ASSESSMENT 2B BRIEF (T3 2021)

Subject Code and Title MGT604 Strategic Management

Assessment Stakeholder Meeting Simulation and White Paper

PART B: Final Submission

Individual/Group Individual

Length Up to 2,000 words

Learning Outcomes The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by successful

completion of the task below include:
b) Critically evaluate different strategy formulation
processes utilised by organisations and evaluate
their relevance to particular organisational
contexts
c) Develop and plan the implementation of a
selected strategy for different organisational
levels including for change management
processes
Submission By 11.55pm AEST/AEDT Friday End of Module 4.2 (Week 8)

Weighting 30%

Total Marks 100 marks

Assessment Task
This is an individual assessment with a component of the work to be conducted in stakeholder
groups allocated by the lecturer.

In your stakeholder group, you are required to:

• Meet, discuss and agree on three new or revised strategy options in response to the
disruption raised in this brief
• Apply strategy concepts in your stakeholder meeting discussions to identify options.
• Produce a teamwork log
Individually, you are required to produce a white paper:
• Nominate the preferred strategy option relevant to the disruption raised in this brief
and apply a strategy framework/s
• Discuss the implications specifically relating to your part of the business
• Include the team log in your paper’s appendix

Please refer to the Task Instructions for details on how to complete this task.

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Context
The assessment of this subject supports students in developing their skills and knowledge in
topics that include environmental assessment, problem diagnosis, strategy development, and
cultural and ethical contexts. Stakeholder meetings are a critical element in strategic
management. This assessment task provides experience and immersive understanding of the
complex interactions involved in the development of strategic choices, and the need to take an
integrative approach to problem solving. The increasing pace of technological change and the
increased impact of social media provides many challenges for businesses attempting to
navigate towards growth and increased profitability. Rapid cycle times for new products can
lead to decisions being made that are not always in the best interests of the long-term survival
of the firm. Disruptions to the everyday course of business come from anywhere and need to be
responded to often in short time frames.

Introduction
Assessment 2 Part B continues from the scenario in Part A. In Part B, a disruption is introduced
which necessitates re-consideration of the white paper done in Part A of the Assessment. Here
is a recap of the scenario.

Scenario Recap
Pro-Go Pty Ltd is a privately-owned manufacturer of small, high-quality action cameras based in
Geelong, Victoria. Founded in 2004 it has enjoyed continuous year-on-year growth until the last
financial year. Pro-Go has a track record of innovation, and technology that provides excellent quality
results in a small package able to operate with small batteries for extended periods of time. The
video files these cameras produce are known for having superior colour, and operate effectively in
lower lighting conditions than competitor’s cameras. They are also marketed on the basis of their
extreme ruggedness, and reliability. Much of the technology used in its devices has been patented by
Pro-Go and is not currently available to other manufacturers.

The Pro-Go management team recognised that the ability to capture videos is now a feature of most
phones. It suggested to them that the future of the stand-alone camera may be limited. At the time,
Pro-Go’s CEO requested the executive team meet independently to develop a strategy to guide the
company over the next five years.

Disruption
Export restrictions and other trade barriers have impacted Pro-Go’s sales into some of the
company’s emerging international markets. Sales of its flagship action camera models into
those markets have declined, which has significantly impacted the company’s profitability.

Sensing an opportunity to move into the action camera space, a key Chinese supplier of Pro-
Go camera parts has ceased trading with Pro-Go and this has put pressure on Pro-Go’s
manufacturing processes and interrupted its ability to meet current customer demand.

The Pro-Go management team has tasked the stakeholder team to meet and develop a modified set
of strategies to respond to this disruption and articulate the way forward for the company.

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Instructions
Re-convene the (emergency) stakeholder meetings to address the disruption scenario. The
stakeholder meetings must discuss this disruption and develop a modified set of strategies. Please
return to your groups immediately to discuss these events and adjust your strategic approach
accordingly.

Your 2,000 word, individual, White paper should be structured as follows:

• Executive Summary – Briefly summarise the entire report

• Table of Contents - Make it look good. Include page numbers and ensure the layout looks
balanced on the page.
• Introduction - Provide background and context to the report. Tell the reader what has
happened in the past that has led to this report being needed.
• Aim - State in a single sentence what this report is seeking to achieve.
• Discussion - Cover the content you wish to address in response to the disruption scenario.
You must incorporate theory and application of strategy formulation methods.
• Conclusion - Restate the aim and sum up the discussion to demonstrate to the reader that
the aim has been satisfied. There should be no new content in the conclusion.
• Recommendations - What are the next steps? What is required to progress into the future?
Evaluate/justify your recommendations?
• References - Please ensure you use the correct APA referencing style throughout.
Remember EVERY factual statement requires a reference.
• Appendices - Additional material to substantiate or add greater depth to the material
presented in the report, and your Teamwork log.

The white paper is to be completed individually by each member of the team reflecting the impact
of the proposed strategy on their part of the business after the disruption and should be completed
to the professional standard that would be required if the below scenario were real.

Deliverables
The stakeholder meeting/s will discuss and agree on three new or revised strategy options for Pro-
Go in response to this disruption. In doing so, the Stakeholder meeting/s may consider strategy
options that exist in adjacent markets or with related but different products or technologies.
Remember to apply strategy concepts in your stakeholder meeting discussions to identify strategy
options.

The deliverables required of each student are to produce a white paper covering the following:

1. Nominate a single preferred strategy option and apply a strategy framework(s) to analyse
and justify why you believe it is the best strategy option to address the disruption; and
2. Discuss the implications specifically relating to your part of the business, and what
challenges these might represent. Separate the discussion into short-term and long-term
issues.

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Students are to address the assessment task from the perspective of their own functional area of
responsibility, for example the SFM will be focussed on the finance department. You are to integrate
theory in your white paper.

Ensure that the three new or revised strategy options do not become the focus of the white paper –
no more than a brief paragraph in total should be devoted to the three options. The majority of the
paper must be about the single preferred strategy option that addresses the disruption.

Teamwork Log
Students should also keep a log of how they have worked together as part of a team in the delivery
of this project. This includes meeting dates and times, meeting minutes/notes, a detailed description
of how tasks were allocated and completed (and by whom), copies of emails and/or written
discussion regarding the project, and any other evidence of teamwork that students would like to
include. All students involved in the project need to check the log before submission. It is assumed
that the final submission has been agreed between students as being an accurate record of the work
that has taken place for the project.

The appendix log must be submitted with the assessment but is not a part of the overall word count.

Referencing
It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Please see more
information on referencing here in the Academic Writing Guide found via the Academic Skills
website.

Academic Integrity
All students are responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is their own and is appropriately
referenced and academically written according to the Academic Writing Guide. Students also need
to have read and be aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
and subsequent penalties for academic misconduct. These are viewable online.

Students also must keep a copy of all submitted material and any assessment drafts.

Submission Instructions
Assessment 2 Part B Final White Paper is to be written according to academic writing guidelines and
must be submitted in compliance with the following;

1. You should make significant references to the subject material and substantial wider
reading. A minimum five (5) academic (books & peer-reviewed journal articles) &
two (2) other sources (newspaper article, trade publications, websites, etc.) must be used.
These should be referenced in the APA 7th style, both in-text and in a reference list.
References to ‘Wikipedia’ or similar unsubstantiated sources will not be accepted. The
assignment is to include in-text citations and a reference list following the APA 7th

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 referencing style. The APA referencing guide can be located in the Academic Writing Guide
at https://library.torrens.edu.au/ld.php?content_id=49180373
2. Students will also need to participate in the stakeholder meeting. Some class time (for class-
based students) may be allocated to this discussion. Online students will need to participate
in pre organised forums/sessions. In addition, a summary of notes and ideas discussed
during group work sessions needs to be attached to your submission as an appendix (but will
not form part of your final word count).
3. Submit the Assessment 2 Part B: Final Submission (with references) via the Assessment link
in the main navigation menu in MGT604 Strategic Management on the Student Portal. The
Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via Grade Centre in the Student Portal. Feedback
can be viewed in My Grades.
Students should use the brief to guide what to include in the assessment and the following
rubric to inform the standard required. The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via Grade
Centre in the Student Portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.

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Assessment Rubric
Fail
Pass Credit Distinction High Distinction
Assessment (Yet to achieve
(Functional) (Proficient) (Advanced) (Exceptional)
Attributes minimum standard)
50-64% 65-74% 75-84% 85-100%
0-49%
Content does not Content somewhat Good coverage of the Thorough coverage of Comprehensive
Research and adequately superficial or with some topic with clearly the topic. Good understanding; insightful
comprehension demonstrate a gaps in understanding articulated explanation application of theory. discussion; excellent and
postgraduate standard of the topic. Good use of credible relevant application of
Percentage for this of detail and thought Reasonable fit between sources theory. Multiple and
criterion = 30% theory and practice credible references used
Reader cannot Basic intent covered; Reader understands the Reader has a good sense Readers’ understanding
Analysis and understand the analysis and arguments arguments presented of the analysis and of the analysis and
synthesis foundations of the could be more convincing through focused analysis evidence, which is well arguments is clear;
topics from the with some evidence and evidence discussed in argument. logical and well
Percentage for this information provided. provided Insights are drawn from organised; detailed and
criterion = 30% Poor logic. No evidence synthesised information insightful analysis;
provided to support structured arguments;
arguments synthesis and
understanding of links
between issues
Layout is Layout is adequate with Overall presentation is Good presentation Overall style, use of
Writing mechanics confusing; logic, acceptable logic flow and easy to digest; language content and language, figures and
flow and use of use of language. Some succinct and well chosen; language; easy to tables encourages
Percentage for this language difficult misspellings and less than four spelling read and draw comprehension; creative
criterion = 15% grammatical errors and grammatical errors and engaging report
to follow; conclusions; no
numerous spelling more than two
and spelling and
grammatical errors grammatical errors

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 Reflection and Little reflection evident; Poor reflections and Good reflections Rich reflections drawing Insightful conclusions
conclusions unclear conclusions generic or somewhat highlighting key aspects; from good research, drawing well from the
irrelevant conclusions relevant conclusions analysis and synthesis. discussion and evidence;
Percentage for this which are a mix of Relevant and specific creative and insightful
criterion = 25% generic and specific conclusions reflection with relevance
conclusions to the topic

The following Subject Learning Outcomes are addressed in this assessment

Critically examine how strategic management and core competencies can build and sustain competitive advantage in
SLO b) different organisational contexts

Develop and plan the implementation of a selected strategy for different organisational levels including for change
SLO c)
management processes

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