Assessment of current business level and corporate strategy and their capacity to sustain competitive advantage
Strategic Management
It is reporting to the Venture Capitalist purchasing your company.
Note: Recommendations about the retention of the CEO team would be dependant on this report!
The main aim of this report and the presentation is to provide a sustained argument about the future of DELTA SIGNAL CO.
Written report 25%
Report ( based on the results of the simulation)
2,000 words (+/- 10% and excluding the succinct 500 word executive summary)
Appropriate headings in the group report might include:
Executive Summary: Assessment of current business level and corporate strategy and their capacity to sustain competitive advantage.
Note this Exec Summary is NOT included in the word count
Body: Findings from external and internal analysis utilising the Business Systems Model and Drivers of Industry development model and Balanced Scorecard analysis (referring to appendices).
The link to theory is established.
Conclusion: Key strategic issues/findings (at least 2) related to the firm’s current performance, issues it faces and options and recommendations for the future, the next 3 years.
Reference list
Appendices: In-depth analysis conducted before the report is written on:
Appendix 1:Business Systems Analysis Appendix 2: Drivers of Industry Development Appendix 3: Balanced Scorecard Analysis
Appendices
Analytical tools must be used to be capable of completing this report.
– The Components of a Business System (p.82 of text) with analysis of the Resource Base/ Stock of Assets (tangible and intangible, relational and competencies ), Activity System (complete a generic value chain analysis and Product Offering / Value Proposition must be used.
– Drivers of Industry Development(text p.257) must also be undertaken. There is no limit to the strategic tools that can be used, however only one additional tool will be marked (as nominated clearly in the body of the report).
– Balanced Scorecard results will be analyzed and presented here
Any data and information completed during research should be placed into appendices.
The report should refer to these appendices but focus on the findings in the body.
The findings are discussed in the report body and linked to a central argument about the firm’s current performance, issues it faces and options and recommendations for the future. The report must be underpinned with solid contemporary research showing an understanding of strategy process, content and context.
Note: When undertaking an internal analysis students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the distinctions between resources and capabilities and the capacity to identify strategic capabilities.
When identifying key strategic issues students should consider the extent of alignment between the organisations internal capabilities and its changing industry and market. “Gaps” should be identified and options to address those “gaps” evaluated. This involves the use of both analysis and critical thinking.
Note: When undertaking an internal analysis students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the distinctions between resources and capabilities and the capacity to identify strategic capabilities.
When identifying key strategic issues students should consider the extent of alignment between the organisations internal capabilities and its changing industry and market. “Gaps” should be identified and options to address those “gaps” evaluated. This involves the use of both analysis and critical thinking.
Both the above assessment of the company’s alignment with its environment and the evaluation of future strategic options must be underpinned by the group’s competent use of appropriate business level analytical tools.
The report however should only include the conclusions and summative discussion from this analysis (detailed results from the analysis should only be presented in appendices not in the body).
Hint: The key paradoxes of Business Level and Corporate Strategy should be considered.
The report must be in correct academic format as per University guidelines (i.e. properly referenced, references in alphabetical order at end of exercise, using correct spelling, punctuation, sentences and paragraphing).
Recommendations for the organisation in the next 3 year period need to be provided as a result of the group simulation.
An explanation needs to be provided as to how and why this recommendation is the one that will provide the company with sustained competitive advantage (supported with theory and data analysis).
Hint: The key paradoxes of Business Level and Corporate Strategy should be considered.
The report must be in correct academic format as per University guidelines (i.e. properly referenced, references in alphabetical order at end of exercise, using correct spelling, punctuation, sentences and paragraphing).
Only One (1) student from each group will submit the written report and the presentation video.
This group member will be responsible for providing feedback on the report and the video
Individual marks will be provided following review of the group results on Spark Plus.
Group results will not be released until ALL students have conducted their Spark Plus review of the groupNote: The group will assess each other using SparkPlus as set out below. An individual mark can be assigned to each group member for both the presentation and report should their performance be considered rated as below the standard put in place by the other group members through Spark.
However do try to demonstrate through the use of SparkPlus how the team worked as a whole to achieve greater synergy, thoroughly debate the strategic issues and solve problems and differences collaboratively.
Note: The individual mark allocated to group members will be a reflection of SPARK ratings. This means that some students may get more or less than the value awarded to a group report. The maximum mark achievable equates to five per cent more than the group mark.
There is no minimum, however, if students are unhappy with their result they may appeal to the coordinator in writing (up to 500 words), documenting their contribution and the quality of their contribution based on the criteria below.
15 minutes video
(Directions for video completion of this assessment will be provided on vUWS)
Due Week 13
All groups, and all members of each group, must present for 15 minutes, recorded and submitted as an MP4 video, providing a summation of their company results and strategic recommendations for the next 3 years.
Prior to the video submission, students should submit through vUWS a soft copy of any slides, graphs or tables used in the presentation.
The presentation must be a live video ( see exemplars on vUWS)
The presentation will be marked by your tutor according to the marking criteria.
This mark will be returned with the Report results through My Grades on vUWS.
The member who submits the video must also provide feedback to the group
Article Reference
Building a scorecard can help managers link today’s actions with tomorrow’s goals.
Using the balanced Scorecard as a strategic Management System by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton
How to Implement a New Strategy Without Disrupting Your Organization by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton
Having Trouble with your strategy? Then Map It by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton
Using systems thinking to enhance strategy maps Martin Kunc by School of Business.
