Assignment Brief BMM6422: Business and Management Strategies
Component number
Assignment 1
Assignment type
Report
Learning outcomes for this assessment
(Please see module Handbook for all learning outcomes)
Upon completion of this module students should be able to:
1 Evaluate the benefits to organisations of strategic planning within the business environment.
2 Employ specific techniques, methods and models used in the assessment and evaluation of a given organisation’s strategy.
3 Investigate and interpret the external environment in which organisations exist and its effects on strategic planning.
4 Measure and interpret the relative strengths and weaknesses of a given business organisation.
5 Contrast appropriate strategic choices for a given organisation within a business context.
Weighting:
100%
Word Count or Equivalent
3,000 words
Submission deadline:
12th December 2025 (12:00pm)
Post date:
7th of January, 2025
In-Module recovery deadline:
N/A
Completing Your Assignment
What is required in this assignment?
For this module you will complete one written assignment: a 3,000-word report.
Assignments must be submitted via Turnitin by 12.00 noon on the deadline day.
Assignment details:
Select a business case-study of a large-scale company, describe its operations and stated strategy. Apply at least two theories or concepts that were taught during the module.
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What are the main features of the industry where the organisation is nested that influence competition and profitability?
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Critically analyse competition and customer requirements to identify opportunities for competitive advantage within this industry/sector.
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Identify how the organisation’s tangible and intangible resources help explain management’s strategy implementation over the period selected. Analyse them as it relates to their strategy and implementation of the strategy.
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Critically evaluate the organisation’s strategic capabilities whether they can create sustainable competitive advantage or not, discuss. How do these capabilities tie-in with their stated strategy?
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Identify the means through which a organisation can develop its resources and capabilities in order to achieve their strategy.
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Use the results of resource and capability analysis to diagnose the success/ lack of success of their current strategies and advise the organisation about future strategies.
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If the organisation does not appear to have one explain what they communicate as one and analyse how this fall short of a true strategy. What could the company’s strategy be if they don’t appear to have one?
Word Count: The word count for this assessment is 3,000 words. This does not include the reference list. If you exceed the word limit, any work after 3,300 words will not be marked. Whilst you are not penalised for being under the word count, work that is substantially under the word count will be more limited in meeting the programme learning outcomes.
All modules will include a session which unpacks the assessment brief, providing opportunities for you to clarify any questions you have about the assessment task. The assessment criteria and rubric will be examined in these sessions to support your understanding of the expectations of the task(s). Your module tutor will provide generic
feedback on what a good assessment looks like, common misconceptions, pitfalls, construction of arguments, format, spelling and referencing. You are encouraged to bring selected sections of your work or a one-page plan to assessment support sessions for verbal feedback and where appropriate, peer discussion. Your module tutor will not give any indication of mark or classification for any draft work presented. Where you have received previous feedback, your tutors will encourage you to reflect on this to support your acquisition of knowledge and academic skills development. Feedback on a full draft of an assessment for submissions, prior to the submission deadline, is not normally permitted.
Use the Assignment Preparation Checklist on the final page of this handbook before you submit your work.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in this module
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You may use generative AI such as ChatGPT to assist you in the process of undertaking the assessment in the following ways: brainstorming, research, planning, feedback, editing.
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All use of generative AI must be explicitly acknowledged, and any artificially generated content (e.g. images) explicitly labelled, with the source of the AI tool referenced using current APA referencing conventions You can find further guidance on the library website on their AI webpage).
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In submitting your assignment, you agree to disclose the extent to which you have used generative AI in preparing this work, and include evidence of your AI use in your appendices (e.g. dated screen shots of your use of this tool or copy and paste your AI chat into Word).
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Failure to disclose your generative AI use may result in a 0 for your assignment and a referral for academic misconduct (see the Student Academic Misconduct Policy under Essential Info in the MyLTU app).
Please include one of the following statements on the front page of your assignment:
Either:
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This assignment used generative AI in the following ways for the purposes of completing the assignment (choose 1 to 5 of the following): brainstorming, research, planning, feedback, editing.
Or:
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This assignment did not use generative AI for the purposes of completing the assignment.
Assessment Criteria
You will need in your own words to explain what you have learnt so far with regards to strategic theories, vision, and implementation where required. You will be expected to include both theory and class material (properly referenced), a thorough analysis and your own personal opinion and preferences.
Assessment Criteria Grid Classification/ Criterion Exceptional 1st/ Distinction 100, 95, 92 Outstanding 1st/ Distinction 88, 85, 82 1st/Distinction 78, 75, 72 2.1/Merit 68, 65, 62 2.2/Pass 58, 55, 52 3rd/Pass 48, 45, 42 Fail 38, 35, 32
Knowledge & Understanding
Polished grasp of subject. Astute and authoritative approach to complexity.
Comprehensive and confident grasp with strong sense of subject complexity.
Thorough understanding evident and well applied to specific assessment task.
Secure, general understanding and reasonable application to assessment task.
Sound knowledge relevant to the assessment task.
Limited knowledge shows basic understanding. Some awareness of the context of the assessment task.
Faulty understanding of assessment task or concepts. Irrelevant or mostly absent content.
Structure, Argument
Effective and integrated over-arching argument or structure, clear, insightful synthesis. Highly creative understanding of topic.
Effective overall argument with clear and insightful connections between claims. Creative understanding of topic.
Clear and logical focus and direction with valuable connections made between claims. Good level of creativity.
Well-focused on the question with some clear connections made between claims and some overall direction. Some creativity.
Addresses the topic with some direction and makes some connections between claims or different parts of artefact/assignment.
Argument is weak and difficult to detect. Connections made between statements limited
Lack of argument. Faulty connection between statements.
Analysis and Conclusions
Original and searching analysis, critical appraisal of task and judicious conclusions.
Searching analysis with pertinent conclusions drawn.
Insightful analysis throughout with appropriate conclusions drawn.
Strong analysis of salient illustrative examples. Some general conclusions drawn.
Some conclusions drawn based on some reasonable comparisons and examples.
Basic analysis. Remains descriptive, little evaluation or comparison. Few clear conclusions.
Insufficient evaluation or attempt to make comparisons. Conclusions illogical insufficient.
Sources & Evidence
Extensive and evaluative use of evidential support for argument.
Extensive use of evidence with some evaluation.
Clear support of argument with well selected evidence.
Draws on relevant independent sources and evidence to support claims.
Makes simple use of evidence from recommended sources.
Relies on superficial statements with little supporting evidence.
Lack of evidence or relevant sources.
Adherence to Referencing Conventions, Technical Skills
Flawless referencing or technical skills.
Flawless referencing or technical skills.
Excellent referencing or technical skills.
Consistent and accurate referencing or technical skills.
Largely consistent accurate referencing. or technical skills.
Limited referencing/ adherence to convention or technical skills.
Inadequate referencing or technical skills.
Resources
Textbook
Johnson, G. & et al. (2017) Exploring Strategy, 11th ed. Harlow: Pearson. Leeds Trinity University Library- 658.4012 JOH. Also available as an e-book. – 4 copies plus ebook
Recommended Reading:
Ireland, R. et al (2012) The management of strategy: concepts and cases. 10th ed. Andover: Cengage Learning. Leeds Trinity University Library- 658.4012 IRE – 3 copies
Grant, R. M. (2016) Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 9th ed. Chichester: Wiley. Leeds Trinity University Library- 658.4012 GRA – 6 copies
Fleisher, C. S. et al (2003) Strategic and competitive analysis. Upper Sadle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Leeds Trinity University Library- 658.4012 FLE – 2 copies
Chambell, D. et al (2011) Business Strategy: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Leeds Trinity University Library – 658.4012 CAM – 2 copies
Journals:
Strategic Management Journal (1980-present) Business Strategy and the Environment (1995-present) Harvard Business Review (1922-present)
European Management Journal (1995-present) Governance (1997-present)
Journal of Management Studies (1997-present) Management Today (1998-2017)
Organization Studies (1992-present)
Sloan Management Review (1996-2000)
The Financial Times (FT)
