Description of the assessment
This assignment aims to test students’ knowledge in understanding key business strategy concepts and applying such concepts in an organisation at the micro-level. It complements the first segment of assessment which focuses on macro-level strategy. This assessment requires you to consider the longterm sustainability of a business in the ever-changing, and often hostile, global business environment where strategies and priorities differ between organisations and their wider stakeholders. In your assignment, it is therefore important that you weigh up national culture implication, importance of green management or sustainability as well as opportunities and threats facing the organisation of choice within the national market environment. This knowledge should enable you to develop effective strategies for growth and sustainability. When developing a strategy for the organisation you choose to analyse and write your report about, also bear in mind the need for organisations to achieve some aspects of the United Nations’ agenda as outlined in its Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) as highlighted in the module. These include the effort to eradicate or reduce poverty, create better standard of
living, the protection and preservation of nature and our ecological environment. At the same time, remember that organisations must also create shareholder value through growth and expansion. With these in mind, limit your strategy and recommendations to green management and growth strategy only.

Assessment Content
The assessment for this module is an individual report of 2500 words (+- 10%). Below, you have been provided with a brief background of five organisations. Only some basic information has been presented to introduce you to past and current events, and in some cases, the strategy orientation of the business.

Your task is to choose one of these as your case study organisation to base your assignment upon. As will be explained throughout the strategy part of the module, you are encouraged to work in groups in your seminars to apply the strategic management concepts and frameworks discussed in lectures. In doing so, you will try to apply such concepts as they relate to your chosen case study organisation selected from the below list. Do not select any other organisation apart from the five identified and introduced below. Sharing your knowledge in group discussions will enhance your ability to better understand the concepts and frameworks studied and to subsequently enable you to effectively apply them in your individual assignment.

Discussion in groups will improve your knowledge beyond the lectures but remember that the work must be an individual report of your own effort. The report should analyse the green management approach(es) already adopted or that which could be adopted by the business as well as strategies that have or could be considered for growth. Based on the analysis, you are further required to make two recommendations on each aspect of the strategy (green strategy and growth strategy) necessary to shape the future direction of the business. You should use a variety of theoretical materials as well as company/ market/sector data analysis in a critical manner to complete the report.

The suggested structure of your report is as follows:

Title Page (title should be specific to the report). Example: Strategic Analysis of M&S in the UK food retail sector.

Contents Page: Use Microsoft content setter to automatically set your page numbers, titles/sub-titles, etc.

Introduction to the Report (50 words)

Here you should explain to the reader what will be covered in the report.
Example: This report undertakes a critical analysis of M&S food/clothing business and makes recommendations aimed at improving/enhancing its green management and growth strategy.

Brief Background to Case Study Organisation (50 words)
This should be a short section on the fundamentals of the business. Do not go into too much detail here, as it is likely that information on the business’s successes (and failures) can be better used in the following analysis sections.
Example: M&S was founded in xxxxx year. It is based in XXXX country and has XXXX number of employees. Its main business is XXXX and recorded xxxxx revenue in 2021 (reference). Main competitors include XXXX companies, however, it maintains a market leadership in UK market, based on a strong brand
image, well established history of quality and positive reputation (Reference).

External Analysis using one external analysis tool (15%) (375 words)
Here you will give a brief explanation, using support from academic texts, as to which external analysis tool you have chosen and its suitability. You will apply that analysis tool to your organisation, and use company, market, or sector information to support your points (so each claim needs to be supported
by a citation).

Internal Analysis using one internal analysis tool (15%) (375 words)
Here you will give a brief explanation, using support from academic texts, as to which internal analysis tool you have chosen and its suitability. You will apply that analysis tool to your organisation and use company information to support your points (so each claim needs to be supported by a citation).

From the Analysis, write a Summary of the organisation’s key Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats using a SWOT (15%) (375 words)

Plan a Strategic Approach using a TOWS (15%) (375 words)

Make two Strategic Recommendations Based on your Analysis. For each, apply the SAF tool to decide which would be most appropriate for implementation (30%) (750 words)
Here we will want to see the use of strategic management vocabulary, and the use of academic texts, to explain the type of strategic recommendation you are making, and to debate its pros and cons of each strategic approach.

Conclusion (50 words)
Summarise what has been covered in the report
This should include, briefly, what was the report about, what the key important or take home points are and reflection on task and module learning gains.

Reference List
This should in alphabetical order.

Appendices
This should be any further templates, images, diagrams, or relevant information supporting a point or claim you might have made in the text.
10% of the mark is for the overall presentation and structure of a coherent argument from analysis through to recommendations.

Tables and diagrams represent 150 words for half a page and 300 words for a whole page. You will want to put more complex diagrams and tables in appendices. Use font size 12, and font type ‘Times New Roman’ or ‘Arial’ and double space your writing throughout the text. Avoid repetition and please do not highlight any specific sentences or citations in your work.

Base your report one of the five business firms below (information correct as of September 2022):

Twitter Inc.
Twitter is a social media organisation originating from the United States of America (USA). Twitter was created in March 2006 and offers a platform that allows users to share short messages with groups of people. Starting as a small company, it has grown tremendously since its creation. However, the company still faces strong competition from other organisations and numerous other challenges in an increasingly expanding sector. In April this year 2022, the Twitter board of directors agreed to a $44 billion sale of the company. However, it is uncertain if the deal will go ahead as initially agreed, neither is it clear as to what future direction the organisation might take in the future under the current or future owners.

Barclays bank
Barclays is a British bank which supports consumers and small businesses through its retail banking services, and larger businesses and institutions through corporate and investment banking services. Barclays Bank aims to build trust and continue to grow in the UK market by offering innovative products and services, with an excellent customer and client experience. Yet, like other UK banks, Barclays remains worried by the shocks of the financial crisis that affected banks in 2007 and 2008, leading to government bale-out for it to survive.

Tata Motors India
Tata company is an Indian Company with headquarters in Mumbai, India. Founded in 1945 as TELCO, it has since developed to become a global player in Steel manufacturing and automobile. In 1998, Tata launched the first fully indigenous Indian passenger car, the Indica, and in 2008, it innovated by launching the Tata Nano, the world’s most affordable car. Like many automobile companies, there is increasing pressure to produce cars that are environmentally friendly. Hence, there has been a move towards electric cars and other vehicles using new sources of renewable energy.

Marks and Spencer (M&S), UK
M&S is a leading British retailer of food, fashion and homeware. A key consideration in M&S business practice is that of caring about the impact of its products on tomorrow’s world. It does so not just for the purpose of demonstrating good citizenship, but it finds that paying attention to the environment is good for its business. It has therefore created a sustainable future embedded into its mission to transform business in ways that create long-term, profitable growth in an ecologically friendly and sustainable manner. Yet, it deals with suppliers from different countries which may not be under its control.

Électricité de France (EDF)
EDF is a UK energy company originating from France. EDF prides itself as Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity. EDF serves homes and businesses with electricity and other sources of power. The company’s raison d’être is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative energy solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive wellbeing and economic development in UK. Yet, EDF is not excluded from the sudden high prices of energy arising from the war in Ukraine.