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Strategic Analysis & Planning - Coursework 2

This assessment is 50% of the overall grade

Task

Present a critical strategic analysis of J. Sainsburys covering the following areas:

Resource Audit Value Systems Product/Service portfolio (BCG Matrix) Potential future strategic growth

o Identification of optionso Evaluation of options

News & Web Links

The links below provide some starting points but students are expected to add their own

detailed research to develop the analysis:

http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/about-us/

http://www.theguardian.com/business/j-sainsbury

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10438424/Sainsburys-

thrives-after-a-decade-of-Justin-King.html

The coursework is an individual piece of work. It will be 3,000 words, inclusive of

appendices (+/- 10%). Please note that text in diagrams or tables will count towards theword count.

The following structure is suggested:

1 Introduction to the report2 Brief strategic position of the company3 An evaluation of the resources and value systems of the company4 An evaluation product/portfolio mix5 A critical analysis and evaluation of KEY future directions for strategic growth6 Recommendations

Hand in date: 19th

January 2014

It is important that attention be focused on a strategicappraisal of the company as opposed to

providing lots of interesting facts over what interests you or what you find on the internet.

Assessment will focus on students abilities in applying strategic models and frameworks in a

coherent manner that enables them to develop a clear strategic view of the strategic position

being studied.You do not need to reference many academic sources in this element ofthe assessment, but you must reference sources of company or market information.

http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/about-us/http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/about-us/http://www.theguardian.com/business/j-sainsburyhttp://www.theguardian.com/business/j-sainsburyhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10438424/Sainsburys-thrives-after-a-decade-of-Justin-King.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10438424/Sainsburys-thrives-after-a-decade-of-Justin-King.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10438424/Sainsburys-thrives-after-a-decade-of-Justin-King.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10438424/Sainsburys-thrives-after-a-decade-of-Justin-King.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10438424/Sainsburys-thrives-after-a-decade-of-Justin-King.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/business/j-sainsburyhttp://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/about-us/

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Marking Criteria(The marks for each criterion are to illustrate where the main effort should be spent and are

not meant to be a strict marking scheme)

Presentation 10%

Analysis 50%

Structure 10%

Use of supporting evidence 20%

(News & academic references)

Style of writing 10%

Please remember that an assignment is not meant to DESCRIBE what you have found.

Analysis means commenting on your findings and EXPLAINING what the evidence suggests

about the company.

General Guidance to students

Structure

The introduction should be brief. It is not meant to provide a history of Sainsburys The Conclusion needs to draw the analysis to a close and comment on the

sustainability of Sainsburys strategicposition. Remember you do not introduce new

findings into the Conclusion

If you include Appendices you must refer to them in the relevant section of the reportfindings

References should clearly list all the material that has been referred to in the reportand set out using Harvard style:

Models/Content

Remember to use the models in a dynamic way i.e. place relevant examples onto themodels. Do not simply copy and paste generic examples from the lecture slides

Words in the models are included in the word limit. The models lose their value ifthey are full of text. They should aid understanding not confuse the reader because

too much has been stuffed into them

Models should be included in the main body of the report. Only place them in theappendices if they are close to a full page You may well refer to points made in earlier parts of the report to show the

connections in the analysis. This shows an awareness of the links between themes

You will struggle to stay within the word limit so focus on the KEY DRIVERS inyour analysis

You will not be able to use all of the examples if you have done the level of readingrequired so cherry pick those that best illustrate the key drivers

Facts and figures need to be supported with sources clearly referenced.

Presentation

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Be your own independent work and free from plagiarism by ensuring that work that isnot your own is clearly referenced

Use Harvard style citation and referencing using the Drop-in centre publishedguidelines

Be written in appropriate academic styleBe professionally presentedBe word processed using font size 12 for the main text and 1.5 line spacingHave numbered pagesHave been spell checked and proof-readBe anonymous and have your Student Enrolment number on every pageHave a clearly labelled front page detailing the module code and title, title of the

assignment, tutors name, your enrolment number and the date of submission

Be submitted via the Turnitin link on the module Blackboard site

PlagiarismYou are free to quote directly or indirectly from any publication, provided that you give a

reference for the author or originator. In other words, if the research or the views you cite are

not your own, then you MUSTacknowledge your source(s), in accordance with the Harvard

style whereby citations are made in the text by author and date, with a full alphabetical listing

at the end of the paper. If you fail to acknowledge your sources, you run the risk of being

accused of plagiarism, which is an academic offence.

Please note that tutors cannot read large amounts of material prior to handing in, so please do

not ask them to do so. We can advise on style and overall structure but will not proof read.

Draft assignments cannot be evaluated by module staff. Exemplar coursework also cannot be

provided.

Late Submission

LATE SUBMISSION, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH

UNIVERSITY POLICY (See note below).

An excerpt from the University regulations

B.2.5.3 Students' responsibilities for their assessments

[a] Students are responsible for informing themselves of the assessment regulations as

published, for submitting work for assessment as required and on time, and for attending

examinations and other formal assessment events.

If students fail without good cause to do this, they will be allowed a further five working days to

submit the work but this work will be awarded a maximum mark of 40%. If students fail without

good cause to submit work within five days of the submission date, they will be deemed to have

failed the assessments concerned and receive 0%

If you are unable to meet the deadline set and have reasonable grounds then apply for

Reasons for Poor Performance. Contact the Faculty Advice Shop for more information on

this process.

Coursework feedback can be obtained from your tutor via Bb.