Strategic Analysis: Tools & Techniques - Coursework 1

This assessment is 50% of the overall grade

Task

Present a critical strategic analysis of the current Strategic Change within the
following case:

Post Holdings buying Weetabix

You are required to cover the following topics covered in the module:
 Strategic Position of the company
 Stakeholder Analysis
 External Analysis
 Industry Analysis

News & Web Links

The links below provide some starting points but students MUST add their own detailed
research to develop the analysis:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39625715
https://www.weetabixfoodcompany.co.uk/press/news-archive/post-holdings-completes-
acquisition-of-weetabix
https://www.postholdings.com/about/
https://www.ft.com/content/1c98e144-23aa-11e7-8691-d5f7e0cd0a16

The following structure is required for the submitted report:

 Introduction to the report

 An evaluation of the relevant levels of strategy
 A critical evaluation of the key stakeholders
 External Analysis – using PESTEL to identify and explore key trends
 Industry Analysis – using 5 Forces to critically analyse the relevant industry factors
 Conclusion

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 the
word count.

University of South Wales (USW)

It is important that attention be focused on a strategic appraisal 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 of the assessment, but you must reference sources of company or market
information. Furthermore, you must reference sources for any theoretical background
that you decide to include.

Hand in date: tbc

Marking Criteria
Marking criteria are:

Indicative Criteria
Percentage
30% Application of Frameworks and models
The required frameworks and models introduced in the assignment task
should be applied correctly to identify the key issues emerging relevant
to the business example selected.
60% Depth of Strategic Evaluation.
Key strategic factors should be critically evaluated to develop the
required depth of analysis of the business example selected. A strong
analysis needs to be evidence based rather than appear to be personal
opinion so must draw on relevant sources e.g. news & media, industry
publications, company web pages and documentation
10% Clarity of Structure and Presentation
The report is well organised and logically constructed, following the
layout indicated in the assignment task. The quality of writing, spell
checking, grammar and referencing need to demonstrate accuracy to
ensure the reader can focus on the analysis provided

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

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.

Marking Criteria

 Introduce the case event

a. Provide a brief overview of the case to set the key themes to be explored
b. Avoid an overlong description of the company

University of South Wales (USW)

 An evaluation of the levels of strategy relevant to this case i.e. Corporate, SBU
a. Students should identify the generic position that guides the company activity
b. Use Bowman’s clock (using products/services to illustrate the way the
strategy is being met) to structure the analysis of strategic position
c. Come to a clear understanding of the company’s position. They need to
clearly determine how and why a differentiation strategy has been developed
d. Use rivals sparingly to clarify the strategic intent of the company. Should
avoid overcomplicating models
e. Link to the Industry analysis that is to follow

 An evaluation of the key stakeholders

a. Identify and consider the relevance of a range of stakeholders that are
impacted by the case study
b. Map the positions of main stakeholders and analyse the impact on the
company

 A critical analysis of the main external factors driving the strategy/ ies being explored
a. Need to do a PEST or variation first then 5 Forces
b. Analysis should focus on the KEY drivers of change rather than cover every
issue found
c. The PEST must not focus on what the company is doing but identify trends in
the environment
d. Models will probably contain more examples than the analysis explores. This
is fine as long as the analysis has picked on the main themes

 A critical analysis of the industry factors impacting on the competitive position of the
company
a. There should be an awareness of how the PEST and 5 Forces are linked
b. Draw out and analyse the key themes that are impacting on the varied forces
c. Avoid just listing a series of bullet points that offer no discussion of impact
d. Develop the competitive advantage analysis with an understanding of group
mapping
e. Provide examples of competitive characteristics that illustrate the nature of
the competitive position

 Conclusions & Recommendations

a. Draw the main aspects of the analysis together
b. Set out key points considered for strategic development

University of South Wales (USW)

General Guidance to students
Structure

 The introduction should be brief. It is not meant to provide a history of the company
 The Conclusion needs to draw the analysis to a close and comment on the
sustainability of the company’s strategic position. 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
report findings
 References should clearly list all the material that has been referred to in the report
and set out using Harvard style:

Models/Content
 Remember to use the models in a ‘dynamic’ way i.e. place relevant examples onto
the models. 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 if
they 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 the
appendices 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 in your
analysis
 You will not be able to use all of the examples if you have done the level of reading
required so ‘cherry pick’ those that best illustrate the key drivers
 Facts and figures need to be supported with sources clearly referenced.

Presentation
 Be your own independent work and free from plagiarism by ensuring that work that
is not your own is clearly referenced
 Use Harvard style citation and referencing using the Drop-in centre published
guidelines
 Be written in appropriate academic style
 Be professionally presented
 Be word processed using font size 12 for the main text and 1.5 line spacing
 Have numbered pages
 Have been spell checked and proof-read
 Be anonymous and have your Student Enrolment number on every page
 Have 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 VLE

University of South Wales (USW)