Assignment Front Sheet

Qualification
Unit Number and Title
Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business HNBS 101: Business Environment
Student Name
Assessor
Internal Verifier
SAJID Muhammad/SHAHID Muhammad M T Islam
Sadiq/ISUFI Anesa/GOWREA
Veerandranat
Date Issued
Week 3: 28th September 2015 2nd October 2015
Task 1 Submission
Task 2 Submission
Task 3 Submission
th
th
th
Week 6: 19 October 2015 25
Week 10: 16 November 2015 Week 15: 14th December
2015 20th December 2015
October 2015
22nd November 2015
Learning
Outcome

Assessmen In this assignment you will have the

t Criteria
opportunity to present evidence that
shows you are able to:
LO1
1.1
Identify the purposes of different types of
Understand
organisations
the
1.2
Describe the extent to which an organisation
organisational
meets the objectives of different stakeholders
purposes of
1.3
Explain the responsibilities of an organisation
businesses
and strategies employed to meet them
LO2
2.1
Explain how economic systems attempt to
Understand
allocate resources effectively
the nature of
2.2
Assess the impact of fiscal and monetary
the national
policy on business organisations and their
environment in
activities
which
2.3
Evaluate the impact of competition policy and
businesses
other regulatory mechanisms on the activities
operate
of a selected organisation
LO3
3.1
Explain how market structures determine the
Understand
pricing and output decisions of businesses
the behaviour
3.2
Illustrate the way in which market forces
of
shape organisational responses using a
organisations
range of examples
in their market 3.3
Judge how the business and cultural
environment
environments shape the behaviour of a
selected organisation
LO4 Be able to 4.1
Discuss the significance of international trade
assess the
to UK business organisations
significance of 4.2
Analyse the impact of global factors on UK
the global
business organisations
factors that
4.3
Evaluate the impact of policies of the
shape national
European
Union
on
UK
business
business
organisations
activities

Task
no

Evidence
(Page
no)

1
1
1
2
2

3
3

3
3
3

Learner Declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully
acknowledged.
Student Signature:

Date:

In addition to the above Pass Criteria, this assignment gives you opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT and
DISTINCTION grades
Grade Descriptor
Indicative Characteristic/s
Contextualisation
To achieve M1, you will make effective judgements in your response to Task
M1 Identify and apply strategies to Effective judgements have been made. 2. Making effective judgement require making a case by providing a body of
find appropriate solutions
evidence to support your ideas and points of view. In order to present a
balanced argument, consider opinions which may run contrary to your own.
(Task 2)
To achieve M2, you will use range of sources of information in answering
M2 Select/design and apply A range of sources of information has Task 2. You will also acknowledge all resources using correct Harvard
appropriate methods/techniques
Referencing System. Further, you will submit assignment on time. (Task 2)
been used
To achieve M3, you will explain and use technical language accurately in the
M3 Present and communicate A range of methods of presentation context and check the work for syntax, spelling and punctuation errors. (Task
appropriate findings
have been used and technical language 3)
has been accurately used
To achieve D1, you will provide conclusion in the report that is derived
D1 Use critical reflection to Conclusions have been arrived at directly from your analysis. You should justify the conclusion you have
evaluate own work and justify through synthesis of ides and have reached. Provide recommendation for further improvements. (Task 3)
valid conclusion
been justified.

D2
Take
managing
activities

responsibility
for Activities have been managed
and
organising

Innovation/creative thought have been

D3
Demonstrate applied
convergent/lateral/creative
thinking

To achieve D2, There is evidence that the whole assignment has been well
planned and completed to a high standard i.e. you will submit we-structured
and well-presented report.
You have regularly attended (80%) and contributed to class debates. (Task
3)
To achieve D3, you will apply convergent and lateral thinking in your report.
Using existing theories and concepts to answer the questions could provide
evidence of convergent thinking. However, you are also expected to provide
evidence of lateral thinking by putting aside your preconceptions and use
your imagination to generate original ideas. (Task 3)

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Guidelines for Assignment Submission

The unit Business Environment has THREE tasks. Please read ALL tasks carefully.
Each task has its own submission date. Please submit all tasks ON TIME.
Only ON TIME and EEC submissions will be considered for a MERIT and DISTINCTION
grade.
Late submission and referred re-submission will be capped to a PASS grade.
The attendance percentage and participation in class lessons and tutorials will contribute
towards the achievement of Distinction grade.
All assignments will be subject to PLAGIARISM checks. PLAGIARISM is a serious academic
offence and will automatically lead to ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT PROCEDURES. In the event
of COLLUSION (similar/identical submissions) please note that both students will automatically
be subject to ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT PROCEDURES.
When IPADS/TABLETS/MACS are used please make sure documents are saved as .doc.
Otherwise the submission will not be valid and may not be marked.

Assignment Title
Scenario

Analysis of an organisations business environment

You work as part of team of researchers for a Business Journal. Your editor has asked you to identify
a UK business organisation of your choice and conduct rigorous theoretical research. The focus of
the research is to understand different organisations, the influence of stakeholders and the
relationship between businesses and the local, national and global environments. The areas of
investigation are further outlined in Task 1, 2 and 3. You will be using various methods such as
presentation, report etc. to present your research findings.

Task 1: Understanding the organisational purposes of business (LO 1: 1.1, 1.2,

1.3). Due in week 6 (19th October 2015 20th October 2015)
Organisations have a variety of purposes that depend on why they were established. Some operate
for profit, whilst others do not. Organisations structure themselves and operate in ways that allow their
objectives to be met. Every organisation has a range of stakeholders whose interests need to be
satisfied, but stakeholders have competing interests that may be hard to reconcile. In this first part of
the assignment, your editor has asked to investigate organisational purposes of business and present
your findings illustrated by PowerPoint slides or other appropriate media. Make sure your
presentation covers the below points.

Identify the purposes of the organisation you selected. You may wish to identify the legal
structure of your chosen organisation (Is it a Private, Public, Government organisation or is it
part of the Voluntary Sector?) You also need to identify and discuss the importance of your
chosen organisations mission statement, values and its key objectives (AC 1.1).

Identify your chosen organisations stakeholders (a minimum of 5 required). Describe the extent
to which your selected organisation meets the objectives of different stakeholders (AC 1.2).

Explain 3 main responsibilities of your chosen organisation and the strategies your organisation
has used to meet those responsibilities (AC 1.3).

Task 2: Understanding the nature of the national environment in which

businesses operate (LO 2: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and M1, D1). Due in week 10 (16th
November 2015 22nd November 2015)
Businesses operate in an environment shaped by the government, competitors, consumers, suppliers,
and international factors. Some influences on the business environment are direct and clear, for
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example taxation policies on corporate activities. Other influences are less clear, perhaps coming
from the international arena and sometimes with only an oblique impact on the national business
environment. Write a small report about your findings on the nature of the national environment in
which your selected business operates. Report must address the following:

Explain how economic systems attempt to effectively allocate resources (for example within a:
Command economy, Free market economy, mixed or transitional economy) (AC 2.1).

Assess the impact of fiscal (government spending and borrowing) and monetary policy on your
chosen organisations activities (AC 2.2).

For your chosen organisation evaluate the impact of 2 macroeconomic policies showing how
these policies influence your UK organisation and the global economy (AC 2.3).

Use appropriate report format with an introduction at the beginning, main body with headings
and sub-headings and conclusion at the end. A cover page, table of contents page, references
list and bibliography would be at highest standard. The report might be written in 1000 1500
words.
To achieve M1, you will make effective judgements in your response to Task 2. Making effective
judgement require making a case by providing a body of evidence to support your ideas and points of
view. In order to present a balanced argument, consider opinions which may run contrary to your own.
To achieve M2, you will use range of sources of information in answering Task 2. You will also
acknowledge all resources using correct Harvard Referencing System. Further, you will submit
assignment on time.

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Task 3: Understanding the behaviour of organisations in their environment and

assessing the significance of the global factors that shape national business
activities (LO 3: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; LO 4: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and M3, D1, D2, D3).
Due in week 15 (14th Dec 2015 20th Dec 2015)
It is within this business environment that organisations function and have to determine strategies and
a modus operandi that allow them to meet their organisational purposes in ways that comply with the
relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. In addition, business markets take various forms and the
structure of a market enables an understanding of how organisations behave. In this task learners will
consider how different market structures shape the pricing and output decisions of businesses, as well
as other aspects of their behaviour.
You are asked to write an extensive report on the behaviour of your chosen UK organisation in its
environment and assess the significance of the global factors that shape national business activities.
The key areas of your investigation are outlined below.

Explain 3 different types of market structure (for example: perfect competition, monopoly,
oligopoly, regulations of competition etc.) Determine the pricing and output decisions of your
chosen business (AC 3.1).

The way your organisation behaves is shaped by market forces. Illustrate. (Example; supply
and demand, customers perceptions and actions, pricing decisions etc.) (AC 3.2).

Judge how your chosen organisation is shaped by the business strategies (example financing,
joint venture, outsourcing, technology and cultural environment) (AC 3.3).

Discuss the significance of international trade to your selected UK business organisations (AC
4.1).

Analyse the impact of 2 global factors that impact on your chosen UK based organisation (AC
4.2).

Evaluate the impact of 2 European Union policies on your chosen UK based organisation (AC
4.3).

Use appropriate report format with an introduction at the beginning, main body with headings
and sub-headings and conclusion at the end. A cover page, table of contents page,
references list and bibliography would be at highest standard. The report might be written
in 2000 2500 words.
To achieve M3, you will explain and use technical language accurately in the context and check the
work for syntax, spelling and punctuation errors.
To achieve D1, you will provide conclusion in the report that is derived directly from your analysis.
You should justify the conclusion you have reached. Provide recommendation for further
improvements.

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To achieve D2, There is evidence that the whole assignment has been well planned and completed
to a high standard i.e. you will submit we-structured and well-presented report.
You have regularly attended (80%) and contributed to class debates.
To achieve D3, you will apply convergent and lateral thinking in your report. Using existing theories
and concepts to answer the questions could provide evidence of convergent thinking. However, you
are also expected to provide evidence of lateral thinking by putting aside your preconceptions and use
your imagination to generate original ideas.

Sources of information
Textbooks
Sawyer, M. (2004) (ed) The UK Economy: A Manual of Applied Economics. 16th edition. OUP Oxford.
Begg, D. (2009) Foundations of Economics. 4th edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Morrison, J. (2006) International Business Environment: Global and Local Marketplaces in a Changing
World. Palgrave Macmillan.
Whitaker's Almanack 2010 (2009) 142nd Revised edition. A & C Black Publishers Ltd.
Journals
Harvard Business Review (Harvard Business Publishing)
The Economist (The Economist Newspaper Ltd)
The broadsheet newspapers have daily business sections. Many business stories will appear in the
news sections.
Websites
www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm - the governments portal
www.berr.gov.uk - has sections on business support, Europe, Business Law and regional
development as well as other materials
www.ac777.dial.pipex.com/bes/index.html - Online journal for British Economy
Survey
www.competition-commission.org.uk/ - Competition Commissions web site - regulates competition
between companies in the UK by conducting in-depth inquiries
www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/journals - is a directory of materials that can be used for teaching and
covers a broad spectrum of business and economics
www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/OfgemHome.aspx - is the web site of the Office of the
Gas and Electricity Markets. Each industry regulator has a similar site
www.bized.co.uk/ - Bized provides a selection of teaching and learning resources
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www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/ - the BBC web sites business section

http://europa.eu/index_en.htm - The website of the European Union
www.thetimes100.co.uk - includes a number of business and economics oriented case studies

Writing Guidelines

Ensure that all required learning outcomes and assessment criteria are covered in the
assignment.

Throughout the assignment you should underpin your response with appropriate unit
contents/theories.

Assignment should be comprehensively cited and referenced using academic sources of

information.

Sources should be included variety of academic resources such as: textbooks, websites,
journal articles etc.

Acknowledge all resources using accurate Harvard Referencing System.

Recommended word limit for each task should be followed. Cover page, table of contents
page, reference list, bibliography and appendices are not included to the stipulated word
counts.

Submit a word-processed report except otherwise specific instruction has been given such as
using PowerPoint slides in presentation.

Use Times New Roman/Arial font and font size 12.

Use 1.5 or 2.0 line spacing.

Pages should be numbered at the bottom.

All paragraphs should be aligned to the justified mode.

Finally, make sure you spell check and proof read your work before final submission to avoid
syntax, spelling and punctuation errors.

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