Diploma In Management Level 7 Strategic

Strategic Analysis Report

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcome One

Evaluate strategic planning and management concepts and their value to organisations

Key Elements

a) Vision and mission statements

b) Twenty first century landscape?

c) PESTEL

d) Corporate diversification strategy

e) Hostile takeover

f) International strategy

g) Engaging change

Learning Outcome Two

Apply and demonstrate understanding of (within a simulated business environment) techniques and tools used in strategic planning including analysis, choices and implementation

Key Elements

a) Internal environment

b) External Environment

c) SWOT analysis

d) PESTEL Analysis

Learning Outcome Three

Identify strategic options and produce a strategic plan for an organisation Key Elements

a) Present situation and strategic option

b) Environmental analysis including SWOT and PESTEL

c) Feasibility: costs , benefits, risks

d) Necessary actions

e) Resources

f) Critical outcomes

g) Time scales and outcomes

h) Contingency planning

Scenario:

You have been employed as an assistant manager for KiwiRail. Your role is to assist management with a strategic analysis, to develop strategic options and produce a strategic plan. You are required to write a report which they can use as the basis for strategic decision making. It must be appropriately referenced and presented in an appropriate format.

Whilst this assignment is an individual assessment, the research can be done in groups (of maximum two students) or in discussion with others. However, each student must present an assignment which is an individual piece of work. The assignment is based on KiwiRail and all the questions should be based on information relating to it.

PART ONE : ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Research, analyse and report on the Internal and External Environment for KiwiRail, using appropriate situational analysis tools.

Use a PESTEL analysis tool for the external factors

Use a SWOT analysis tool for both internal and external factors

The factors from the PESTEL analysis can be used as the basis for opportunities and threats, however they should be applied specifically to KiwiRail
Each component of the analysis should be described in detail, referenced (to an appropriate business or academic source) and evaluated for the strategic impact it has or will have on the organisation

As a guide, an average of three factors for each component of the analysis should be identified

Each factor will likely require 150 words to fully evaluate

PART TWO : STRATEGIC OPTIONS

Summarise the present situation faced by KiwiRail (on the basis of your situational analysis)

The summary should describe the most important factors in the environment faced by KiwiRail

The full summary will likely require at least 250 words

Present three (3) strategic options KiwiRail could consider pursuing in relation to the present environmental situation. Each strategic option can be summarised and bullet pointed, but must clearly summarise: the action the options feasibility (costs, benefits, risks) necessary actions of the organisation resources required critical outcomes time scales and outcomes contingency plans

Each strategic option will likely require 500-1,000 words; however the focus should be on the quality and the strategic nature of the option, not the word count

Using an appropriate decision making methodology select which of your options is the most appropriate. Justify your answer.

The selection and justification should identify how the option selected contributes to the strategic future of the organisation and discuss how the option works in terms of the environmental situation

The selection and justification will likely require 500 words, however the focus should be on the relevance and the strategic nature of the selection, not the word count

PART THREE : CRITICAL EVALUATION

Referring specifically to KiwiRail, critically evaluate the following planning and management concepts and their value to the organisation:

Vision and mission statements

State whether they exist for this organisation

Describe how are they used within the organisation

Discuss whether they are valuable for KiwiRail

Justify your answer

The contemporary (21st century) business landscape

Discuss whether this organisation reflects the contemporary business landscape

Justify your answer

International strategy

Discuss what international potential KiwiRail has

Describe the international trends that affect KiwiRail

Discuss whether KiwiRail is aware of and managing these trends

Justify your answer

Change engagement

Explain how KiwiRail engages

Describe the systems and structures in place for managing change

Each evaluation is likely to require approximately 500 words