Critically apply conceptual strategic management models and frameworks to analyse a given organisational context.

ASSESSMENT BRIEF:

MODULE TITLE:

International Strategic Management

MODULE CODE:

LECTURER:

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria specific to assignment:

On completion of the assignment, students should be able to demonstrate their ability to:

1. Critically apply conceptual strategic management models and frameworks to analyse a given organisational context.
2. Demonstrate the application of alternative strategic options for an organisation and recommend a preferred strategy.
3. Evaluate the future direction of the organisation and present strategic options in an international/global context

Number of attempts

Please note that, under the Course Regulations, you are entitled to only two attempts to pass each assignment. You are strongly advised to take every opportunity to submit work as failure to submit counts as a fail. Should you fail an assignment, it is very important that you arrange a tutorial with the marker so that you can improve your work.

Please read the full regulations available on the Course page.

Plagiarism

Please read the plagiarism guidelines on your module page.

Late Submissions

Please read the late submission regulations and penalties on your module page or on your Course page.

1. Assessment Overview

1.1 Rationale

The assignment for this Level 7 module tests for an advanced level of knowledge and comprehension of a range of concepts, models and theories related to the development of organisational strategy. It also provides the opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to analyse the performance of an organisation’s existing strategies and to develop alternative strategies with due consideration of risk. If you do not demonstrate the appropriate level of knowledge of strategic concepts covered by the module and / or do not undertake the level of critical thinking that is required in order to develop effective alternative strategies, you will not pass the assessment.

It is expected that the highest achievers will demonstrate not only their competence related to strategic concepts but also a sophisticated level of thinking in the construction of their alternative strategy, justifying their choice and taking into account elements of benefit, cost and risk. The highest achieving students will additionally demonstrate competence in terms of academic practice and rigour. Hence, in order to attain the higher grades for your work, you will need to demonstrate a high level of critical analysis and the ability to reference work appropriately and accurately using a wide range of sources and adhering to the Harvard referencing system.

To pass this module, you must achieve a final overall mark of at least 50%. Failure to achieve a pass after the second attempt will result in the student being withdrawn from the course.

2. Assessment Brief

The module is assessed through one assessment component:

Students submit PPT 10 slides (max) with 1500 words annotation

2.1 Required task(s)

McDonald’s must be chosen for organisational strategy for your work.

Use the strategic management course material (models, concepts, and theories) to evaluate the McDonald’s strategy. Based on your analysis, recommend strategic options for the organisation (McDonald’s). Reflecting on what have you learned on the module, explain what would you advise the company to do and why.

2.2 Word count

Students submit PPT 10 slides (max) with 1500 words annotation

The word limit is for your coursework assignment and does not cover material submitted as an appendix. Material submitted as an appendix provides background for your coursework, but it will not be marked unless specified in the brief. Also, it is important that you cross-refer between the main text of your assignment and any appendices, in order to demonstrate the linkage, and that the appendices do not constitute additional material unrelated to that included in the body of your assignment. If you do not refer to this work in the Appendix, then this included work in the Appendices are not marked.

Your references page will not be included in the word count, but inline citations used in the main body of the assignment (e.g. Smith and Jones (2010) identified that…) will be included in the word count

You are required to declare the number of words used in your assignment. If you produce less than or exceed the stipulated word count by more than 10%, a deduction of the mark awarded will be made to reflect that you have not met the assessment requirements.

2.3 Drafts

Your lecturer will look at only one draft version of your work or part of it up to 2 weeks before the hand-in date. This way you can use this ‘formative’ feedback to develop your work further. This feedback does not contribute towards a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ mark. Drafts are not graded or assessed – the purpose of these is for you to gain feedback for improving your work. Guidance can be sought by speaking to your lecturer if there are any areas of concern or by arranging an appointment via e- mail.

2.4 Submission

Your report should be submitted online through Turnitin via the link provided in the Assessment area of the module’s Moodle site. Hard copy submissions will not be accepted. Please follow the University policy regarding online submission and submitting assignments on time (see Page 1).

You should also submit your work through the ‘test’ Turnitin to ensure you abide by the rules on plagiarism. You should attach the assessment feedback form together with the marking criteria to your work before submitting for marking.

2.5 Formatting and presentation

The assignment should be word-processed and double line spaced. Use of bullet points should be avoided or used sparingly

1. Use Arial size 11 point for your assignments, full justified
2. Each page should be numbered except for the contents pages (if any)
3. Presentation must be formal in language and style and must adhere to the structure given above

2.6 Referencing

All work should be referenced using the Harvard format - there are handouts available online at the library website and are available as hard copy in the library if you are unsure of this.

Do not use popular websites like Wikipedia, Google or Yahoo – the former is not peer assessed and the work is not always reliable and the later are search engines.

Use textbooks and journal articles (newspaper articles may at times be acceptable). You should however, make more reliance on journal articles as these are peer reviewed and are often more recent than text books. If you are to use text books, these should be the latest so it is important to check whether you have the latest edition

Citations should be used very minimally and in limited circumstances, you may reference lecture material such as handouts and presentation slides.

3. Marking criteria