1) Aims: To carry out critical analysis, evaluation and discussion on the strategies for an organisation to remain its competitiveness in its industry.
2) Students will work in group of 4 or 5 students a group. Therefore, this is a group effort. Teamwork and coordination are highly expected. Reference books for sources of information are necessary.
3) Select a public listed company or organisation from Bursa Malaysia. Identify one (1) or two (2) products (maximum) to be discussed in this assignment.
4) Prior to detailed write-up, students are required to submit proposal on their choices of the company and product(s) concerned to seek approval from the tutor concerned. This is to identify its suitability and to avoid duplicating.
a) The proposal shall have brief description on the following to be assessed:
i) The industry and its product(s) to be studied, ii) Its supply chain, competitors, etc., iii) List of potential strategies involved, etc.
b) Hence, as a proposal, it shall NOT have more than two (2) pages. The format should be in Times New Roman font and of size 12, line spacing of 1.5 with the normal page margin on A4 paper.
c) Proposal shall be submitted, latest on Week 4, for approval. Students are advised to submit earlier to avoid rejection due to some reasons. For instance, selection is on first come first approve basis.
i) If the proposal is not approved as mentioned above, the group concerned is required to submit a fresh proposal. Decision and approval by the tutor in-charge are final.
5) The length of written assignment (excluding appendices, references and proposal) shall be limit to 2,500 words (maximum).
6) The assignment write-up shall contain the following:
a) The format should be in Times New Roman font and of size 12, line spacing of 1.5 with the normal page margin on A4 paper.
i) Page numbering shall be placed at center bottom of page.
b) Cover page shall have the following information:
i) College name, Name of school ii) Programme name iii) Course code and title iv) Title of the assignment
v) Tutorial group vi) Group members’ name and ID vii) Name of tutor viii) Completion date ix) Number of words in contents
c) Plagiarism statement of the group and signed by each member concerned. Hence, statement or result of safe-assigned of the assignment shall be attached herewith.
d) Completed evaluation forms (see attached).
e) List or table of contents.
f) Introduction and/or background description of the company and its product(s) selected.
g) Critical analysis and assessment on its competitive advantages in terms of its environment, external as well as internal. Hence, the assignment may contain the following strategic topics or concepts:
i) External or macro environment, such as PESTEL analysis, etc. ii) Internal or micro environment, such as SWOT, 5-forces analysis, etc. iii) Corporate strategic analysis, such as BCG portfolio or analysis, iv) Corporate governance, culture, etc.
h) Opinions on the company’s strategy & operations, and/or recommendations on strategy to further improve. Conclusion on the study shall be included.
i) Tables, figures, charts, diagrams or pictures that are used to support the discussion shall be attached as appendices.
j) Any citation or sources of information quoted in the assignment must be properly recorded and referred. References shall be properly shown at the Bibliography and using the latest Harvard referencing system.
7) Original copy of the approved proposal (as well as those rejected earlier) must be submitted together, as marks are allocated on proposal write up.
8) The latest date of submission shall be in week 11. This assignment shall be securely bound or stapled as a written document or report.
9) The criteria of assessment on the written assignment are as shown in the Evaluation Form attached herewith. (Details of evaluation are shown in the form) Each group is required to fill in their particulars, understand the assessment criteria and attach together for submission.
a) If felt necessary, the group concerned may be required to perform presentation of the assignment in order to clarify and support the efforts spent. Under such circumstances, presentation will be done during tutorial after submission.
10) The written document shall be submitted on due date as mentioned above or as concurred by tutor in-charge and during tutorial class. Marks will be deducted for late submission on the rate of 10% per day.
11) The marked assignment will be returned for review only in due course.