Undergraduate Major Project Plan: Strategic Analysis of Companies

This project plan, prepared for an undergraduate major project, focuses on the strategic analysis of companies, specifically Virgin Care, Sports Direct, and Jet2. The plan requires a detailed examination of strategic issues, challenges, and proposed solutions, utilizing frameworks such as PESTEL, SWOT, and Porter's Five Forces. The student identifies and analyzes three strategic issues, challenges, and solutions for their chosen company, providing evidence from financial reports and news sources. The project also explores how one solution can be practically implemented, including marketing, HRM, and operational approaches. The assessment criteria emphasize the incorporation of theory, problem-solving skills, and effective use of learning resources.

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
Assessment Project plan
Module Title: Undergraduate Major Project
Word Limit: 1200
This excludes bibliography and other items
Assessed Learning
Outcomes
1-5
WRITING YOUR PROJECT:
 This project must be completed individually.
 You must use the Harvard referencing system.
 Your work must indicate the number of words you have used. Written projects must not
exceed the specified maximum number of words. When a written project is marked, the excessive
use of words beyond the word limit is reflected in the academic judgement of the piece of work
which results in a lower mark being awarded for the piece of work (regulation 6.74).
 Project submissions are to be made anonymously. Do not write your name anywhere on your
work.
 Write your student ID number at the top of every page.
 Where the project comprises more than one task, all tasks must be submitted in a single
document.
 You must number all pages.
PROJECT QUESTION
Write a project plan for your Undergraduate Major Project using the approved project plan template.
You should include details of how you intend to research your choice of one of the following
companies or services :
 Sports Direct
 Jet2
 Virgin Care Services Ltd
The project plan should provide an outline of how you intend to answer the four questions on the
project plan template.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
To pass this project, you must satisfactorily complete all elements of the Project Plan Template.
You must show:
 Knowledge of theoretical/ethical issues relevant to your chosen company or service
 Ability to incorporate theory and to solve problems in the discipline
 Effective use of learning resources
 Accuracy of structure and expression
 Evidence of developing professional problem-solving skills
Theory’s expected PESTEL/SWOT, Michael Porter, 5 Forces,
Ansoff Matrix …..

UMP Organisation or Service Project Plan Template
Student Number: Organisation or service:
Question 1. Identify and analyse three strategic issues facing your chosen company or service. (Total 300 words)
Point Strategic Issues Evidence (financial, reports, news etc.) Area (internal, external,
competition, practice etc.)
Model(s)
1 Virigin care services Ltd, face one
of the strategic issues that impact
on its overall business
performance, over last several
years they do not pay tax in
United Kingdom which negatively
affects its profitability. Due to this
they aggressively struggling to
established Foothold in NHS run
services.
Virgin Care and other private companies
seize another £3.1 billion of NHS
contracts. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.wsws.org/en/ar
ticles/2018/01/15/virg-j15.html>
It is one of the external factors
that affects business growth and
success within marketplace. Tax
policy covers in political factors.
Changes in taxation policies or
rules are the political factor that
bring many problem for company
if they do not follow it
accordingly.
PESTLE model
2 Limited focus on expanding
business beyond UK is another
strategic issues that influence
current business productivity as
well as performances effectively.
They do no centring on expansion
procedure which is quite
Moth, R., Greener, J. and Stoll, T., 2015.
Crisis and resistance in mental health
services in England. Critical and Radical
Social Work. 3(1). pp.89-101.
Limited centring on expansion
process is one of the internal
factors that directly influence
reputation and position of
company in market for longer
period of time. It is consider as
SWOT analysis model

beneficial for them as helps to
increase profitability rather than
before. Lack of focusing on
business expansion bring many
challenges for them as to sustain
for long in market.
internal areas of development.
3 Lack of financial planning is the
major strategic problem faced by
Virgin care service Ltd. Their
planning is not done efficiently an
appropriately. Management cannot
be able to managed investment
plan effectively, without planning,
they cannot be able to take better
decision which impacts on overall
performance or growth of
organization. Poor financial
management easily lead to
overspending, without preparing
advanced plan firm cannot be able
to save money. It also lead to
serious lifestyle and budgets
consequences. Liquid and current
asset ratio is low which need to be
Virgin Care SWOT Analysis. 2017.[Online].
Available
through:<https://www.mbaskool.com/brand
guide/pharmaceuticals-and-healthcare/
10283-virgin-care.html>
Lack of financial planning is
another internal areas of factor
that create issues for company and
increasing stress.
SWOT model

increase by them.
Question 2. Identify and analyse three challenges facing your chosen company or service. (Total 300 words)
Point Challenges Evidence (financial, reports, news etc.) Area (internal, external,
competition, practice etc.)
Model(s)
1 Threat of new entrance is high
in industry, as it is one of the
biggest challenge faced by them
for sustaining in market for
every. Entry of new company in
market bring challenging
situation for existing companies
as they increase high
competitive environment. Apart
from this health and social care
industry is characterized by
tough regulations and rules
which need to follow by health
care services providers for long
in order to sustain. The demand
of new services and products
related to health is greater that
attract new firms towards
industry as to expand their
business within market.
Porter five forces model for health care
industry. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.porteranalysis.com/p
orter-five-forces-model-of-health-care-
industry/>
Threat of new firms is external
factors that posses biggest
challenge for company to deal
with this effectively.
Porter's five forces model
2 Increasing costs of health care
and medicines is the second
biggest challenge facing by
Virgin care service Ltd, that
straitly affects on its financial
budget and revenue. Increasing
costs might be decrease the
quality of products used by
people that does not satisfied
Virgin Care SWOT Analysis. 2017.[Online].
Available
through:<https://www.mbaskool.com/brand
guide/pharmaceuticals-and-healthcare/
10283-virgin-care.html>
Maximizing costs is external
factors, posses as threat for
business.
SWOT analysis model

consumers needs. Company is
the leading brands in health
care sector. Most of the people
cannot be able to buy high cost
medicines because of low
income rate.
3 Bargaining power of suppliers is
high in health care sector
because the overall business is
dependent on their services
provided, that bring challenge
for company to fulfil their
demands. Suppliers of
medicines hold high or great
bargaining power which affects
Virgin care service company the
most. The demand of products
or healthcare services cannot be
stopped because government
and people in concerned about
quality of individual life and
health. Despite increase in
healthcare prices, supply does
not stop, so it means that
suppliers can change the entire
structure.
Porter five forces model for health care
industry. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.porteranalysis.com/p
orter-five-forces-model-of-health-care-
industry/>
High bargaining power or
capacity of supplier is external
element.
Porter's five force
Question 3. Identify and analyse the three solutions to the challenges facing your chosen company or service. (Total 300 words)
Poin
t
Solutions Evidence (financial, reports, news, best
practice guidance, etc)
Area (internal, external,
competition, best practice etc.)
Model(s)/Theory(ies)
1 Virgin care service ltd, need to
improve quality of health care
Porter five forces model for health care
industry. 2017. [Online]. Available
Internal area Porter's five force

products as well as medicines in
industry, they need to build strong
position in market place by
providing the best goods and set
positive image in mind of people
which make them able to retain
with business, do not allow to
drive towards new entrance.
Organization need to make plan
before the new companies impacts
on their business. Management
has to focus on promotional
strategy in which they can spread
information about their products
quality better than others, it helps
to assure consumers about
business concern and quality of
medicines.
through:<https://www.porteranalysis.com/p
orter-five-forces-model-of-health-care-
industry/>
2 Differentiation is the best solution
for Virgin care services Ltd.
When the cost of health care and
medicines is increased they add
valuable things for consumers
which make them unique in
Chege, F., 2016. An Investigation of
Competitive Strategies Adopted by Small
and Medium Enterprises in Kenya(Doctoral
dissertation, United States International
University-Africa).
Internal area Porter's generic model

overall industry. They can offer
some small products with
medicines such as sanitiser and
other things related to health care
which drive people towards them
when the price is high. In this
strategy organization seeks to be
different in their sector along
some essential dimensions that is
broadly valuable by peoples. They
can provide the most required
products to buyers along with
medicines that helps to increase
its profitability as well as
consumer base.
3 To reduce the bargaining power of
suppliers, backward integration is
the best procedure or appropriate
solution through which firm get
their suppliers to reduce
volatilities in supply chain. With
company controlling their
suppliers, they can reduce scope
for supply chain disruptions
Bargaining Power of Suppliers – How Can
It Be Reduced?. 2019. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.sutisoft.com/blog/bar
gaining-power-of-suppliers-how-can-it-be-
reduced/>
External area Backward integration
concept

effectively and bargaining power
of service distributors as well. By
spreading and diversifying their
purchases, company can reduce
power of suppliers greatly.
Backwards integration is one of
the best strategy used by business
where by acquiring themselves
with suppliers and produce of raw
materials to control production
costs and suppliers in procedure.
Question 4. Explain how your company or service could practically implement one solution. (Total 300 words)
Specific objective Approach (marketing,
HRM, Operations,
Practice etc.)
Stage 1: Inputs,
financial,
technological,
material, human.
Stage 2: Actions and
timeline
Stage 3: Delivery
and Evaluation
Model(s)
Virgin care service
Ltd, wants to earn
profit and increased
their sales more than
past few years.
Marketing is the best
approach and
strategy used by
business to reach
target consumers and
gain competitive
benefits. With the
help of best
marketing plan
company can
increased their sales
and profitability. They
In order to achieve
business objective
requirement of skilled
and qualified labour is
very essential.
Company need
financial support as
they offer additional
services along with
medicines purchased
by consumers. Virgin
care service Ltd,
They need to used
differentiation
strategy. According to
this strategy
management of
company plan to offer
value add service,
they can provide
some other products
or additional services
to local people. Within
7 months
To evaluate the
effectiveness of
chosen solution that
is differentiation, they
need to monitor
ration of revenue,
review feedbacks of
buyers as well as
suppliers about their
healthcare services.
They plan for
delivering on time
Porters generic model

need to set affordable
prices for each
products, chose the
suitable promotional
platform and provide
quality products on
buyers. Virgin care
service Ltd used
differentiation
strategy in its selling
operations, through
advertising they can
spread information
related to new offer
which they offering to
people for retaining
with business for
longer.
While using
differentiation
strategy, requirement
of human resource
management
approach is higher, in
which they need to
focus on functional
activities such as
human resource
planing and
recruitment for hiring
new applicants how
are able to run the
strategy effectively
and provide better
services to people.
acquire advanced
equipment and
machinery in their
business that helps to
cater competitive and
quality service to
their clients.
organization make
changes in its current
services structure
accordant to strategy
and take effective
action.
facilities in
emergency situation,
that helps to save life
of people.

Exam will be held in University on the last week of term, every student allow to bring notes 5
pages on site, there is example of notes. Exam will take 3 hours.
https://vlearulondon.org/pluginfile.php/98847/mod_resource/content/0/model%20notes.pdf