PGBM16 Global Corporate Strategy

PGBM16 Global Corporate Strategy Assessment Question 2019/0 GL9

Canvas & JIRA Deadline: Tuesday 3^rd March 2020 by 14.00pm

Learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated

Knowledge

K1. Their critical understanding and application of relevant theories associated with global corporate policies andstrategies.

K2. Understanding of the holistic nature of strategy and apply analytical techniques to solve complex problems in real life organizations

K3. Knowledge of the strategic decision making process through critical analysis of how strategic decision making enables an organization to relate to its global business environment.

Skills:

S1. How to critically evaluate and monitor the business mission, objectives and policies of international organizations.

S2. How to use critical reflective skills to reflect on the impact of their understanding on the problem solving process

Assessment

Individual Assessment

Case Study: Bringing External Innovation inside – Evidence from Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Introduction:

This individual assignment will be assessed by means of a 3,000 maximum word report. The assignment has been designed to allow you to develop and use your knowledge and skills in understanding key strategic issues relating to any Global Industry you are familiar with. You will be required to apply the strategic concepts and analytical techniques studied in this module. All the learning outcomes below will be assessed:

1. Demonstrate critical understanding and application of relevant strategic management and leadership principles that support organisational values and impact on organisational direction.
2. Understand the holistic nature of strategy and the relationship between strategic management and leadership and apply analytical techniques to solve complex problems in real life organizations.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the strategic decision making process through critical analysis of how strategic decision making enables an organisation to relate to changes in its international business environment.
4. Critically evaluate and monitor the business mission, vision, objectives and policies of international organisations.
5. Use critical reflective skills to reflect on the impact of their understanding on the strategic problem solving process.

The assignment will be internally moderated by: Module Team/John Dixon‐ Dawson

Please note:

1. All work must adhere to the University regulations on ‘Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism’ which are provided as an Appendix in your Programme Handbook. You are encouraged to use ‘Harvard Referencing Style’ and avoid ‘Plagiarism’.
   1. Students are required to submit their coursework through JIRA. Only assessments submitted through JIRA will be marked. Any other submission including submission to your study centre in hard copy will be treated as a non‐submission.

A copy of your Turnitin© originality report, generated via Canvas, must be submitted in conjunction with your assignment.

Task

Your task is to carry out a critical analysis and evaluation of the strategies adopted by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) operatinginanindustry and countryofyourchoice, using information available to the public e.g. company annual reports in pdf and other materials researched. You will be expected to select and apply appropriate theories, techniques and models studied during the module whilst having regard to the practical aspects of strategy development.

Your assignment should be presented in a business report format and should be 3,000 words maximum (excluding executive summary/abstract, references and relevant appendices). The report should include a title page and abstract and be fully and consistently referenced, using Harvard Referencing style. You must submit an electronic version of the report Online via the University’s Assignment Space ‐ this should be clearly labelled with your name, your course and the name of the case study.

It is recommended that you research information to support your arguments. This may be obtained from a diverse range of sources and you are encouraged to research the issues in whichever way you deem appropriate.

Assessment Criteria

In the event of failing this individual assignment, normal referral / deferral procedures will apply. This assignment carries a weighting of 100%. The assessment will focus on the level of ANALYSIS carried out. That is, the application of THEORETICAL CONCEPTS studied in the module to the ‘practical’ case study presented. In other words, you should proceed beyond a DESCRIPTION of the company and its actions. You should be analysing ‘why’ rather then describing ‘what’. The assignment will be assessed and moderated by two members of staff in accordance with the marks allocated to each of the questions detailed below.

Academic Rigour

• your ability to isolate the key strategic issues
• the coherence and depth of the analysis of those issues
• the ability to analyse the strategy context within which companies operates
• the ability to critically review and evaluate strategic decisions made by companies

Methodology

• the use of relevant evidence, from material provided and personal research to support any statements made
• the appropriateness of the methods used and theoretical models and frameworks applied
• the breadth and depth of research undertaken

Evaluation of data

• the ability to make sound recommendations or conclusions arising from the analysis
• the soundness of arguments put forward

Presentation

• the summary of arguments
• report layout and format
• use of illustrative material and evidence to support arguments
• the appropriateness of length
• the quantity and accuracy of referencing

Open innovation is about combining internal and external resources and acting on the opportunities this creates. More and more MNCs prove this to be a strong value proposition and cannot afford to lose out on the opportunities created by this combination. Open innovation has the ability to create long term advantages in management or organizational innovation rather than just product or service innovation. Once a MNC gets ahead of its competitors and becomes the preferred partner of choice within its industry, this often turns out to be a longer term advantage. It is hard for competitors to copy and thus neutralize the benefits that open innovation leadership can bring.

Read the Annual Reports of a MNC operating in an industry and country of your choice; and carry out appropriate analyses of the global corporate strategies adopted by the MNC and its closest competitors, in response to the questions below. You are encouraged to use relevant data/information from company websites.

Briefly distinguish between ‘Open’ and ‘Closed’ Innovation. Using information from the most recent Annual Report of the MNC of your choice, critically evaluate the impact of ‘factor endowment’,

‘related and supporting industries’, ‘demand conditions’, ‘strategy, structure, and rivalry’, ‘government’, and ‘chance’ on the MNC’s approach to external innovation and competition. [30 % marks]

Critically assess the merits and demerits of meeting the ‘demand for internationalisation’ and the ‘demand for localisation’ simultaneously. Which of these two demands would you recommend that your chosen MNC should adopt in order to maximise its corporate profitability through low‐cost leadership or product differentiation or focus – give two key reasons for your choice. [30 % marks]

Using your understanding of ‘organisational purpose’, ‘corporate profitability’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’, critically evaluate the ability of the CEO and Senior management team in your chosen MNC’s to simultaneously achieve corporate profitability and corporate social responsibility objectives crucial for the MNC’s survival and growth.

You are expected to demonstrate critical understanding and application of relevant strategic management and leadership principles that support organisational values and impact on organisational direction. [30 % marks]

In 250‐300 words reflect on the impact of this assessment on your understanding of the Multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the industry and country of your choice, highlighting the key benefits and limitations of external innovation, internationalisation, localisation, organisational purpose and the role of Senior management and leadership, in creating a culture for sustaining corporate profitability. [10 % marks]

Assessment Regulations

For further information regarding Assessment Regulations, extenuating circumstances or extensions and academic integrity, please refer to your Programme Handbook on the University of Sunderland in London information page on Canvas.

Reading List Suggested Reading:

De Wit, B. (2017) – Strategy: An International Perspective, 6th Edition, London: Cengage Learning.

De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. (2014) Strategy Process, Content, and Context International Perspective, 5th Edition, London: Cengage Learning.

Johnson, G., Scholes, K. and Whittington, R. (2005) Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases, 7^th Edition, London: Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Lasserre, P. (2018) Global Strategic Management, 4^th Edition, London: Palgrave McMillan. Lynch, R. (2006) Corporate Strategy, Fourth Edition, Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Lynch, R. (2018) Strategic Management, 8^th Edition, London: Pearson.

Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B. and Lampel, J. (1998) Strategy Safari, London: Financial Times Prentice Hall

Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B. and Lampel, J. B. (2008) Strategy Safari: The complete guide through the wilds of strategic management, 2^nd Edition, London: Financial Times Prentice Hall

Websites & PDF documents:

https://hbr.org/ Harvard Business Review

https://www.mckinsey.com McKinsey Consultancy. www.economist.com The Economist

www.ft.com The Financial Times

Generic Assessment Criteria

Please refer to the PGBM156 module guide on Canvas.

Please access your reading list from the library website. To access it, please go to https://moduleresources.sunderland.ac.uk/ andsearchfor yourmodule.

Submission guidelines

There are currently two steps that you need to follow to ensure that you successfully submit your work for marking. Your submission links will become available approximately 3 weeks prior to your submission deadline, along with detailed instructions on how to submit your assignment, but in the meantime please feel free to also watch this Assignment Submission Instructions video.

Grading

You will be marked in accordance to the University of Sunderland assessment criteria attached below. The assessment criteria covers; Relevance, Knowledge, Analysis, Argument and Structure, Critical Evaluation, Presentation, Reference to Literature.