Exploring Business Strategy

247SAM 201617 Assignment Brief Page 1 of 5 Faculty of Business, Environment and Society Assignment Brief Module Title: Exploring Business Strategy Assignment Number and Weighting CW2, 50% Module Code: 247SAM Assignment Title ESSAY Submission Date: Friday , 5 May 2017 Module Leader Don gmei Cao Submission Date/Time : 05/05/17, 23:55 :00 Submission Place Submission through Turnitin ONLY Assessment Information This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes : 1. Understand the varying types and levels of strategy in an organis ation. 2. Analyse internal and external environments and strategic options available to an organisation. 3. Demonstrate self -awareness, openness and sensitivity to diversity in terms of people, cultures, business and strategic management issues. This ass ignment is an individual assignment. This assignment requires you to write an original essay answering only ONE of the following question s: 1. “…the determinants of organizational culture are based on profiles of their leaders…” (Miladi 2014) . Discuss, with reference to an organisation of your choice using the “cultural web”. (100%) OR 2. “Differentiation can be a competitive strategy for any organisation” (Majeed 2015). Critically discuss this statement with reference to Porter’s generic strate gies. Support your argument with relevant examples. (100%) Criteria for Assessment This table details the weightings of the five criteria by which your work will be assessed. Criteria Proportion of overall module mark 1. Content (and Learning Outcome s) 25% 2. Knowledge and understanding/application of theory 50% 3. Evidence of reading, use of resources and research 15% 4. Accurate citations and referencing 5% 247SAM 201617 Assignment Brief Page 2 of 5 5. Presentation, grammar and spelling 5% Total 100% Word Count The word count is 2,00 0 words . There will be a penalty of a deduction of 10% of the mark (after internal moderation) for work exceeding the word limit by 10% or more. The word limit includes quotations, but excludes the final reference list and appendices. How to submit your assessment The assessment must be submitted via Turnitin by 23.55 on Friday, 5 May 201 7. No paper copies are required. You can access the Turnitin link through the module web.  Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Please take care to ensure that you have fully submitted your work.  All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason (see below) will be given a mark of zero.  The University wants you to do your best. Howeve r we know that sometimes events happen which mean that you can’t submit your coursework by the deadline – these events should be beyond your control and not easy to predict. If this happens, you can apply for an extension to your deadline for up to two we eks, or if you need longer, you can apply for a deferral, which takes you to the next assessment period (for example, to the resit period following the main Assessment Boards). You must apply before the deadline.  You will find information about the process and what is or is not considered to be an event beyond your control at https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Deferrals -and -Extension.aspx  Stu dents MUST keep a copy and/or an electronic file of their assignment.  Checks will be made on your work using anti -plagiarism software and approved plagiarism checking websites. GUIDELINES AND BACKGROUND TO THIS ASSIGNMENT Plagiarism As part of your stu dy you will be involved in carrying out research and using this when writing up your coursework. It is important that you correctly acknowledge someone else’s writing, thoughts or ideas and that you do not attempt to pass this off as your own work. Doing so is known as plagiarism. It is not acceptable to copy from another source without acknowledging that it is someone else’s writing or thinking. This includes using paraphrasing as well as direct quotations. You are expected to correctly cite and referenc e the works of others. The Centre for Academic Writing provides documents to help you get this right. If you are unsure, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/caw. You can also check your understanding of academic conduct by completing the Good Academic Practic e quiz available on Moodle. Moodle includes a plagiarism detection system and assessors are experienced enough to recognise plagiarism when it occurs. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections from a book or the internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences. Please familiarise yourself with the CU Harvard Reference Style (on Moodle) and use it correctly to avoid a case of plagiarism or cheating being brought. Again, if you are unsure, please contact the Centre for Academic Writing, your Academic Personal Tutor or a member of the course team. Return of Marked Work You can expect to have marked work returned to by or on 26th May . If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informe d. Marks and feedback will be provided online. As always, marks will have been internally 247SAM 201617 Assignment Brief Page 3 of 5 moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed his / her review. Marking and Assessment Scheme Mark range Guidelines 70 – 100% In order to secure a mark in this range, a candidate must submit an outstanding answer that could hardly be bettered. In addition to the criteria identified below for a mark between 70 -85%, an answer scoring a mark of 85 -100% would show an excellent level of understanding and critical/analytic skills and originality. For example, such an answer would include new insights into strategic management theories which are not drawn from the lite rature but from the student's own critical thinking, and which add something to the existing literature. An essay in this range will demonstrate a strong understanding of theories, concepts and issues relating to strategic management . There will be evide nce of wide -ranging reading from a variety of valid sources (as described and presented in the marking criteria for 60 -69%). The assignment must be written in a clear, well -structured way with a coherent and seamless flow and show evidence of independent, critical thought. It must show extensive relevant reading on the subject and intelligent use of the material to present a well -balanced and well - argued assignment. For example, the student will have considered a range of relevant issues and be able to ass ess the strength and weaknesses of various approaches/arguments and put forward a confident and articulate view of their own. 60 – 69% An essay in this mark range will demonstrate a good understanding of the requirements of the assignment and of theorie s, concepts and issues relating to strategic management . An assignment in this percentage range will include a balanced discussion of issues central to the question, how these are addressed by different authors or sources and some critical thinking into their relative merits or shortcomings. The answer will be contain few errors and little, if any, irrelevant material. It will show evidence of reading from a variety of sources (i.e. more than 3 or 4) but not so many sources that the discussion loses focus and becomes unclear or irrelevant. All sources should be of some academic merit (e.g. books, journals, reports, media publications). Unreferenced material from non -credible internet sources MUST be avoided. All sources must be included and properly refer enced in the references. The assignment will be well -organised and clearly written /presented overall. 50 – 59% The answer will demonstrate some reasonable understanding of relevant theories, concepts and issues relating to strategic management but also some minor errors of fact or understanding. 247SAM 201617 Assignment Brief Page 4 of 5 Mark range Guidelines The assignment will not be based on an extensive range of sources (for example few references are included), or much evidence that they have been read closely or well -understood. For example, the assignme nt will retell sources rather than analyse them. The assignment may be quite general in part. Some errors may be present and some irrelevant material may be included. The essay may not be particularly well -structured, and/or clearly presented and conta in some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. A few sentences may be unclear. 40 - 49% A mark within this percentage range will be given to an essay which: - shows some limited basic understanding of the subject but is incomplete. For example, if it answers one part of a question but not the rest. - makes only very general statements - includes some factual errors or misunderstandings e.g. confusion between different companies or misuse of certain key terms. - shows limited use of material with limited reading /research on the topic and includes only a very small number of references, not all of which are included in the references - includes spelling mistakes, is poorly structured with no clear argument and grammar mistakes making it difficult to understand . - includes some irrelevant material. 35 – 39% A mark within this percentage range will be given to an assignment which: - includes only a limited amount of relevant material. - shows little evidence of reading /research on the topic. For example, the essay includes only very few references, and relies only on material or case studies used during the course. - shows only a very basic understanding of the subject. - is poorly presented with bad grammar, some spelling mistakes and an incomplete reference list. - has a poor structure and does not flow e.g. if there is no conclusion or new facts are introduced in the conclusion rather than introduction or main discussion. - contains some fundamental errors. 20 – 34% A poor fail on this assignment means the assignment submitted: - is poor and suggests that the student has spent very little time on it e.g . if the answer is considerably under the word requirement and/or 247SAM 201617 Assignment Brief Page 5 of 5 Mark range Guidelines 0 - 19% presented in note form rather than as a fully written up essay. - bears little relation to the assignment topic. - shows a poor understanding of theories, concepts and issues relating to strategic management and to the learning outcomes detailed in this document. - contains some or many fundamental errors and misunderstandings of the academic or other material used. For example many of the facts cited are incorrect. - uses literature or other material which is largely irrelevant or has no academic value - is poorly structured and poorly presented. For example, sentences may be hard to understand and contain many spelling or grammatical mistakes. - contains no references. Work within this mark range shows a complete failure to meet the requirements of the assignment. A mark in this range will be given for an essay which: - is below 500 words in length. - bears no link to the question chosen and shows very little or no knowledge or understanding of any of the theories, concepts and issues relating to strategic management . The answer may be fundamentally wrong or trivial. - contains no references and/or evidence of relevant reading. - shows little understanding of the requirements of the assignment and only a vague knowledge of the subject area. - includes numerous fundamental errors in the understanding or presentation of the material discus sed. There is a general lack of facts/evidence and what is provided is mostly incorrect and/or irrelevant. - is poorly structured and poorly presented. Spelling and grammar are poor. Many sentences are incomprehensible. - the examiners do not feel could be des cribed as a serious attempt by any reasonable standards.