A Series of Articles on Effective Organisational Design

The assignment requires students to analyze their chosen company/organisation's internal structures and external environment using at least two relevant frameworks, and propose a solution to address the organization's problem(s). The report should take the form of a maximum 4000-word business report to the organization's management team. It must include an executive summary, introduction, business case, findings/analysis, and recommendations.

Module assessment detail (approved at validation as amended by module modification)
Module code & title 7BE002 Strategic Management
Module Learning outcomes:
LO
1
Critically evaluate the underlying concepts and theories of
strategic management and the relationship between strategy,
stakeholder aspirations and governance

LO
2
Demonstrate understanding and awareness of current and
emerging Economic, Political, Legal and Cultural factors and
critically evaluate those which will have an impact on strategic
management in an international context

L03 Formulate business strategies in a systematic way , and develop
criteria in order to evaluate and select those most likely to prove
successful for a particular organisation

LO
4
Develop plans for the implementation of business strategies,
presenting strategic proposals to stakeholders in a persuasive and
authoritative manner.

Assessment types
1 – Strategic Management Project
Weightings
100%
Submitted as a Portfolio 100% 
Important requirements
Mode of Working: Individual
Presentation Format: Portfolio
Method of Submission: Submission via electronic e-submission by 23.59 via WOLF on
the due date. You are strongly urged to submit in good time as
technical issues near to submission hour will not be accepted
as a valid reason. Maximum file size 10MB
Paper Submission: if required by tutor.
Mark required to pass this coursework: 50%
Hand in date & time Variable: See WOLF topic for exact date
Date & method by which
you will receive feedback
4 weeks from submission date
Assessment limits (in
accordance with UWBS
assessment tariff)
4000 words, excluding appendices

Assessment Brief/ Task
The detailed requirements for this task are as follows:
The portfolio is comprised of the following sections
 A Strategic Management Project- 4000 words excluding appendices and references
Assessed task No 1, Strategic Management Project
The purpose of the strategic management project is to apply the concepts and techniques learnt in the
module to the analysis of real-world situations or problems, and to critically evaluate different approaches
to addressing managerial problems.
Context
Your boss has asked you to craft a restructuring strategy [around some identified business problem(s)]for
the company you currently work for or have recently worked for. (If your company is a large one, then focus
on a strategic business unit or department. The structure will be aimed at your work designation level ie
supervisor, team leader, unit head, head of strategic business unit, CEO etc. Frame the issue at your level so
that you are familiar with issues. For example if you are a supervisor it would be inappropriate for you to
look at International diversification but this might be something for the CEO.
If you are not employed in a company, exceptionally select a well-known local company/organisation and
use the same criteria. Delve down to the lowest level commensurate with your designation. The
organisation must be approved by your tutor.
Not for profit organisations are fine too. Your tutor will need to approve the company/organisation chosen.
Your remit, in the form of a strategic management project will be to propose a new design (solution) to
restructuring that would make the company/organisation more efficient and competitive.
The project is to be undertaken in a number of formative phases, culminating in a final written report.
In phase 1 you will write proposal for your boss (tutor) to set the parameters and scope of the restructuring.
You will discuss this with your classmates in seminars and get feedback. More details will be given in class.
Phase 2 will be a critical literature review pertinent to the areas of the restructure. Your task will be to
review research from a range of scholarly articles that relate to organisational structure design issues you
are addressing. This is an opportunity to strengthen the project rigour with further theoretical insights. The
core text book and supplied articles will form the backbone of the literature review but other strategy
literature can and will supplement this too.
You will be aware that a literature review is a critical discussion of the published research around topic area.
It is also a critical, evaluative synthesis, showing the relationships between various writings and how they
relate to your own work. A literature review is not a simple summary of a series of articles. A good literature
review will look at the research that has been done and synthesise or pull together those elements that are
similar or most pertinent to the themes you have chosen. The literature review will need to be appended to
the main report.
Phase 3 will be the start of the analysis. All projects will have some common features plus unique sections
related to the precise problem(s) to be overcome. The common feature is that you will analyse your chosen
company/organisation’s internal structures and its external environment using a minimum of two of the
frameworks studied that you consider most relevant to your particular situation e.g. Daft’s structural
dimensions, Daft’s contingency framework, Porter’s five forces model or any other model etc, justifying your
selection. Next you focus on the problem that your boss has asked you to address and propose a solution –

this is part of the business case of the report. All organisations have problems. You need to pick two.
Examples could be ineffective teams, ineffective and inefficient administrative systems and processes, poor
customer service, ineffective/inappropriate IT infrastructure, human relations problems such as lack of
morale, disengaged staff, ineffective organisational design. The “problems” needs to broadly align with one
of the areas covered in the core text.
Your tutor will ask you to present your findings at interim points during the seminar sessions (details will
vary depending on iteration and delivery format. The presentations will not be part of the assessment.
The final report should take the form of a maximum 4000 word business report to the organisation’s
management team. A business report is a functional piece of writing usually written to communicate a
recommendation for change with the appropriate rationale, propose solution, illustrations and backed by
evidence.
Your report should be written in standard business English that favours ease of comprehension. In general,
your sentences and paragraphs will be shorter compared to academic English. It is also acceptable to use a
limited number of bullet points in your report.
Use the literature review as well as the theoretical foundations given in the core text and additional
readings to strengthen your arguments and move beyond subjective opinions. You are also encouraged to
support your arguments and analyses with visuals, such as charts and diagrams.
Business reports do not have a set number of sections. Make sure you clearly delineate and label your
sections with appropriate headings. As a guide, some sections that most reports tend to include are
Executive Summary, Introduction, Business case, Findings/Analysis, Recommendations. Use the Business
Report Help Sheet from University of Melbourne provided for you under resources (see WOLF topic)
Advice: Make it concise, to the point and convincing. Try to write with a specific audience in mind, and try as
best as you can to generate a genuine buy-in from your boss.
You will craft interim components (which you may be asked to present or discuss in some form during the
seminars).
Performance descriptors indicate how marks will be arrived at against each of the above criteria. The
descriptors indicate the likely characteristics of work that is marked within the percentage bands indicated.
Criteria 70-100%
Work of an
outstanding,
standard
60-69%
Work of a good
standard.
Pass 50-59%
Work of a pass
standard.
40-49%
Soft FAIL
0-39%
Hard FAIL
Project The project
demonstrates
originality,
innovation and
depth in the
content and
theory. It is
In the main the
project is
insightful and has
an appropriate
selection of
content and
theory in key
Key theories and
ideas are
included in the
report in an
appropriate
manner
although not
Appropriate selection
of content/theories
but some key aspects
missed/misconstrued.
Lack of theory in most
areas. The work does
not sufficiently
Does not address
the assignment
brief. Uses
Inaccurate or
inappropriate
content/theory.
The work does not

reflective of a
professional
consultancy
report. The
work clearly
demonstrates
application of
theories and
provides an
overwhelmingly
convincing case
to
management.
areas identified in
the brief.
The work
demonstrates
application of
theory and gives
management
some good
insights.
consistently
across all area.
The work
demonstrates
basic application
of theories
worthy of
presentation to
management
but has low
credibility
demonstrate basic
application through.
The work is not worthy
of presentation to
management in its
current form
create a link
between theory
and practice.
The complete
portfolio -
Presentation
and Harvard
Referencing
Presentation
standard of the
portfolio is
excellent.
Extensive
referencing
which is clear,
relevant and
consistently
accurate using
the Harvard
system
The
bibliography is
comprehensivel
y annotated.
Content is
formatted for
easy reading
with a clear
structure
delineated by
subheadings
and paragraph
structures
Presentation
overall of good
standard with few
errors in grammar
and syntax.
Referencing is
relevant and
accurate using the
Harvard system.
Good evidence of
reading round the
subject. The
bibliography
contains
appropriate
annotations.
Content is
formatted for easy
reading with clear
paragraph
structures.
Presentation has
limitations
including some
errors in
grammar and
syntax Minor
inconsistencies
and inaccuracies
in referencing
using the
Harvard system.
Evidence of
reading round
the subject
other than just
set texts and
websites.
The bibliography
contains few
annotations
Content may not
be formatted,
but still readable
Presentation is poor in
structure and includes
errors in grammar and
syntax. Referencing
present
having many
inconsistencies
and inaccuracies.
Little evidence of
reading other than set
texts & websites
The bibliography
contains no
annotations.
No attempt to format
for readability.
Structure and
presentation is not
of an acceptable
standard including
faulty grammar
and syntax.
Referencing mainly
from set text.
Inaccurate
references or
bibliography
absent.
Presentation is
slapdash