Business Environment
Assessment Task Instruction
| Assessment title: | Group Report |
| Module Name: | The Business Environment |
| Module Code: | IY460 |
| Tutor’s Name: | |
| Assessment will be set in: | Cycle 2; Week 3. |
| Assessment is due in: | Cycle 4; Week 3. |
| Assessment weighting: | 60% |
Assessment Task Instructions:
| Core Task:
A. A group report (around 3000 words) B. A personal reflection (around 500 words) Group Report As part of your group project, you are required to produce a group report. The report is an extension of your proposed business idea. The group report requires your group to conduct a business environment analysis for your proposed business idea (which was submitted in your project proposal and presented as part of your group presentation. The report will require you conduct an analysis of; (a) the business’ micro-environment using the PORTER’S FIVE FORCES framework, and (b) the macro-environment using PEST analysis framework. The report is expected to consist of the following outline structure: Structure: Cover page Executive Summary Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction Section 2: Description of the business idea. Section 3: Analysis of the business micro-environment. Section 3.1: Analysis of Competitive Rivalry Section 3.2: Analysis of Bargaining Power of Suppliers Section 3.3: Analysis of Bargaining Power of Buyers Section 3.4: Analysis of Analysis of Threats of Entry Section 3.5: Analysis of Threats of Substitute Products Section 4: Analysis of the Macro environment. Section 4.1: Analysis of the Political Environment Section 4.2: Analysis of the Economic Environment Section 4.3: Analysis of the Social Environment Section 4.4: Analysis of the Technological Environment. Section 5: Report Conclusion References Personal reflection Your personal reflection, should specify – in detail – exactly which parts of the report you wrote (or and collaborated on). This is important as it will help to determine your individual mark for the assessment. In this reflective writing, you are required to compile some of the thinking that you have been through while carrying out writing your sections of the report. Through this reflection, you should be able to make sense of what you did in terms of the research made and the report writing and why you did it, as well as how and what could you do better next time. The responsible group member’s name should be given in brackets alongside the section or subsection heading. Please note that any section or subsection not assigned to a group member will not be assessed what will have the impact on the final mark for all. |
| Theory and/or task resources required for the assessment:
§ Exploring small businesses and entrepreneurship; market structure and international markets. § Market Theory – basic supply and demand analysis and the determination of price § Explore the basics of political, legal, social and technological environments and their relationship with business organisations. § Strategic planning – what is strategic planning and how does it fit into business development § How to use case studies of local, national and global businesses to support business planning. § Running a business- operating in the business environment and the influences of cultural differences, legal issues and funding. § Running a business – human resource management, identifying required skills in a business, employing and working with people. |
| Assessment reference style:
· You should refer 10 relevant sources for your report. · Minimum 4 sources should be printed texts. · Please refer to your module handbook for a list of useful resources. · You must include a Harvard style reference list at the end of your report. · A full bibliography is required. |
| Expected word count:
You are expected to write between around 3000 words (+/- 10%) and a further 500 words (+/- 10%), following the specific structure outlined above. The expected word count does not include the cover page, the executive summary, the table of contents and references. The approximate distribution of the word count is as follows. Section 1: 250 words Section 2: 500 words Section 3: 1000 words Section 4: 1000 words Section 5: 250 words Personal reflection: 500 words |
| The following learning outcomes are assessed in this task:
1. Evaluate the key features of the business environment and assess their potential impacts on business activities 2. Demonstrate the use of business analytical tools by assessing examples of internal and external business environments. 3. Demonstrate economic, business and management issues in relation to planning, decision-making and development of a business. 4. Discuss the application, and transfer, of a wide range of business/management skills to a specific business/management situation. 5. Recognise the challenges of organisation and management in small businesses, European organisations and global businesses. 6. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical constraints and cultural differences within both organisations and the business environment as a whole. 7. Reflect on different market structures and their impact on the decisions made by individual firms in terms of price determination and the effect on consumers. 8. Reflect on business experience, decision-making, personal development and overall learning gained during the module. |
Submission Requirements:
Assessment Mark:
| · The concept of the business environment introduced and its impact on business performance, strategy and sustainability made clear
· Clear and effective use of PORTER FIVE FORCES and the elements to analyse the micro-environment · Clear and effective use of the PEST frameworks and the elements to analyse the broader macro-environment · Influences from theory and impacts and consequences from decisions identified throughout, demonstrating how decisions and reasoning are grounded in knowledge and understanding. · Valid opportunities and strengths identified as well as challenges and limitations · Real-world examples and references are used to consolidate points throughout · Reflection on personal contribution clearly highlights and details what the candidate has done and is pleased with. This is a sufficient contribution and matches well with other IRs in the group. · Reflection of personal contribution highlights and details areas of limited success which match with the overall report. · Report is presented in an organised manner and is coherent; expression and tone are appropriately academic for the most part · In-text citations and references are accurate and formatted correctly |
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