Assessment Brief – Postgraduate

Module Code: / SM0492
Module Title: / Strategy and Change in the Global Environment
Distributed in: / Nov 2012 /

Hand in Date:

/ TBC

Instructions on Assessment:

Select an organization (most probably the one that you are most familiar with) and that has undergone some form of strategic re-alignment. This can be public, private-sector or third sector, and might include restructuring, implementation of new IT systems or business practices, entry into a new market, outsourcing etc. Make your selection carefully thinking about access to internal and external data.

Produce an individual report that includes an analysis of strategic options and recommended actions. It is anticipated that some theoretical frameworks do not fit well with some sectors, as they tend to be private sector focused; but you should still attempt to refer to academic theory or use frameworks that better fit your organisation but have not been introduced in this module.

Academic theory should be referenced to APA Standard. Your report should be structured round the following four tasks:

1.  With reference to appropriate Macro & Micro frameworks analyse and evaluate the external environment of your organisation from the perspective of the external context within which it operates. Summarise your findings by drawing attention to the key drivers for change, major economic trends and their implications in the global economy (20 marks)

2.  Using appropriate theoretical frameworks identify and discuss where value is added throughout the organisation and where appropriate how your organisation competes in its market or sector (30 marks)

3.  Identify a process of strategic change in the organisation and using appropriate change management models identify the blockages and facilitators of change, ensuring that you evaluate the role of organisational culture in this process (30 marks)

4.  Consider whether the business objectives are appropriate and achievable and review the decision making process (and consultation) that resulted in the change (20 marks)

Total Word Count @ 3,500 plus appendices

(Some basic instruction if required here)

Important note about ARNA regulations

The regulations specify that students must complete every assessment component contributing to the modules on their programme. This applies to all forms of assessment as defined in the module descriptor. Please note that:

·  if any assessment component is not completed, students will be failed in the module even if the module pass mark has been achieved;

·  if the requirements for referral specified in section 5 of ARNA1 are met, a resit opportunity will be given;

·  if unable to complete an assessment component because of extenuating circumstances, students should follow the procedure described in the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances1.

This change was approved by Academic Board on 12 October 2009 in consultation with the Students’ Union. Students should consult their Programme Leader or Guidance Tutor if they have any queries. Independent advice and support is also available from the Students’ Union Advice & Representation Centre () or from a student adviser in Student Services.

1ARNA and the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessed Work are available from http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/ar/lts/assess/assproc/assdocstud/

Word Count

The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment. The word count does not include title page, contents page, glossary, tables, figures, illustrations, reference list, bibliography and appendices.

Summarising and compressing the information in your assignment into the word limit is one of the skills that students are expected to acquire, and demonstrate as part of the assignment process.

Word limits and penalties for assignments

If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply. However, if the word limit exceeds the +10% limit, 10% of the mark provisionally awarded to the assignment will be deducted. For example: if the assignment is worth 70% but is above the word limit by more than 10%, a penalty of 7% will be imposed, giving a final mark of 63%.

Submission of Assessment:

All assignments must be submitted via the Postgraduate Programme Office. Each assignment must be accompanied by an Assessed Work Form which must be completed in full. The assignment will not be accepted by the Postgraduate Programme Office unless the form is completed correctly.

Marked assignments will be returned to students. It is advisable to retain a copy of your assignment for you own records. Your mark will be returned on the Assessed Work Form via the Postgraduate Programme Office.

Referencing your work

The APA method of referring to publications and of arranging references uses the author's name and the date of the publication. References are listed at the end of the text in alphabetical order by author's name. The general format of an electronic journal reference is shown below:

Coutu, D. (2009) ‘Why Teams Don't Work’, Harvard Business Review, 87(5), pp.98-105. EBSCO [Online]. Available at http://searchebscohost.com (Accessed: 29th July 2011).

Author/s name and initials are listed first, followed by year of publication in brackets. Then there is the title of article and the journal where article appears, which is in italics. Then state the volume and issue number (in brackets) along with the pages where article can be located. Finally add the name of the database you found the information, followed by [Online] and the web address. Wherever possible use the homepage URL rather than the full and extended web address.

For further information go to the Referencing and Plagiarism topic in Skills Plus available from the Library website:

www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus

You will find other useful help guides on Skills Plus to help you with researching and writing your assessments.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE (a full bibliography and/or a list of references must be submitted as prescribed in the assessment brief).

Please note that this is intended to be an individual piece of work. Action will be taken where a student is suspected of having cheated or engaged in any dishonest practice. Students are referred to the University regulations on plagiarism and other forms of academic irregularity. Students must not copy or collude with one another or present any information that they themselves have not generated.

(Some basic instruction if required here)

For further information on Plagiarism, see the Referencing and Plagiarism topic on Skills Plus.

www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus (Some basic instruction if required here)

Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives:

This assessment will contribute directly to the following Postgraduate programme goals and objectives.

Goal One: Be independent, reflective critical thinkers

X / 1. / Demonstrate awareness of their personal strengths and weaknesses through critical reflective practice.
X / 2. / Understand and challenge personal patterns of thinking and behaving.

Goal Two: Be culturally and ethically aware

X / 1. / Demonstrate their ability to work in diverse groups and teams.
2. / Reflect on their own ethical values.

Goal Three: Have developed leadership and management capability

X / 1. / Demonstrate their personal contribution to team effectiveness.
X / 2. / Communicate complex issues effectively.
X / 3. / Demonstrate decision making and problem solving skills.
X / 4. / Carry out presentations and lead discussions.

Goal Four: Have developed and applied knowledge of international business and management theory

X / 1. / Acquire, interpret and apply knowledge of international business, management and organisational functions.

Goal Five: Have developed a range of research skills and project capabilities

X / 1. / Plan and complete a major individual piece of research on a contemporary business, management or leadership topic of their choice.
X / 2. / Demonstrate skills of analysis and synthesis in the application of research methods to the exploration of contemporary business issues.

Goal Six: Have developed specialist knowledge about the theory and practice of your programme of study

1. / Demonstrate specialist functional knowledge in relation to your programme of study.

Assessment Criteria (NBS)

Trait / 0
Fail / 1 – 39
Fail / 40 – 49
Fail / 50 – 54
Pass / 55 – 59
Pass / 60 – 69
Commendation / 70 – 100
Distinction
Knowledge and Understanding / Work not submitted OR Work giving evidence of serious academic misconduct (subject to regulations in ARNA Appendix 1) OR Work showing no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. None of the learning outcomes are met. / Work is not acceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. Few of the learning outcomes are met. / Work is not acceptable in providing evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. However a majority of the learning outcomes are met and others are nearly satisfied / Adequate work providing evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7 but only at a bare pass level. All learning outcomes are met (or nearly met and balanced by strengths elsewhere). / Satisfactory work providing evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. All learning outcomes are met. / Commendable work providing evidence to a high level of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. All learning outcomes met, many are more than satisfied. / Excellent work providing evidence to a very high level of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. All learning outcomes met, many at high level. Marks at the high end of this range indicate outstanding work where all learning outcomes are met at a high level.
Structure, Alignment and Research / Inadequate in some of the following aspects or seriously inadequate in at least one: use of relevant material; development of analysis and structure of argument; evaluation of theory; application of relevant theory, research methods and findings to the problem in question; presentation of information to the intended audience. / Adequate in most but not all of the following aspects: use of relevant material; development of analysis and structure of argument; evaluation of theory; application of relevant theory, research methods and findings to the problem in question; presentation of information to the intended audience. / Adequate in all of (or most of, with balancing strength elsewhere): use of relevant material; development of analysis and structure of argument; evaluation of theory; application of relevant theory, research methods and findings to the problem in question; presentation of information to the intended audience. / Satisfactory in all or most of: use of relevant material from a variety of sources; development of analysis and structure of argument; evaluation of theory; application of relevant theory, research methods and findings to the problem in question; presentation of information to the intended audience. / Good in all or most of: use of up-to-date material from a variety of sources; development of analysis and structure of argument; critical evaluation of relevant theory, research methods and findings to the problem in question; presentation of information to the intended audience. / Excellent in all or most of: use of primary sources of literature from a range of perspectives; development of analysis and structure of argument; critical evaluation and creative use of theory, research methods and findings; presentation of information to the intended audience.

Module Specific Assessment Criteria

Trait / 0
Fail / 1 – 39
Fail / 40 – 49
Fail / 50 – 54
Pass / 55 – 59
Pass / 60 – 69
Commendation / 70 – 100
Distinction

Note: For those assessments or partial assessments based on calculation, multiple choice etc. Marks will be gained on an accumulative basis. In these cases, marks allocated to each section will be made clear.

Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment and it must be made available within 24 hours of them requesting it be submitted.

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