STG

Strategic Management Individual Assignment (in lieu of examination)

You are required to answer and discuss the following five questions in a written 1500 word

individual assignment. You should structure your assignment according to the five questions below,

with a separate heading for each. No overall introduction or conclusion is required. Each question is

weighted equally and we recommend that each answer is around 300 words. The overall 1500 word

limit is a maximum but excludes figures, tables and references. Appendices should not be used.

This individual assignment has been designed as a replacement for the scheduled examination. We

have aimed to keep the nature of the assessment as close as possible to the examination for which

you had prepared. In your answers you should aim to demonstrate a clear understanding of both the

conceptual material and how it can be applied in practice. You may refer to your notes and other

materials in completing the assignment. Note that the assignment must be completed individually

and is subject to the normal plagiarism criteria.

Your individual assignment should be submitted via Turnitin by Monday 20th April 2020. Your SAS

Lead will provide further details regarding the submission process.

1. Analyse the attractiveness of an industry of your choice using Michael Porter’s ‘Five Forces’

model.

2. Describe how you would use the Customer Matrix to evaluate the competitive strategy options

that may be open to a firm that is losing market share relative to competition.

3. Explain the criteria used to identify a ‘strategic asset’. Select an organization you are familiar

with and identify three of its strategic assets, explaining why each of these assets would be

difficult for competitors to imitate.

4. Explain how the Corporate Parenting Matrix could be used to help formulate a corporate

acquisition and divestment strategy.

5. Describe how you would use the cultural web to establish whether or not an organisation’s

culture needs to change in order to deliver its strategy.