SM9677: Understanding Strategy

Assessment Guidance

Newcastle Business School,

Northumbria University, UK

17/12/2018 1
Objectives
• To provide you with an overview of the assessment brief.
Assessment
• You are required to produce a 3,000 word assignment that:

i. Clearly defines ‘strategy’, alongside its importance to organisations.

ii. Identifies and critically evaluates 2 strategic positioning tools.

iii. Analyses the strategic position or your own (or a chosen) organisation.

iv. Provides recommendations to improve the competitive advantage of your organisation.

Structuring your Assessment
• Part A*

STEP ONE STEP TWO STEP THREE

INTRODUCE AIMS & DEFINE, COMPARE AND DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF
OBJECTIVES OF YOUR CONSTRAST 3-4 STRATEGY FROM
ASSIGNMENT DEFINITIONS OF STRATEGY MUTIPLE PERSPECTIVES
100 Words 250 Words 250 Words

STEP FOUR STEP FIVE STEP SIX

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE IDENTIFY & EXPLAIN TWO EVALUATE USEFULNESS OF
BETWEEN INTERNAL AND STRATEGIC POSITIONING MODELS, DISCUSSING PROS
EXTERNAL ANALYSIS MODELS/THEORIES AND CONS OF THESE
250 Words 300 Words 300 Words (+ Tables)

*Structure and word count provided a rough guide only.

Structuring your Assessment
• Part B*

STEP ONE STEP TWO STEP THREE

INTRODUCE YOUR APPLY THE 2 PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHT THE
ORGANISATION IN THE DISCUSSED TOOLS TO YOUR FINDINGS FROM YOUR
CONTEXT OF STRATEGY ORGANISATION ANALYSIS
100 Words 50 Words 400 Words

STEP FOUR STEP FIVE STEP SIX

ANALYSE AND CRITICALLY RECOMMENDATIONS CONCLUDE THE KEY
EVALUATE THE FINDINGS TO IMPROVE FINDINGS FROM YOUR
FROM YOUR ANALYSIS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ASSIGNMENT
400 Words 350 Words (+ Table) 150 Words

*Structure and word count provided a rough guide only.

Key Dates

March May June

05 10 01
Module Start Submission Release of Marks
Marks released via Turnitin at
Access module materials from Submit via Turnitin at 2pm (UK
5pm (UK time) on 31st January
9am (UK Time) on 29 October time) on Thursday 20th
2019- inclusive of Christmas and
2018. December 2018.
New Year holidays in UK.