Assignment Brief Academic Year 2023-24

Module code BM633 Strategic Agility Module leader: Michael Taylor

and title:

Assignment Coursework 1: Individual Assessment 100%

No. and type: Management Report, 2,000- weighting:
word, +/-10%.

Submission 14th January 2024 before 2 pm. Target feedback 3 weeks after submission
time and date: time and date: deadline.

Assignment task

This 2,000-word assignment tests your ability to apply business models to analyse a firm’s competitive
position, evaluate contemporary macroenvironmental challenges, formulate and critically assess strategic
options and make business decisions.
The following tasks are based on CarShop UK, a Small/Medium Sized Enterprise (SME), within 10-
mile radius maximum from our campuses, that operates in the car dealership sector. Please refer to
the file ‘CarShop UK - Additional Notes for CW1’ on LSST Connect.
 Using appropriate data collection methodologies suitable for the task, you are to critically analyse
the chosen business current SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) and identify the firm’s strategic
capabilities, along with any strengths and weakness.
 Using appropriate data collection methodologies suitable for the task, provide a competitor
overview for the firm and a macroenvironmental analysis. For this ensure you make it clear, what
the factors are and what impact this may have for the firm.
 Formulate two potential strategies that will enable the firm to achieve more responsible business in
line with their SDGs and which considers the present and future challenges. Ensure this is
presented as two detailed strategic plans so should include specific information, rationale, costs,
and predicted revenue.
 Critically evaluate the two potential strategies to make one preferred strategic recommendation to
the business of the best strategy they should adopt to succeed as a sustainable and responsible
business.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your
achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO1: Analyse the external environment of an organisation and justify critical opportunities and threats
appropriate to that organisation;

Internal approval: Name, Date

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LO2: Analyse the strategic capability of an organisation and justify critical strengths and weaknesses linked
to competitive advantage;

LO3: Develop suitable strategic choices for an organisation;

LO4: Evaluate strategic choices for an organisation, referring to previous analysis in 1 and 2 above;

LO5: Recommend and justify an appropriate strategic choice for an organisation.

Practicalities: Referencing, presenting and submitting your work

Please see your programme handbook for information on the standard referencing style, presentational
requirements and process for submitting your work.
Please reference your work using the Harvard style as defined in Cite Them Right Online
(http://www.citethemrightonline.com).
 Pages should be numbered.
 All work to be submitted as Arial 11 font with single line spacing.
 All writing should be in the third person passive.
 Written work must be word-processed.
 The module title and code number must be clearly marked on the front cover.
 Work you submit for assessment must be properly referenced – a guide to the Harvard system of
referencing can be found on the Bucks website at bucks.ac.uk/referencing.
 You may seek clarification from the module tutor at any time.
 There is no excuse for failing to submit your work in accordance with the guidance, work that does
not meet the necessary standards in that respect will be marked accordingly.
 No collaboration is allowed.
 Front cover, executive summary, contents page, reference pages and appendices are NOT included
in either the page count or the word count that have been allocated. Words used in tables, charts,
diagrams are also NOT included in the word count.
 Note we do not expect to see any Wikipedia, Investopedia, Business Balls, Slide Share, and
Essays4U, Term Papers or other spurious non-academic non-reputable sources within your work or
in the reference list.
 There is a maximum of 4 pages allocated to appendices should you need them which do not form
part of the total page count of 16 pages.
 You are required to submit your work electronically. Please use the relevant submission point in the
Upload My Assignment area on LSST Connect before the time and date specified.
 Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format. Turnitin will only accept
the following file types: Microsoft Word and PDF. Your file must also contain at least 20 words of
text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in size.
 You can submit your file as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit
your file more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

Once you have submitted your file, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be
sent to your LSST e-mail address. Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original
electronic copy of the file.

Confidentiality

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You are expected to take responsibility for maintaining and managing confidentiality issues in your work.
You should maintain and respect confidentiality in relation to the protection of personal, technical and/or
commercial information of a sensitive nature in your assessed work, whatever the format.
For further information and guidance, please see the relevant section in your programme handbook.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity means taking responsibility for your own work.

When you submit an assignment, you are making a declaration that it is your own work and that you have
acknowledged the contribution of others and their ideas in its development (for example, by referencing
them appropriately).
For further information and guidance, please see the University website: https://www.bnu.ac.uk/current-
students/registry-helpdesk-and-academic-advice/academic-integrity-and-misconduct

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
Criterion 1 The work The work The work The work The work The work The work
demonstrates a demonstrates demonstrates a basic demonstrates a demonstrates a demonstrates a highly demonstrates an
Knowledge and understanding limited and/or insufficient yet systematic sound breadth and sophisticated and accomplished exceptional
substantially understanding of key understanding of key depth of systematic critical systematic systematic systematic
25% inaccurate or no aspects of the aspects of the understanding of key understanding of key understanding of key understanding of key
understanding of key subject, including subject, including aspects of the aspects of the aspects of the subject aspects of the
(Key indicators for Knowledge and aspects of the some coherent and some coherent and subject, including subject, including beyond what has subject, including
understanding) subject, with few if detailed knowledge, detailed knowledge, some coherent and coherent and detailed been taught, including coherent and detailed
any examples of little of which is at, or at least some of detailed knowledge, knowledge, much of coherent and detailed knowledge well
• Depth of knowledge and coherent and detailed informed by, the which is at, or some of which is at, which is at, or knowledge, most of beyond what has
understanding knowledge, which is forefront of defined informed by, the or informed by, the informed by, the which is at, or been taught, all of
unlikely to be at, or aspects of the forefront of defined forefront of defined forefront of defined informed by, the which is at, or
• Engagement with subject-specific informed by, the discipline e.g., recent aspects of the aspects of the aspects of the forefront of defined informed by, the
theories, paradigms, concepts, and forefront of defined research, latest discipline e.g., recent discipline e.g., recent discipline e.g., recent aspects of the forefront of defined
principles aspects of the techniques. research, latest research, latest research, latest discipline e.g., recent aspects of the
discipline e.g., recent techniques. techniques. techniques. research, latest discipline e.g., recent
• Background investigation, analysis, research, latest techniques. research, latest
research, enquiry and/or study. techniques. techniques.

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

Criterion 2 The work The work The work The work The work The work The work
demonstrates a demonstrates an demonstrates a demonstrates a demonstrates a demonstrates a highly demonstrates a highly
Analysis and criticality limited or no ability to insufficient ability to sufficient ability to sound ability to work sophisticated ability to accomplished ability accomplished ability
work independently work independently, work independently, independently, work independently, to work to work
and deploy relevant deploying accurately deploying accurately deploying accurately deploying accurately independently, independently,
25% techniques of established established established established deploying accurately deploying accurately
analysis and enquiry techniques of techniques of techniques of techniques of established established
(Key indicators for analysis and accurately; analysis and enquiry analysis and enquiry analysis and enquiry analysis and enquiry techniques of techniques of
criticality) within the discipline; within the discipline; within the discipline; within the discipline. analysis and enquiry analysis and enquiry
The work shows within the discipline; within the discipline;
• Logic and argument insufficient knowledge The work shows The work shows The work shows good The work shows very
of the subject areas; limited knowledge of satisfactory knowledge of the good knowledge of The work shows The work shows
• Use and range of independently strategy, the subject areas; knowledge of the subject areas; the subject areas; excellent knowledge outstanding
selected sources leadership, strategy, subject areas; strategy, strategy, of the subject areas; knowledge of the
management, firm leadership, strategy, leadership, leadership, strategy, leadership, subject areas;
• Analysis and synthesis performance, management, firm leadership, management, firm management, firm management, firm strategy, leadership,
performance metrics, performance, management, firm performance, performance, performance, management, firm
fiduciary duty, ethics, performance metrics, performance, performance metrics, performance metrics, performance metrics, performance,
• Organisation and communication investor relations and fiduciary duty, ethics, performance metrics, fiduciary duty, ethics, fiduciary duty, ethics, fiduciary duty, ethics, performance metrics,
of ideas and evidence stakeholder analysis, investor relations and fiduciary duty, ethics, investor relations and investor relations and investor relations and fiduciary duty, ethics,
with which to stakeholder analysis, investor relations and stakeholder analysis, stakeholder analysis, stakeholder analysis, investor relations and
formulate a coherent with which to stakeholder analysis, with which to with which to with which to stakeholder analysis,
and logical argument. formulate a coherent with which to formulate a coherent formulate a coherent formulate a strong, with which to
and logical argument. formulate a coherent and logical argument. and logical argument. coherent and logical formulate an
The range, age and and logical argument. argument. exceptionally strong,
validity of secondary The range, age and The range, age and The range, age and coherent and logical
research sources & validity of secondary The range, age and validity of secondary validity of secondary The range, age and argument.
literature is research sources & validity of secondary research sources & research sources & validity of secondary
inappropriate. literature is mostly research sources & literature is good. literature is very research sources & The range, age and
inappropriate. literature is good. The use of literature is excellent. validity of secondary
Analysis of the case satisfactory. Analysis of the case wider and less The use of wider and research sources &
study and synthesis Analysis of the case study and synthesis obvious sources less obvious sources literature is
of relevant academic study and synthesis Analysis of the case of relevant academic enhances the work. enhances the work outstanding. The use
theory is absent. of relevant academic study and synthesis theory is good. and demonstrates of wider and less
theory is absent. of relevant academic Analysis of the case originality in their obvious sources
theory is satisfactory study and synthesis thinking and work. enhances the work
The communication The communication and demonstrates
and organisation of The communication but lacks depth and and organisation of of relevant academic
breadth. theory is very good, Analysis of the case originality in their
the work lacks flow and organisation of the work is good, with thinking and work.
and coherency. the work is weak and the flow and with excellent study and synthesis
lacks flow and The communication coherency of the integration within the of relevant academic
coherency. and organisation of argument and theory is excellent, Analysis of the case
evidence used. with excellent study and synthesis

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
the work is argument clear to the integration within the of relevant academic
satisfactory and reader. The communication argument and theory is outstanding,
struggles for flow and and organisation of evidence used. with exceptional
coherency. the work is very good, integration within the
with the flow and The communication argument and
coherency of the and organisation of evidence used.
argument clear to the the work is excellent,
reader. with the flow and The communication
coherency of the and organisation of
argument clear to the the work is
reader and presents outstanding, with the
original conceptual flow and coherency of
thinking. the argument clear to
the reader and
presents original
conceptual thinking.

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

Criterion 3 Work demonstrates a Work demonstrates Work demonstrates a Work demonstrates Work demonstrates Work demonstrates Work demonstrates
limited or no ability to an insufficient ability sufficient ability to an ability to select an ability to select an ability to select an ability to select
Application and practice select and apply to select and apply select and apply and apply in a and apply in a and apply in a highly and apply in a highly
appropriate, appropriate, discipline appropriate, discipline consistent and capable and effective accomplished manner accomplished and
25% discipline-specific specific methods and specific methods and informed manner manner appropriate, appropriate, discipline innovative manner
methods and techniques to develop techniques to develop appropriate, discipline discipline specific specific methods and appropriate, discipline
(Key indicators for application and techniques to develop and apply knowledge and apply knowledge specific methods and methods and techniques to develop specific methods and
practice) and apply knowledge and understanding and understanding techniques to develop techniques to develop and apply knowledge techniques to develop
and understanding and to initiate, and in and to initiate, and in and apply knowledge and apply knowledge and understanding and apply knowledge
• Development and/or application and to initiate, and in turn: turn: and understanding and understanding and to initiate, and in and understanding
discipline-specific specialist skills turn: and to initiate, and in and to initiate, and in turn: and to initiate, and in
turn: turn: turn:
• Accuracy, coordination, and The development and The development and
proficiency in completion of practical The development and The development and
application of application of application of The development and The development and application of The development and
tasks/processes secondary research application of application of secondary research application of
secondary research secondary research
skills, analysis, skills, analysis, skills, analysis, secondary research secondary research skills, analysis, secondary research
evaluation and evaluation and evaluation and skills, analysis, skills, analysis, evaluation and skills, analysis,
synthesis of data and synthesis of data and synthesis of data and evaluation and evaluation and synthesis of data and evaluation and
information is not information is weak information is synthesis of data and synthesis of data and information is synthesis of data and
evident within the within the work. acceptable within the information is good. information is very excellent. information is
work. work. good. outstanding.

The ability to draw The ability to draw The ability to draw

The ability to draw conclusions for the The ability to draw conclusions for the The ability to draw conclusions for the The ability to draw
conclusions for the reader is clearly conclusions for the reader is evident and conclusions for the reader is evident and conclusions for the
reader is clearly missing and/or reader is evident but what is presented is reader is evident and what is presented is reader is evident and
missing and/or inappropriate for the this is acceptable and to a good standard what is presented is to an excellent what is presented is
inappropriate for the standard required as mostly appropriate for and appropriate for to a very good standard and to an outstanding
standard required as a manager. the standard required the standard required standard and appropriate for the standard and
a manager. as a manager. as a manager. appropriate for the standard required as appropriate for the
standard required as a middle manager. standard required as
The ability to read a manager. a senior manager.
The ability to read and follow The ability to read The ability to read
and follow instructions is clearly and follow and follow The ability to read
instructions is clearly absent with no instructions is instructions is good The ability to read and follow The ability to read
absent with no evidence of acceptable with some with some evidence and follow instructions is and follow
evidence of conceptual evidence of of conceptual instructions is very excellent with clear instructions is
conceptual awareness of the conceptual awareness of the good with clear evidence of outstanding with clear
awareness of the wider business awareness of the wider business evidence of conceptual evidence of
wider business contexts involved that wider business contexts involved that conceptual awareness of the conceptual
contexts involved that could be researched contexts involved that could be researched awareness of the wider business awareness of the
could be researched and/or integrated into could be researched and/or integrated into wider business contexts involved that wider business
and/or integrated into the work. the work. contexts involved that could be researched contexts involved that
the work. could be researched could be researched

7
Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
and/or integrated into and/or integrated into and/or integrated into and integrated into
The work fails to The work fails to the work. The work meets all the work. the work. the work.
address all the address all the the required elements
required elements set required elements set The work mostly set out in the briefing. The work meets all The work meets all The work meets all
out in the briefing. out in the briefing. addresses the the required elements the required elements the required elements
required elements set set out in the briefing. set out in the briefing. set out in the briefing.
out in the briefing.

8
Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
Criterion 4 Work demonstrates Work demonstrates Work demonstrates a Work demonstrates a Work demonstrates a Work demonstrates a Work demonstrates
limited or no ability to: insufficient ability to: sufficient ability to: consistent and highly proficient ability highly accomplished an exceptional ability
Transferable skills confident ability to: to: ability to: to:
-communicate -communicate -communicate
15% information, ideas, information, ideas, information, ideas, -communicate -communicate -communicate -communicate
problems and problems and problems and information, ideas, information, ideas, information, ideas, information, ideas,
(Key indicators for transferable skills) solutions accurately solutions accurately solutions accurately problems and problems and problems and problems and
and reliably utilising and reliably utilising and reliably utilising solutions accurately solutions accurately solutions accurately solutions accurately
• Written, verbal and electronic relevant numeracy, relevant numeracy, relevant numeracy, and reliably utilising and reliably utilising and reliably utilising and reliably utilising
communication digital literacy, oral digital literacy, oral digital literacy, oral relevant numeracy, relevant numeracy, relevant numeracy, relevant numeracy,
• Numeracy and digital literacy and written and written and written digital literacy, oral digital literacy, oral digital literacy, oral digital literacy, oral
• Personal motivation, organisation, communication skills communication skills communication skills and written and written and written and written
and time-management in a manner fit for in a manner fit for in a manner fit for communication skills communication skills communication skills communication skills
purpose. purpose. purpose. in a manner fit for in a manner fit for in a manner fit for in a manner fit for
purpose. purpose. purpose. purpose.
- an ability to manage -an ability to manage -an ability to manage
their learning and their learning and their learning and -an ability to manage -an ability to manage -an ability to manage -an ability to manage
work with minimal or work with minimal or work with minimal or their learning and their learning and their learning and their learning and
no supervision. no supervision. no supervision. work with minimal or work with minimal or work with minimal or work with minimal or
-use initiative to take -use initiative to take no supervision. no supervision. no supervision. no supervision.
responsibility for responsibility for -use initiative to take -use initiative to take
determining and determining and responsibility for -use initiative to take -use initiative to take -use initiative to take responsibility for
achieving personal achieving personal determining and responsibility for responsibility for responsibility for determining and
outcomes and/or outcomes and/or achieving personal determining and determining and determining and achieving personal
outputs. outputs. outcomes and/or achieving personal achieving personal achieving personal outcomes and/or
outputs. outcomes and/or outcomes and/or outcomes and/or outputs.
outputs outputs. outputs.
- consideration of
sustainability
(environmental,
economic, and
personal) and social
and ethical matters in
their work/solutions.

9
Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2023-24

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
Assignment Parameters An unacceptable A below standard A satisfactory range Good range of Very good range of Excellent range of Outstanding range of
range of academic, range of academic, of academic, academic, academic, academic, academic,
professional and peer professional and peer professional and peer professional and peer professional and peer professional and peer professional and peer
10% reviewed sources reviewed sources reviewed sources reviewed sources reviewed sources reviewed sources reviewed sources
applied within the applied within the applied within the applied within the applied within the applied within the applied within the
This should include evidence of: work. work. work. work. work. work. work.
 Harvard referencing. Incorrect Harvard Incorrect Harvard Harvard referencing Noticeable issues Correct Harvard Correct Harvard Correct Harvard
 Use of English. referencing in text referencing in text in text and in with the Harvard referencing in text referencing in text referencing in text
 Spelling, punctuation and and in reference list and in reference list reference list pages. referencing in text and in reference list and in reference list and in reference list
grammar. pages. pages. Significant spelling, and in reference list pages. pages. pages.
 Presentation of work Major spelling, Major spelling, grammar or pages. Minor spelling, Very minor spelling, No spelling, grammar
 Unsuitable/non-academic grammar or grammar or punctuation errors. Noticeable spelling, grammar or grammar or or punctuation errors.
sources used. punctuation errors. punctuation errors. Presentation of work grammar or punctuation errors. punctuation errors. Presentation of work
Presentation of work Presentation of work is satisfactory but not punctuation errors. Presentation of work Presentation of work is outstanding and
is unacceptable and is below the standard suitable for being Presentation of work is very good and is excellent and capable of being
incapable of being required and presented to a board is good and capable capable of being capable of being presented to a board
presented to a board incapable of being of directors. Work is of being presented to presented to a board presented to a board of directors as is.
of directors. Work is presented to a board outside of the +/-10% a board of directors of directors with some of directors as is. Work is within +/-10%
outside of the +/-10% of directors. Work is word count. only with significant corrections. Work is Work is within +/-10% word count.
word count. outside of the +/-10% corrections and within +/-10% word word count.
word count. improvement. Work count.
is only just outside
the +/-10% word
count.

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