Implementing Strategies-Individual Reflective – Report
Task:
1. Write a report analysing International strategy, particularly Porter’s Diamond.
2. Explore and evaluate international entry strategies i.e., Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances.
3. Reflecting on what you have done in assignment 1 and 2, apply these strategies in practice to the organisation you selected.
4. Recommend the best strategy for this organisation, reflect about what you did in assignments 1&2 in your consideration.
Guidance:
• Word count: ±1 350 words (Excluding references and Appendices)
• Your report should include a cover title page
• Use MS Word
• Font Size: 12pt
• Font: Arial
• Insert page numbers at the bottom of your pages
• You have to submit your Assignment via Turnitin. If you are unfamiliar with this tool please refer to the orientation module.
Report Writing Guide:
This is a report, with the following layout
Title page
• This should normally include the title, your name and the name of the tutor to whom it is being submitted, date of submission, your course/department, and if applicable, the name of the person and/or organisation who has commissioned the report. Avoid “fancy” fonts and effects and do not include any clipart.
Content’s page
• A clear, well-formatted list of all the sections and sub-sections of the report. Do not forget to put the page numbers. If applicable, there should be a separate list of tables, figures, illustrations and/or appendices after the main index. Make sure that the headings in this list correspond exactly with those in your main body. It is best to do your list of contents right at the end.
Introduction
• This should show that you have fully understood the task/brief and that you are going to cover everything required. Indicate the basic structure of the report. You should include just a little background/context and indicate the reasons for writing the report. This where you set the scene, introduce what you are going to be covering…
Main Analysis
• This is the substance of your report, with headings and sub-headings used to clearly indicate the different sections (unlike an essay).
A “situation>problem>solution>evaluation” approach may be appropriate. It is not sufficient to simply describe a situation. We will be looking for analysis and for a critical approach, application of implementing strategies theory, when appropriate, charts, diagrams, tables, and appropriate Harvard referencing must be used to reinforce your arguments, although sometimes it may be better to include these as an appendix. Do not include opinions, conclusions, or recommendations in this section.
Conclusion
• Your conclusion should draw out the implications of your findings, with deductions based on the facts described in your main body. Do not include any new material here.
Recommendation/ New strategy implementation
• These should follow on logically from your conclusion and be specific, measurable, and achievable. You should propose how the situation/problem could be improved by suggesting action to be taken or new implementation plan. A statement of cost should be included if you are recommending changes that have financial implications. Recommendations can be numbered if you wish.
Bibliography/Reference list
• This is a list giving the full details of all the sources to which you have referred within your text. The recommended style is the Harvard method.
Appendices
• An appendix (plural=appendices) is detailed documentation of points you outline in your findings, for example, technical data, questionnaires, letters sent, tables, sketches, charts, leaflets etc. It is supplementary information which you consider to be too long or complicated or not quite relevant enough to include in your main body, but which still should be of interest to your reader. Each appendix should be referred to in your text. You should not include something as an appendix if it is not discussed in the main body.
Grading:
Assignment 3 will contribute 45% towards your final mark. A rubric for assignment 3 can be found at the end of this document. You can expect feedback within 3 weeks from the due date of submission. You need at least 40% to pass this assignment
Description
The wordcount is 1200 words with a maximum 10% over the limit.
The question is split into 4 parts – make sure that each part is covered. Each part should be given roughly equal weight.
Read the guidelines on how to write a report (link on the question page)
The first two parts talk about analysing and evaluation – this means you need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the models, whether there are criticisms of them, whether they have limitations in terms of sectors/industries, etc – don’t just simply describe what the model is.
The focus is on international strategy so your case study organisation must be one that is or could operate internationally.
Bringing in your learning from assignments 1 and 2 doesn’t mean repeating what you did in that – but basing your conclusions/recommendations on issues you may have discussed in those assignments. See also point 7 below.
If you need to refer back to your first two assignments don’t waste your word count by repeating lots of what you have said previously. Cite your previous assignments as a reference – see example below:
“It has previously been identified using a PESTLE analysis (Jones, 2021a) that the economic impacts of Brexit will affect XYZ’s international expansion plans. It was also concluded (Jones 2021b) that the use of the VRIO model would be useful in assessing future approaches…”
In your reference list you would cite these as:
Jones, S., (2021a), MBA, Implementing Strategies, Assignment 1: The External Context of XYZ Ltd, Submitted to Glyndwr University.
Jones, S., (2021b), MBA, Implementing Strategies, Assignment 2: A review of theoretical approaches to strategy development, Submitted to Glyndwr University.
Harvard referencing is required at this level and counts for 1/6 of your mark. Quite a few of you are throwing away marks unnecessarily by not using Harvard correctly.
If you are still unsure how to do it, review the guide here (Links to an external site.). Remember that you can reference automatically in Word (see my previous announcement)
