Assignment Brief (3000 words)

(60 Marks)

Aim of the assignment

To understand the impact of the external and internal factors in a Business and its
Strategies
Learning outcomes
Identification of internal and external factors which influences an organizations
business strategies using appropriate theoretical frameworks and applying them
into a practical scenario
Critically assess the strategic implications of various cost-output relationships
Critically evaluate the various schools of thought in strategy
Assess the role of culture, leadership, power and collaboration within strategic
management
Critically analyze the strategic position of a company and identify how it can gain
sustainable competitive advantage
Evaluate the strategic application of management information system
Brief
This is an Individual Assignment
You are required to produce an academic/research document of 3000 words
Topic
Select a PLC with a business turnaround in recent times in Sri Lanka.
Critically identify the challenges faced by the organization prior to the turnaround.
Critically analyze the response to challenges during turnaround. Your argument should
cover the followings.
a. Organizations position prior to the turnaround
b. Current position
c. The implications due to the turnaround process

I.
II.
III.

The analysis should include:

Critical evaluation of the business strategies adapted by the organization prior and after
the turnaround
Critical evaluation of the use of Information and their sources including any changes made
in their own information systems
Your conclusions & recommendations

Marking criteria
The following criteria will be used when marking your Assignment:

1.Clearly identifying the challenges faced 15%

2.Critical analyze of the response by the organization 15%
3.Identification of use of information systems 15%
4.Critical evaluation of the business strategies 20%
5.Conclusion and Recommendation - 15%
6.Depth of the analysis and relevance 15%
7.The format and flow of the report 5%

Criteria for Marking provided below

1

15-12
Clear identification of
strategic and relevant
challenges Faced by
the organization with
justification

11-8
Clear identification of
strategic and relevant
challenges Faced by
the organization with
less justification

2.

15-12
Identification of
Responses made in
minimum 4-5 different
areas of business and
linked to the changes

11-9
Identification of
Responses made in
minimum 3 different
areas of business and
linked to the changes

15-12
Clear Identification of
use of IT Systems,
relevant information
and proper
identification of their
resources

11-9
Acceptable level of
Identification of use of
IT Systems, relevant
information and
proper identification
of their resources

4.

20-17
Critical evaluation of
the business strategies
and responses of the
organization in all
areas identified in 2
with supporting
evidence
15-12
Conclusion and
Recommendation
according to the
analysis and creativity
covering all areas

15-12

11-8

5.

7-4
Partly identification
of strategic and
relevant challenges
Faced by the
organization with
justification
8-6
Identification of
Responses made in
minimum 3 different
areas of business but
no link to the
changes
8-6
Partly Clear
Identification of use
of IT Systems,
relevant information
and proper
identification of
their resources

3-0
No Clear
identification of
strategic and relevant
challenges Faced by
the organization with
justification
6-3
Identification of
Responses made in
less than 3 areas But
not linked to the
changes

16-13
Critical evaluation of
BS and the responses
of the organization in
at least 3 areas with
supporting evidence

12-9
Critical evaluation
of the BS and
responses but No
supporting evidence
presented

8-5
Partial Critical
evaluation of the
responses of the
organization and less
than 3 areas
identified

11-8
Conclusion and
Recommendation
according to the
analysis and no
evidence of creativity
covering all areas

7-5
Not all Conclusion
and
Recommendation
according to the
analysis and
presence of
creativity covering
all areas
7-4

5-3
Conclusion and
Recommendations
not according to the
analysis and partial
presence of creativity

6-3
No proper
Identification of use
of IT Systems,
relevant information
and proper
identification of their
resources

3-0

3-0
No clear
Identification of
Responses made
/ One area only/
No link
3-0
No
Identification of
use of IT
Systems,
relevant
information and
proper
identification of
their resources
5-0
No proper
Critical
evaluation of the
responses of the
organization

2-0
No Proper
recommendation
s and
conclusions

Clear indication of
Depth in the analysis
and arguments are
relevant
5-4
Clear Index,
referencing and the
format

Analysis shows an
attempt to find details
and acceptable
arguments
3-2
Either no Index, partly
referred and
acceptable format

Depth of the
findings and
arguments are
partially acceptable
1-0
Poor index, poor
referencing and no
format

No relevance and no
evidence provided

REPORT STRUCTURE

Paper Size
: A4
Word Count
: 3000 words
Printing Margins
: LHS; RHS: 1 Inch 25 mm
Binding Margin
: Inch 12 mm
Header and Footer : 1 Inch
Printing
: Single Sided
Basic Font Size
: 12
Line Spacing
: 1.5
Font Style
: Arial/Times New Roman
Presentation
: Bound Document
Harvard Referencing
1.5 line spacing
Margins 2 Top, 1 Bottom, LR 1.5

Important Information for Students

The assignment should be submitted as a SOFT COPY in a word format ONLY

(CD ONLY) as well as HARD COPY on or before the due date.

The soft copy should be saved directly to a CD as one file. Documents saved in
different files and/or in subfolders will be rejected.

Softy copy should be named as MBA/(subject number)/(assignment

number)/(followed by the student registration number)
E.g. For strategic management assignment

Student should sign a register upon submitting assignment which will be kept in the
administration department of relevant campus. This record on the register will be
considered as the official record for submission. Please note that no
acknowledgement for receipt of assignment send via e mail.

Please note that plagiarism is treated as a serious offence and therefore the work
you produce must be individual and original although may work in groups in
some instances (Please refer to Student Handbook on Plagiarism & Cheating).

All sources of information must be referenced using Harvard referencing where

a reference listing should be included at the end of the assignment.

Please note that the submission date given for this assignment is the final date that
you can hand over the assignment. No late submissions are allowed. (Please refer
to the Student Handbook on Assessments - Late Submissions).

Please refer to Student Handbook on Assignments/ Mitigating Procedure Resubmission.