• The word-limit on this work is fixed in the template to test your ability to write concisely and to help you concentrate on content and forget style. • The template and case study are both included on Blackboard in the Assessment 2 folder. • The template has guidance notes that you should read. • The case study is self-contained and there is NO expectation that you will do further research on Subway beyond the period of the case study. • There is no expectation you should create a reference list – this is purely self-contained around the case-study. • You can refer to concepts and ideas that we have used on the module – for example “What Subway has done here is an example of a differentiation strategy” but you do not need provide references. • You cannot provide tables or create tables beyond what are in the Case-study – tables and figures should therefore be referred to as listed in the Case-study – for example – on page 4 of the case-study there is a table 1 – you can refer to it as “(see table 1 of case-study)”. • See below for detailed breakdown of how the marks are awarded

Assessment Information/Brief 2019-20

To be used for all types of assessment and provided to students at the start of the module. Information provided should be compatible with the detail contained in the approved module specification although may contain more information for clarity.

Module title                   Strategic Management

Assessment set by

Dr Charles Knight

E: c.g.knight@salford.ac.uk

How to submit

You should submit your individual essay electronically via the Turnitin pages set up on the module’s Blackboard site – assessment section.

Assessment task details and instructions

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Strategic Management 2019-20: Assessment 2 – Case-study   

(This assessment contributes 60% of the overall module mark; learning outcomes assessed – 1,2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13)

All generic questions about the assessment should be asked on the discussion board provided on blackboard – generic questions sent to email will directed to put these on the message boards.

Using the provided Subway Case Study – answer the following questions using the provided template (File called: “Assessment 2 – Strategic Management – Response Template”) available on Blackboard in the assessment folder (the template has a guidance note explaining how it should be used).

• The word-limit on this work is fixed in the template to test your ability to write concisely and to help you concentrate on content and forget style.
• The template and case study are both included on Blackboard in the Assessment 2 folder.
• The template has guidance notes that you should read.
• The case study is self-contained and there is NO expectation that you will do further research on Subway beyond the period of the case study.
• There is no expectation you should create a reference list – this is purely self-contained around the case-study.
• You can refer to concepts and ideas that we have used on the module – for example “What Subway has done here is an example of a differentiation strategy” but you do not need provide references.
• You cannot provide tables or create tables beyond what are in the Case-study – tables and figures should therefore be referred to as listed in the Case-study – for example – on page 4 of the case-study there is a table 1 – you can refer to it as “(see table 1 of case-study)”.
• See below for detailed breakdown of how the marks are awarded.

Grading indicators (what we are looking for)

Percentage Mark Level of Performance (based on mark awarded):

Also refer to the detailed Level 6 grade descriptors available on the module’s Blackboard. 

Assessed intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate coherent and detailed knowledge and understanding of strategic management within a global and sustainable context.
2. Explain, critically analyse and evaluate conceptual frameworks, models and theories to aid strategic analysis and decision making
3. Identify strategic problems and issues facing a range of organizational types and situations
4. Generate and evaluate strategic actions and solutions to problems within complex and unpredictable environments.

Transferable/Key Skills and other attributes

On completion the student will have had the opportunity to:

5. Engage in debate about strategy and communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions effectively from a theoretical and a practical standpoint.
6. Extend their ability to research, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources.
7. Consolidate cognitive skills in critical analysis and evaluation.
8. Identify and solve open-ended business problems involving the creation and assessment of alternative solutions.

Practical, Professional or Subject Specific Skills

On completion of the module, the student will have had the opportunity to/will be able to:

9. Seek new opportunities and demonstrate resilience and accountability;
10. Seek and value the views of others;
11. Be creative, innovative and enterprising when seeking solutions to business problems that are ethical, sustainable and responsible;
12. Act in a legal and socially appropriate manner;
13. Plan and manage personal development effectively at an individual level (time, behaviour and motivation) as part of a team (leadership, influencing and project managing).

Module Aims

1. To acquire an organization-wide perspective through exploring strategy techniques and processes within the global environment.
2. To prepare students for a career in business and management and to develop the next generation manager.
3. To allow students to apply the knowledge and understanding of strategy to a variety of real world organizations.

Word count/ duration (if applicable)

Your assessment should be a total word count of 1800 – this word limit as indicated in the details above. Each question of the essay is enforced by the template and excludes any relevant tables, charts, diagrams provided in the appendix and bibliography.

Feedback arrangements

Formative assessment includes discussion of academic and professional journal articles, class discussion in seminars, clarification of topics, presentations and higher order questions. Formative feedback will be provided during the teaching sessions, and, where appropriate, via the Blackboard announcements. This will enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding of materials covered in the module.

Summative assessments include:

The summative marks and overall feedback will be provided using the assessment rubric in line with the grading guidance above, the L6 grade descriptors and the university guidelines and time frame at 5pm on 12 June 2020 via Turnitin/ Blackboard.  Regular and consistent guidance for the assessment will be provided throughout to students in virtual seminars, study workshops and discussion boards.

Support arrangements

You can obtain support for this assessment by attending briefing lectures, and tutorials are aimed at helping different tasks of the assessments. Some relevant announcements will be made via the Blackboard as well to provide support and reminders for timely submissions. The relevant staff can be contacted via email, though it is important given the nature of the assessment that students attend the lectures and tutorials to enable more personalised support. The tutors will have virtual office hours that can be used -prior email to tutors to arrange appointments help in giving suitable time due to large student cohort. These office hours are advertised on the module’s Blackboard. It is vitally important that the students attend the assessment briefing sessions in lectures and also the ongoing support throughout tutorials from week 1 onwards during the semester 2.

askUS

The University offers a range of support services for students through askUS.

Good Academic Conduct and Academic Misconduct

Students are expected to learn and demonstrate skills associated with good academic conduct (academic integrity). Good academic conduct includes the use of clear and correct referencing of source materials. Here is a link to where you can find out more about the skills which students require http://www.salford.ac.uk/skills–for–learning.

Academic Misconduct is an action which may give you an unfair advantage in your academic work. This includes plagiarism, asking someone else to write your assessment for you or taking notes into an exam. The University takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously.  You can find out how to avoid academic misconduct here https://www.salford.ac.uk/skills–forlearning.

Assessment Information

Please see the assessment information and the relevant company information attached herewith for the tasks, word count, and submission details.

Personal Mitigating Circumstances

If personal mitigating circumstances may have affected your ability to complete this assessment, you can find more information about personal mitigating circumstances procedure here.

Personal Tutor/Student Progression Administrator

If you have any concerns about your studies, contact the Student Progression Administrator.

Assessment Criteria

Please refer to the Level 6 Grade Descriptors available on the module’s Blackboard. The briefing sessions for the assessment will take place during the module and will outline the specific details of each task. The understanding of concepts, their practical application, and use of relevant analysis and information will be assessed in view of the Level 6 grade descriptors.

You should look at the assessment criteria to find out what we are specifically looking at during the assessment.

In Year Retrieval Scheme

Your assessment is not eligible for in year retrieval.

Reassessment

If you fail your assessment, and are eligible for reassessment, you will be contacted at that point to outline the process the University will follow during the current crisis as this may be different from normal process. For students with accepted personal mitigating circumstances, this will be your replacement assessment attempt.  Students should be aware that there is no late submission period at reassessment (this includes those students who have an accepted PMC request from a previous attempt).