Dealing with External Pressures in Business Environment is perceived to have an immense significance for global organizations and global supply chains, and having a correct strategy in place for dealing with external business environments can be the difference between business success and failure with significant consequences for stakeholders in both cases.
In groups of 3 you are required to conduct a critical evaluation of strategic management principles using a maritime business of your choice. In your work you should discuss how the company of your choice has been responding to pressures from the external environment over the last 3-5 years. In your report critically discuss their chosen strategies, and based on the current market trends recommend areas for future improvement.
Please note, if you want to write about big oil majors such Shell and BP, you can write about their shipping divisions, and not the company as a whole. Those organizations are exceptionally big and will require a lot more than 3500 words to critically discuss their strategies. Similarly with Maersk Group which consists of 16 different companies. If you want to write about Maersk ñ then write about a specific company i.e. Maersk Line, or APM Terminals, etc., but NOT about the group as a whole. This principle applies to the whole sector ñ be specific about which company/group segment you are analyzing.
Southampton Solent University
Assessment Brief
Assessment Details
Unit Title: Strategic Management and Marketing
Unit Code: MAR151
Unit Leader: Giuseppe Saieva
Level: Level 6
Assessment Title: AE1 Dealing with external pressures
Assessment Number: 1
Assessment Type: Report
Restrictions on Time/Length : 3500 words +/- 10%
Individual/Group: Group (3 people per group)
Assessment Weighting: 30%
Issue Date: 11-Feb-19
Hand In Date: 11-Mar-19
Planned Feedback Date: within 20 working days of the submission date
(this does not apply to work submitted late)
Mode of Submission: Electronic upload online via Turnitin
Number of copies to be submitted: 1
Anonymous Marking This assessment will be exempt from anonymous marking as it falls within an exempt category under the
Universityís Anonymous Marking Policy.
Dealing with External Pressures in Business Environment Assessment Task
The business environment is perceived to have an immense significance for global
organizations and global supply chains, and having a correct strategy in place for dealing
with external business, environments can be the difference between business success and
failure with significant consequences for stakeholders in both cases.
In groups of 3, you are required to conduct a critical evaluation of strategic management
principles using a maritime business of your choice. In your work you should discuss how
the company of your choice has been responding to pressures from the external environment over the last 3-5 years. In your report critically discuss their chosen strategies, and based on the current market trends recommend areas for future improvement.
Please note, if you want to write about big oil majors such as Shell and BP, you can write
about their shipping divisions, and not the company as a whole. Those organizations are
exceptionally big and will require a lot more than 3500 words to critically discuss their
strategies. Similarly with Maersk Group which consists of 16 different companies. If you
want to write about Maersk ñ then write about a specific company i.e. Maersk Line or APM
Terminals, etc., but NOT about the group as a whole. This principle applies to the whole
sector ñ be specific about which company/group segment you are analyzing.
Please note: 1 submission per group is sufficient, as long as all 3 Names/ID numbers are
included in the assignment.
PLEASE NOTE:
You are NOT allowed to reference lecture slides in this assignment and instead should seek
original sources. Furthermore, your referencing must only be done using Harvard
Referencing System. Our library has a referencing guide.
Some points to consider:
You are encouraged to challenge the strategic management of these organizations but you
must support your ideas and discussion with supporting evidence.
To be able to do justice to this assignment you will have to read and research extensively.
You are strongly advised to take advantage of the wide-ranging electronic journals
available via our library to augment your literature search.
You must NOT simply provide a history, narrative or description of your organization. In
addition do NOT simply describe what has happened in the market.
You must demonstrate your ability to use the strategic models available to you and
provide a critical analysis of the organization and explain why senior management have
made their decisions. Use this to support your conclusions and recommendations.
All strategic models used within your research must be included in your appendices fully
completed. A simple SWOT analysis is not sufficient.
Students are strongly recommended to commence their research as early as possible.
Dealing with External Pressures in Business Environment Learning Outcomes
This assessment will enable students to demonstrate in full or in part the learning
outcomes identified in the unit descriptors.
Late Submissions
Students are reminded that:
- If this assessment is submitted late i.e. within 5 working days of the submission
deadline, the mark will be capped at 40% if a pass mark is achieved;
- If this assessment is submitted later than 5 working days after the submission
deadline, the work will be regarded as a non-submission and will be awarded a zero;
iii. If this assessment is being submitted as a referred piece of work (second or third
attempt) then it must be submitted by the deadline date; any Refer assessment
submitted late will be regarded as a non-submission and will be awarded a zero.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academic-handbook/section2/2o-assessment-policy-annex-1-assessment-regulations.pdf?t=1411116004479
Extenuating Circumstances
The Universityís Extenuating Circumstances procedure is in place if there are genuine
circumstances that may prevent a student from submitting an assessment. If students are not
‘fit to studyí, they can either request an extension to the submission deadline of 5 working
days or they can request to submit the assessment at the next opportunity (Defer). In
both instances students must submit an EC application with relevant evidence. If
accepted by the EC Panel there will be no academic penalty for late submission or nonsubmission
dependent on what is requested. Students are reminded that EC covers only
short term issues (20 working days) and that if they experience longer-term matters that
impact on learning then they must contact a Student Achievement Officer for advice.
A summary of guidance notes for students is given below:
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents/extenuating-circumstances/
extenuating circumstances.aspx
Academic Misconduct
Any submission must be studentsí own work and, where facts or ideas have been used
from other sources, these sources must be appropriately referenced. The Universityís
Academic Handbook includes the definitions of all practices that will be deemed to
constitute academic misconduct. Students should check this link before submitting their
work.
Procedures relating to student academic misconduct are given below:
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents/complaints-conduct/studentacademic-misconduct.aspx
Ethics Policy
The work being carried out by students must be in compliance with the Ethics Policy.
Where there is an ethical issue, as specified within the Ethics Policy, then students will
need an ethics release or an ethical approval prior to the start of the project.
The Ethics Policy is contained within Section 2S of the Academic Handbook:
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academic-handbook/section2/2s-university-ethics-policy.pdf
Anonymous Marking
A copy of the Universityís Policy on Anonymous Marking, process details and student
guidance on submission sheet completion can be found on the following links, which are
also uploaded on the Student Portal.
Fact Sheet: http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/policiesprocedures-guidelines/anonymous-marking-fact-sheet.pdf
Process: http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/policies-proceduresguidelines/anonymous-marking-process.pdf
Dealing with External Pressures in Business Environment Grade marking
The University uses a letter grade scale for the marking of assessments. Unless students
have been specifically informed otherwise their marked assignment will be awarded a
letter grade. More detailed information on grade marking and the grade scale can be
found on myCourse.
Policy: http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academichandbook/section-2/2o-assessment-policy.pdf
Fact sheet: http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academichandbook/section-4/4o-grade-marking-briefing-for-students.pdf
