PDF, including the assignment front sheet.Submit the final version of your assignment and assignment front sheet, by the set submission date via Moodle.The basis for assessor grading decisions is explained below.Brighton School of Business and Management LimitedBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedGuidance on Grade AwardedThe final Unit grade assessment is based on how well you have met the Assignment Criteria / Task Requirements: we look primarily for evidence that you have followed the Assignment “instructions” and have responded to the Assignment in a way that meets the specific outcomes / requirements / criteria.We also look at the depth and breadth of your work: where we look for evidence of supplementary reading and research, appropriate examples, some “original” thought, a professional standard of layout, structure, and overall presentation in order to come to a decision about the actual grade.Below is an overview of the guidelines that our Assessors work to:Grade Descriptors for HNC/HNDPass GradeA pass grade is achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the assessment criteria for pass for each unit.Merit GradeIn order to achieve a merit you must:Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutionsYou need to show evidence of:? effective judgements have been made? complex problems with more than one variable have been explored? an effective approach to study and research has been appliedSelect / design and apply appropriate methods/techniquesYou need to show evidence of:? relevant theories and techniques have been applied? a range of methods and techniques have been applied? a range of sources of information has been used? the selection of methods and techniques/sources has been justified? the design of methods/techniques has been justified? complex information/data has been synthesised and processed? appropriate learning methods/techniques have been appliedBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedBrighton School of Business and Management LimitedPresent and communicate appropriate findingsYou need to show evidence of:? the appropriate structure and approach has been used? coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for the intended audience? a range of methods of presentation have been used and technical language has been accurately used? communication has taken place in familiar and unfamiliar contexts? the communication is appropriate for familiar and unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media have been used.Distinction GradeIn order to achieve a distinction you must:Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusionsYou need to show evidence of:? conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified? the validity of results has been evaluated using defined criteria? self-criticism of approach has taken place? realistic improvements have been proposed against defined characteristics for successTake responsibility for managing and organising activitiesYou need to show evidence of:? autonomy/independence has been demonstrated? substantial activities, projects or investigations have been planned, managed and organised? activities have been managed? the unforeseen has been accommodated? the importance of interdependence has been recognised and achievedDemonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinkingYou need to show evidence of:? ideas have been generated and decisions taken? self-evaluation has taken place? convergent and lateral thinking have been applied? problems have been solved? innovation and creative thought have been applied? receptiveness to new ideas is evident? effective thinking has taken place in unfamiliar contexts.