The summative assessment is compulsory. It is a set case study analysis, answering 4-5 questions about the case, by way of a comprehensively referenced, written 4000-word business report covering all learning outcomes. The student will be judged on:
• Their assessment, selection and application of environmental analysis models and tools to develop a situational analysis of an organisation.
• The criticality of their discussion and justification of considered strategic options and associated objectives in a business context.
• Their recommendation and justification of a high-level implementation plan and associated control mechanisms.
• Their ability to communicate complex ideas and information effectively to a management audience.
A pass must be achieved in the assessment in order to pass the module. This assessment will be marked out of 100 marks.
Instructions
You are a business advisor that is specialised in strategic positioning. You have been approached by JD Sports that was nominated in the ‘Business of the year’ category by the City AM Awards 2019. The company has been distinguished due to their financial performance and their aggressive expansion strategy through an “inventive, nimble business that can still thrive in the sector” (City Am, 2019). The company has hired you to produce a report that provides an outlook for the company’s
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strategic direction for the next 5 years. The company is particulary keen in keeping a health expansion strategy while maintaining it’s retail presence in the UK. This report should include the following sections: Section 1: Macro Environmental Analysis (30%)
a) Analyse the strategic positioning of the organisation. This must include an assessment of the mission statement and the long-term goals of the organistion.
b) Critically analyse the current macro environment for JD Sports, and interpret information in order to produce likely scenarios that present opportunities and challenges for the retail industry.
Section 2: Capability (30%)
c) Assess the internal capability of an organisation by using the McKinsey’s 7 S framework. d) Critically evaluate the strategic capabilities of JD Sports, utilising a TOWS matrix.
Section 3: Competitive Analysis & Strategic Options (40%)
e) Apply the Porter’s Five Forces model and evaluate the competitive positioning for JD Sports. f) Critically evaluate the current and potential strategic positioning for JD Sports by using
Ansoff’s matrix and Bowman’s strategic clock, and assess the company’s expansion effort domestically and internationally.
g) Present a strategic management plan, based on the above analysis, that produces a valid strategic direction, objectives and tactical actions for the next 5 years of the organisation in an international context.
Sources:
• JD Sports Corporate Website: https://www.jdplc.com, Accessed on 04.02.2020
• McKinsey and Company (2019), Retail Insight, Available on the https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights, Accessed on 04.02.2020
• Deloitte (2020), Retail Trends 2020, Available on the https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/retail-trends.html, Accessed on 04.02.2020
The report should contain the following elements:
h) Brief executive summary. (excluded from the word count) i) Glossary of terms and abbreviations: A glossary, also known as a vocabulary, is an
alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms. This ensures clarification and understanding of the terms used in the report. (excluded from the word count)
j) Introduction to the report and definition of strategy. k) Section 1 l) Section 2 m) Section 3 n) Conclude your report with any key findings and recommendations o) References in Harvard format and relevant appendices (both excluded from the word count)
(100 marks) The report covers all the Learning Outcomes
https://www.jdplc.com/
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/retail-trends.html
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of this module students will be able to:
1) Demonstrate a systematic understanding of core concepts of business strategy and the challenges and opportunities it brings to both organisations and their stakeholders.
2) Critically discuss central issues and problems affecting business strategy in complex organisational situations and recommend solutions.
3) Explain current and developing issues affecting international strategic planning. 4) Evaluate the future direction of the organisation and present strategic options in an
international context.
NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS: SUBMISSION AND FEEDBACK
Formative Feedback:
You have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on any assignment. Formative feedback is feedback on an assessment given to a student before final submission and marking. You may request and receive formative assignment feedback on one draft only from your module tutor in line with the formative feedback policy and provided it is greater than one week before the published submission date.
Extension/Late Penalty Information:
In the absence of a prior agreement by the Programme Leader for an extension of time, any work submitted after the deadline but within 48 hours, will be capped at a pass. Work submitted after 48 hours will be treated as an automatic refer.
Word Count Information:
• Word Count: The word count will include everything in the body of the text, such as quotations, citations, footnotes and subheadings. It does not include the assignment title, tables, images, bibliography, references, appendices or other supplementary material, which does not form an essential part of the text.
• ‘Footnotes’ encompasses additional explanatory text included at the bottom of a page to amplify specific sections of text in the main body of the work.
• ‘References’ indicates the systematic referencing of the sources used by the text author, according to the Harvard (or other) system employed by LGS.
• Penalties: There is an allowance of 10% deviation over the stated maximum word count. Keeping within the word limit is part of the marking criteria and an excessive word count beyond the allowed 10% over the limit will be taken into account in marking your work.
• Word Count Declaration: At the end of your assignment you must include the following declaration: “This work contains [ ] words”. There are penalties for giving a false word count.
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Assessment and Submission Notes:
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• Assessment Criteria and Grade Descriptors: These can be found on the VLE
• Individual E-submission: Some modules require only one assignment submission and some more than one. Where there is more than one assignment assessment for a module, that module will have separate submission boxes for each assignment. Whether there is one assignment submission or more than one assignment submission for a module, each individual assignment submission must be submitted into the correct submission box as a SINGLE PDF document. Guidance about e-submissions, including how to produce a single PDF document, is available in the Assessment section on the VLE pages for each module.
• You must put your student ID number (NOT your name) on each assignment and use the following naming convention when saving and submitting each assignment: student number_module code_assignment name. Your assessment may not be marked if you fail to comply with these instructions.
• Group E-submission: Please note that for group assignment submissions the requirements are the same as above, EXCEPT that groups must choose a member to submit, who submits one PDF document for the group using not their student number but the group name (Group 1, Group 2 etc) and following naming convention: group name _module code assessment name.
• Authenticity: You will be required to read and agree to an authenticity declaration prior to submitting your work. Your attention is drawn to the advice and guidelines regarding plagiarism available on the LGS website. Your work will be analysed by plagiarism detection software.
• Individual: All individual work submitted for assessment must be your own work. You are not permitted to work with anyone else on individual assessment tasks.
• Group: All group work submitted for assessment must be the group’s own work. Groups are not permitted to work with other groups or individuals on group assessment tasks.
• Referencing: Your work must be referenced using the Harvard system of referencing.