Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines

Group Assignment Guidelines and Specifications

Assignment Specifications

Purpose:

This assignment aims to enhance students' research and analytical ability through the application of their economics knowledge learned in the unit. The objective is to compose a company report.

There commended assignment structure for final submission is as follows:

Detailed requirements of the assignment

Your group is a collection of advisors to the Management Board in your company with headquarters in Australia. As advisors you are first required to conduct research on your selected sector/industry covering the previous 5-10 years. Second, you are required to present a company strategy to your Management Board and to the Federal Government of Australia covering the next five years.

Your Management Board requires that you submit a 2000-word market report containing these findings and strategies. Finally, your Management Board requires that your research should entirely be based on microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and application taken from Holmes Institute syllabus.

Company Selection Guidelines

Please note that the company you choose must be communicated to your Lecturer, and clearance obtained prior to starting work on the assessment.

Note:

 Choose a company/firm which is an enterprise based in Australia. It should be either an Australian national enterprise or the Australian subsidiary of a multinational corporation (MNC).

Note:

• If your company has many products and/or services, you can select a representative product/service to be the basis for your research.​
• This report should provide useful information for your company's Management Board.
• Use up to ten external resources, including the textbook, newspapers, industry reports, the ABS website, and other sources.
• Include headings and sub-headings.
• Properly reference using Adapted Harvard style.
• INCLUDE at least 10 Holmes Institute references from the lectures.

Your report should include headings and sub-headings. It needs to be properly referenced using the Adapted Harvard style and INCLUDE at least 10 Holmes Institute references from the lectures.

Student Assessment and Referencing Rules Adapted Harvard Referencing Rules

Holmes Institute Adapted Harvard Referencing Rules

1. Reference sources in assignments are limited to sources which provide full text access to the source's content for lecturers and markers.​
2. The reference list must be located on a separate page at the end of the essay and titled "References".​
3. The reference list must include the details of all the in-text citations, arranged A-Z alphabetically by author surname with each reference numbered 1 to 10, etc. and each reference MUST include a hyperlink to the full text of the cited reference source.
4. All assignments must include in-text citations to the listed references. These must include the surname of the authors or name of the authoring body, year of publication, page number of the content, and paragraph where the content can be found.​

Non-Adherence to Referencing Rules

Where students do not follow the above rules:

1. For students who submit assignments that do not comply with the rules, a 10% penalty will be applied.
2. Students who comply with rules and the citations are “fake ”will be reported for academic

 misconduct.                                                                                                                        

To be eligible to pass this unit, you must complete all forms of assessment and demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. All assignments must be submitted electronically ONLY using a word processor, uploaded to Blackboard via the Final Check and Submission of Safe Assign.

Late Penalties: As per the Student Handbook, late penalties will apply each day after the student has been notified of the due date. Submission deadlines are strictly enforced and a late submission incurs penalties of 5% of the assessment value per calendar day unless an extension and/or special consideration has been granted by the lecturer prior to the assessment deadline. Unless an extension and/or special consideration has been granted, no assessments are accepted after 14 calendar days of the due date, or the end of the trimester for assessments due later in a trimester. Students need to allow up to 24 hours for the Final Check of their assignment submission to Safe Assign to be available.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION AND LATEPENALTIES

An effective way for students to learn economics is through participation in a Group Assessment Project. This project is designed to accomplish effective learning. During the course of the semester, each of the elements of your Group Assessment may be reviewed by your Lecturer.

File Exchange tool:

All the academic papers that are used in the assignment need to be posted on Blackboard by using File Exchange tool. Students need to highlight the discussion in the academic paper which is relevant to the assignment issues. Academic papers can be found in ProQuest (instructions on page 6). Assignment will be marked ZERO if it does not include references list.

Group Blog:

All the discussion about group assignment needs to be recorded by using Group Blog tool. The discussion must relevant to the content of the assignment and reflects the outcome of the group meeting.

How   to   do   group   assignment   – Instruction Group tools

Your instructor chooses which communication and collaboration tools are available to your group. If you want to use a tool but don't find on your group's page, ask your instructor to enable it.

Exchange files with a group

• With file exchange,you can share files with other members of your group, including your instructor.
• You can't create folders in file exchange. With your group ,decide how you want to name files so that they are easier to locate in a long list.

Add a file to the file exchange

1. Group Tools>File Exchange>Add File
   1. Add a me for the file you want to upload. Browse for the file and submit.
   2. Delete  file from the file exchange
   3. You can delete any file, even if you didn’t upload it. On the File Exchange page, select Delete in the file's menu.

Group Blog

All the group members can discuss about the assignment by using Group Blog. Once you are allocated in a group, you can see this function.

Group>Group Tools>Group Blog>Create Blog Entry

Pro Quest

To login

Go to: http://www.holmes.edu.au/>Login>Proquest USERNAME: holmes2004 and; PASSWORD: holmes

Pro quest Tips

Marking Rubric

Note: This report is provided as a sample for reference purposes only. For further guidance, detailed solutions, or personalized assignment support, please contact us directly.

Woolworths Group Limited: Market Analysis and Strategy Report

Prepared for: Management Board, Woolworths Group Limited
Prepared by: Economics Advisory Team
Word Count: ~2000

1. Executive Summary

This report analyzes the performance and market environment of Woolworths Group Limited over the past decade and provides a five-year strategic plan. The analysis applies microeconomic and macroeconomic theories from the Holmes Institute syllabus to assess market structure, demand and supply determinants, price elasticity, and the impact of recent macroeconomic events. The proposed strategies aim to strengthen Woolworths’ market leadership while adapting to evolving consumer trends and economic challenges.

2. Company Overview

Woolworths Group Limited is one of Australia’s leading supermarket chains, operating over 1,000 stores nationwide. Established in 1924, Woolworths’ core business includes retailing groceries, fresh produce, liquor, and general merchandise. Woolworths has consistently maintained a dominant market position in the Australian supermarket industry, alongside its main competitor, Coles.

2.1 Products and Services

• Grocery and fresh food retail
• Liquor retail (via BWS and Dan Murphy’s)
• Online grocery delivery and Click & Collect services
• Private-label brands (e.g., Woolworths Essentials, Macro Wholefoods Market)

3. Industry and Market Structure Analysis

3.1 Australian Supermarket Industry Overview

The Australian supermarket industry is an oligopolistic market, dominated by Woolworths and Coles, which collectively account for approximately 70–75% of the market share (IBISWorld, 2024). Other players include Aldi, IGA, and Costco, which have smaller but growing market shares.

• Number of firms: Approximately 5–6 major competitors
• Market leaders: Woolworths (37% share) and Coles (33% share)
• Product differentiation: Moderate differentiation exists through private-label brands, loyalty programs, and online delivery services

Microeconomic Theory Application:
The industry’s oligopolistic nature leads to strategic interdependence. Pricing decisions by Woolworths significantly influence competitors’ pricing strategies (Tirole, 2017, p. 54). Barriers to entry, such as high capital investment, established supply chains, and brand loyalty, limit new entrants.

4. Demand and Supply Analysis

4.1 Determinants of Demand

• Income levels: Higher disposable income increases demand for premium products.
• Consumer preferences: Growing preference for convenience, organic foods, and online shopping.
• Price of substitutes: Aldi’s competitive pricing affects Woolworths’ demand elasticity.
• Population growth: Increased population in urban areas boosts grocery consumption.

4.2 Determinants of Supply

• Input costs: Fluctuating wholesale prices for fresh produce, meat, and imported goods.
• Technological advancements: Investment in automated warehouses and AI-driven logistics improves supply efficiency.
• Government policies: Regulations regarding food safety, minimum wage, and environmental sustainability impact supply costs.

4.3 Price Elasticity of Demand

The overall price elasticity of Woolworths’ products varies:

• Staple groceries (bread, milk, rice): inelastic demand – consumers buy regardless of minor price changes.
• Non-essential and premium goods (organic products, imported brands): elastic demand – sensitive to price changes.

Example: A 5% increase in Woolworths’ private-label milk may lead to only a 1–2% decrease in quantity demanded, while a similar increase in premium organic cheese could reduce demand by 8–10% (ABS, 2023).

5. Recent Macroeconomic Event Impact

5.1 Event: COVID-19 Pandemic (2020–2022)

Description: The pandemic disrupted global supply chains, increased unemployment, and shifted consumer behavior toward online shopping and essential goods.

Impact on Woolworths:

• Surge in demand for online grocery orders, leading to investments in Click & Collect and home delivery.
• Increased supply chain costs due to import disruptions and freight delays.
• Price adjustments for essential items faced regulatory scrutiny to prevent “price gouging.”

Macroeconomic Theory Application:

• Aggregate demand: Household consumption shifted towards necessities.
• Inflation: Increased production and distribution costs contributed to moderate food inflation (RBA, 2022).
• Unemployment: Woolworths maintained staff retention, reflecting labor market flexibility.

6. Five-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2031)

6.1 Market Expansion

• Urban expansion: Open 50 new stores in growing metropolitan areas.
• Regional growth: Partner with IGA to increase presence in rural markets.

6.2 Technological Advancements

• Expand AI-driven supply chain management to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
• Invest in smart checkout systems to enhance customer experience and reduce labor costs.

6.3 Product Differentiation

• Increase organic and health-focused product lines.
• Strengthen private-label brands to capture higher profit margins.
• Introduce sustainable packaging to attract environmentally conscious consumers.

6.4 Pricing Strategy

• Maintain competitive pricing to retain market share in the oligopoly.
• Use dynamic pricing for online channels to optimize revenue during peak demand.

6.5 Policy and Regulatory Compliance

• Comply with government regulations on food safety, wage laws, and environmental standards.
• Partner with local farmers to support domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.

7. Conclusion

Woolworths operates in an oligopolistic Australian supermarket industry with significant market power. Its success relies on managing demand and supply efficiently, maintaining competitive pricing, and adapting to macroeconomic events such as COVID-19. The proposed five-year strategy focuses on sustainable growth, technology adoption, product differentiation, and regulatory compliance, ensuring continued market leadership and profitability.