Students will be
required to prepare a detailed Strategic Plan based on a case study topic. The
focus of questions will relate directly to learning outcomes a-e with a report
being submitted for assessmentAssessment 3 Individual Case Study 45% Students will be required to prepare a detailed Strategic Plan based on a case study topic. The focus of questions will relate directly to learning outcomes a-e with a report being submitted for assessment. (2,500-3000 words) Case study topic: Case study topic: CIC Higher Education Business You are required to write an analytical report to the Shareholder of your company via focusing on these three analytical items. 1- Propose one or two new strategic initiatives for organisation to implement. This initiative can be related to marketing, product development, innovation, and merger & acquisition or Alliance. Describe and explain why its strategic. (Weeks 6,7,8) In text citations/VRIO Analysis 2- Evaluate the suitability of your initiatives via referring to external/internal environment (Refer to SAF Model in Step-by-step instruction to assignment 3 To this purpose, you are required to read; (i) Step-by-step instruction to assignment 3 (ii) lecture slides (6,7,8,9) (iii) Education industry reports (iv) key indices by Australian Bureau of statistics, https://www-abs-gov-au.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/statistics/economy/key-indicators (v) some academic and internet-based readings. (vi) Regulations & Standards defined for Higher Education, (vii) Focus just on 3 competitors. · Kaplan Home - Kaplan Business School (kbs.edu.au) · Melbourne Institute of Technology Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Sydney Australia (mit.edu.au) · Holmes https://www.holmes.edu.au/ This task is designed to develop a set of academic skills relating to business report writing, including searching for, reading and critically analysing academic literature and other sources, developing an analytical response to a particular current challenge. The report is to be submitted to Moodle by 11.59pm Sunday Week 12. · Assessment 3 rubric Criteria HD D C P F Strategic capability identification (10 marks) VRIO analysis,In text citations must shows an excellent understanding of strategic capabilities by researching, organising and synthesising an extensive range of appropriate information sources. The purpose of the analysis and the conclusion of the analysis are clearly explained. shows a good understanding of strategic capabilities by using a range of appropriate information sources. The purpose of the analysis and the conclusion of the analysis are clearly and logically explained. Shows an understanding of strategic capabilities by using some limited relevant information. The purpose of the analysis and the conclusion are stated. shows a basic understanding of strategic capabilities, but is not neither appropriate, nor sufficient to support the analysis. The purpose and the conclusion of the analysis are not clearly stated. shows a poor understanding of strategic capabilities and is unable to use relevant information to identify the strategic capacities for the company. The purpose and the conclusion of the analysis are unclear. Proposing one new strategic initiative (10 Marks) Proposes a strategic initiative that shows full understanding of the company’s strategic context. It considers contextual factors as well as all of the ethical, logical, and cultural dimensions of the problem. Justification of the proposed strategic initiative is complete. Proposes a strategic initiative that shows clear understanding of the company’s strategic context. It considers some contextual factors as well as some of the ethical, logical, and cultural dimensions of the problem. Justification of the proposed strategic initiative is approximately complete. Proposes one generic strategic initiative that is rather than one that is individually designed to address the specific contextual factors of the problem. Justification of the proposed initiative is superficial. Proposes an initiative that is difficult to evaluate because it is vague or only indirectly addresses the problem statement. Justification of the proposed initiative is superficial and incomplete. Proposes a partial initiative that is inappropriate for the problem or context. Justification of the initiative is poorly done. Evaluation of the suitability of the strategic initiative (10 Marks) Justify comprehensively and logically the suitability of the strategic initiative proposed based on the organisation’s strategic context, particularly the environment and its strategic capabilities. Justify well and logically the suitability of the strategic initiative proposed based on the organisation’s strategic context. Justify reasonably well the suitability of the strategic initiative proposed based on the organisation’s strategic context, but may miss some key contextual issues. Justify the suitability of the strategic initiative proposed based on the organisation’s strategic context, but miss some important contextual issues. Failed to justify the suitability of the strategic initiative proposed without considering its environmental opportunities and threat, and how to leverage the organisation's strategic capabilities. Development of a strategy implementation plan (10 marks) Implementation plan addresses rigorously the relevant contextual factors regarding the contents of change and the process of change proposed. Implementation plan addresses clearly the relevant contextual factors regarding the contents of change and the process of change proposed but missed some subtle points. Implementation plan addresses the strategic problem faced by the organiation but ignores some of the relevant contextual factors, and/or uses only partial analytical techniques of change implementation. Implementation plan addresses the problem but only in a basic manner, and partially uses analytical techniques for the strategy implementation. Fails to describe how to implement the strategic initiative in a manner that directly addresses the problem faced by organisation Mechanic & Documentation (5 mark) No spelling &/or grammar, punctuation mistakes. Cites all data obtained from other sources. Harvard citation style is used in both text and References. Minimal spelling &/or grammar, punctuation mistakes. Cites most data obtained from other sources. Harvard citation style is used in both text and References Some errors in spelling &/or grammar, punctuation, citations, and references. Noticeable spelling & grammar, punctuation mistakes Cites some data obtained from other sources. Citation style is either inconsistent or incorrect. Unacceptable number of spelling and/or grammar, punctuation mistakes. Does not cite sources 10 slides / 5mins speech/ Harvard reference and in text citations must Assessment – 3 Individual Presentation 15% 15% Oral presentation (5 minutes per student) The overall scenario of this assessment is that you are t to convince board members that your strategy should be adopted The rationale behind this task is to support and encourage students in developing their soft skills and to assist students to synthesise academic material from classes and readings and apply it to a real workplace setting. Your ORAL PRESENTATION must: · Deliver a co-ordinated brief (5 minutes per student) · Include an overview of your recommended situation/props relating to the topic. · Demonstrate creativity and innovation in presenting information. · Engage your colleagues – representing the creative team – with positive verbal and non-verbal cues. Criteria HD D C P F Presentation (10 Marks) Presentation was very clear and informative - Key points are very well presented, summarised and include next actions. - Teamwork is clearly evident The student- was persuasive, enthusiastic and informative - used key points, no notes - skilfully managed audience questions High engagement with the audience was evident from interactions. Presentation was clear and informative - Key points are well presented, summarised and include some next actions. - Student work is evident. Most members - were persuasive, enthusiastic and informative - used key points, no notes - Capably managed audience questions Good attempt to build rapport and to engage with the audience Presentation was reasonably clear and informative - Most key points are clearly presented, summarised and include a few next actions. - Student work is reasonably evident. Members - were somewhat persuasive, enthusiastic and informative - used key points, occasional referral to notes - adequately managed audience questions Fair attempt to build rapport and to engage with the audience Presentation was adequate and somewhat informative - Key points are presented but need more detail. Limited information of further action included - Student work is evident but not cohesive. Some members - were adequately persuasive, enthusiastic and informative - used key points, some referral to notes - Satisfactorily managed audience questions Some engagement and some rapport with the audience Presentation was inadequate and/or somewhat confusing - Key points are presented but need more detail and/or unclear. No information of further action included - Student work is not evident. Overall members - Did not persuade, were unenthusiastic and poorly informed - did not use key points, reading from notes - unwilling or unable to manage audience questions Little to no engagement with the audience Creativity & Innovation (5 Marks) Includes a variety of graphics, text, and animation that exhibits a sense of wholeness. Design is comprehensively engaging and creative. It shows many graphics & images Design is reasonably engaging and creative. It has some graphic works Occasionally uses graphics/no graphics that rarely support text and presentation Either confusing or cluttered, barren or stark 1. Propose one new strategic initiative for organisation to implement. This initiative can be related to marketing, product development, innovation, and merger & acquisition. Describe and explain why its strategic. First, discuss on Ansoff’s matrix Second, see which strategy is good potentially for CIC? Market penetration (going through promotions and marketing activities)? New product/service categories? Diversification (diversifying to new related or unrelated products)? going to new market with existing product (new country)? If you are proposing market development, you need to discuss how? By Acquisitions (buy)? By Alliances (ally)? And finally why is this strategic? You must propose and justify. (Read weeks 6 &7,8) For example: Motives for alliance: All needs to be discussed if applicable! Motives for merger & acquisition: All needs to be discussed if applicable! 2. Evaluate the suitability of your initiative via referring to external/internal environment First, discuss on SAF model; you must write answers to all questions in your report , you don’t need to draw this table just discuss answers Second, you need to assess the suitability of each of the initiatives by three variables; (i) Opportunities and threats in external environment (PESTEL), (ii) Opportunities and threats in the industry environment (Porter’s five forces), and (iii) VRIO. For example, you have proposed two strategic initiatives; first is going to Country A’s market and second is partnership with a local related brand to produce a different product with your own brand. Below is an example of SWOT factors just for one initiative! All needs to be discussed! Swot analysis table, suitability ranking table must be added to your report, do not copy from example. Do your own analysis and research Opportunities/Strengths Threats/Weaknesses PESTEL analysis Example: OP1: Progressive Agreement for Partnership (CPTPP) allows for free trade between 11 countries including Australia and Country A (political) Example: OP2: Increasing education and awareness globally (social) T1: ? T2: ? Porter’s Five Force analysis OP3: ? OP4: ? T3: ? T4: ? Strategic capability analysis (VRIO) S1: ? S2: ? W1: ? W2: ?. Third, you need to go through suitability ranking for both initiative. For example; Strategic options/initiatives PESTEL analysis 5 force analysis Strategic capabilities Opportunities Threats (avoid) Opportunities Threats (avoid) Strengths Weaknesses OP1 Op2 T1 T2 OP3 OP4 T3 T4 S1 S2 W1 W2 W2 Strategic option 1 / Initiative 1 (8-3) √ √ χ √ √ √ χ ? √ √ Χ √ ? Strategic option 2 / Initiative 2 (6-5) χ √ χ χ √ √