Assignment TaskMaking specific reference to relevant concepts covered on this module, critically assess the current crisis at Volkswagen/VW from a strategic point of view. Draw on material covered in Lectures 1-5 of this module.Essential contents:1. Your piece must include a brief overview of recent developments at VW. You can use the sources provided in this document, but you are also expected to update this unfolding case through your own desk research (e.g. ft.com, The Guardian, the BBC website, or other online sources). The University Library holds a wide range of relevant materials. Interlibrary loans should not be necessary for the completion of this assignment.2. In your analysis and discussion of the case, you must make reference to specific topics studied in Lectures 1-5 of this module (e.g. to tools of communicating strategy, the macro/micro environment, resources, competences, corporate strategy).3. Your answer must include some recommendations for VWs strategy. If you were a Board member at VW, what would you see as important for VWs strategy?Additional guidelines: Remember that your work needs to be grounded in relevant academic literature. You can make reference to relevant journals and books available through the University Library. Your assignment should be clearly written in an academic style, following guidelines on essay writing available through MyEssex, the Universitys Talent Development Centre, or the EBS Learning Support Co-ordinator. Remember that material from the WorldWideWeb must be referenced as any other source you use. You can list web sources separately in your reference list. Please remember to state when you last accessed these sites. Your assignment should contain a title page which should include the module name and code, your name, and your student registration number. Please include page numbers in your work, leave adequate margins, and use 1.5 line-spacing.Useful links to get you startedVW emission test cheating rocks Europes carmakers (22-09-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/970e54f8-6048-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html?ftcamp=crm/email/2015922/nbe/BusinessEducation/product#axzz3pIIVvNtDVolkswagen shares tumble as inquiries are launched worldwide (23-09-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9bde89f0-6109-11e5-a28b-50226830d644.html?ftcamp=crm/email/2015923/nbe/BusinessEducation/product#axzz3pIIVvNtDVolkswagen board gathers to appoint replacement for Winterkorn (25-09-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d4feb2e2-628e-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html?ftcamp=crm/email/2015925/nbe/BusinessEducation/product#axzz3pIIVvNtDEU warned on devices at centre of VW scandal two years ago (25-09-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d0d7ba40-6394-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html?ftcamp=crm/email/2015926/nbe/BusinessEducation/product#axzz3pIIVvNtDVWs need for a crisis panel exposes the boards failings (28-09-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2793718e-62bf-11e5-a28b-50226830d644.html#axzz3pIIVvNtDCulture clash gives clue to Volkswagen scandal (06-10-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/24a9c128-6b5a-11e5-8608-a0853fb4e1fe.html#axzz3pIIVvNtDVolkswagens home city enveloped in fear, anger and disbelief (11-10-2015)http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5ae421be-6dcd-11e5-8171-ba1968cf791a.html#axzz3pIIVvNtDVolkswagen Group Moving Ahead; speech by Frank Witter, Member of the Board of Management, 20-01-2016http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/talks_and_presentations/talks_and_presentations.htmlYour attention is also drawn to the organizations corporate website:http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/homepage.htmlMarking Criteria:The criteria used to assess this assignment will be as follows:Quality of reflection, interpretation and evaluationQuality and depth of appraisal and interpretation of data and academic materials, including the appropriate use of relevant course conceptsBreadth and depth of issues analyzedLogical reasoning, analysis and debateOriginality and use of initiativeUse of academic concepts and theoriesThe extent to which the required academic materials (incl. relevant course concepts) have been incorporatedDepth of reading and application (esp. in terms of further reading)Relevance of the contentStructure and clarity of presentationThe logic and rationale for the adopted structureThe clarity of the points madeCorrect use of referencing styleAppropriate presentation of the work (e.g. the inclusion of page numbers, sub-headings etc.)

Business strategy

Order Description

Critically evaluate the key issues that strategic analysis plays in a business or organisation that you are familiar with.
In this assignment, you are required to write a 2500 word report including 200 words of an executive summary, but excluding references and appendix. You should also perform the following tasks:
1. Describe briefly the background information of the organisation (or SBU) assigned. This information should be brief and relevant to the discussion of your assignment and thus may include ownership, history, size, business scope, major products/services, and major markets of the organisation (or SBU) selected.
2. Conduct external environment analysis including a macro-environment analysis and Porter’s 5 forces analysis:
(1) Conduct a macro-environment analysis for the entire industry within which the organisation (or SBU) operates. You should use PESTEL model and focus on the understanding of the purpose of this analysis, the identification of key factors and their implications in terms of key opportunities and threats, and the discussion of their overall impact on the industry growth in the future. Draw your conclusion based on your macro-environment analysis.
(2) Undertake a competitive analysis using Porter’s 5 forces model. You are required to pay attention to the purpose of this analysis, the inter-connectedness of different aspects of the competitive forces, and their overall impact on the industry and the organisation selected in terms of main driving forces in the competitive environment. Draw your conclusions based on your five-force analysis.
3. Conduct internal environment analysis. You should identify key resources and competencies of the organisation (or SBU) that are likely to provide sustainable competitive advantage.
4. Summarise your findings based on your external and internal environment analysis. Identify the key issues that the organisation (or SBU) faces and give your recommendations.
5. Draw your conclusion.

Guidelines for this task:
Ensure that you read widely and address key components of the strategic management process addressed in the literature from Module 1.
You should seek to complement the readings from Module 1 by accessing books and relevant journal articles from the sources listed under ‘Recommended additional reading’ in this Subject Outline.
Use your reading to inform your critical evaluation of the key issues of strategic analysis within the business, public sector or not-for-profit organisation where you work.
While you are required to name the organisation that is the focus of your research, you may wish to make a case for maintaining the anonymity of the organisation (e.g. due to political or commercial sensitivities). Contact your subject coordinator before you start on the assignment if you need to do this.

Rationale
This assessment item relates to the following learning outcomes in this subject:
• be able to identify and explain the key components of strategic management such as strategy analysis;
• be able to review and evaluate the evolution of ideas and practices leading to the development of strategic management and its relationship to other management practices and principles;
• be able to identify and differentiate between functional areas such as marketing, finance, operations and human resource management and evaluate how they should act conjointly toward the attainment of the organisations strategic aims and objectives;
• be able to evaluate the importance of developing strategically appropriate relationships between people, processes, functions, structures and even organisations; and
• be able to critique, act strategically, and make recommendations in the context of the potential of strategic management vis-a-vis the realisation of organisational change and/or success in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

Business strategy

Order Description

Critically evaluate the key issues that strategic analysis plays in a business or organisation that you are familiar with.
In this assignment, you are required to write a 2500 word report including 200 words of an executive summary, but excluding references and appendix. You should also perform the following tasks:
1. Describe briefly the background information of the organisation (or SBU) assigned. This information should be brief and relevant to the discussion of your assignment and thus may include ownership, history, size, business scope, major products/services, and major markets of the organisation (or SBU) selected.
2. Conduct external environment analysis including a macro-environment analysis and Porter’s 5 forces analysis:
(1) Conduct a macro-environment analysis for the entire industry within which the organisation (or SBU) operates. You should use PESTEL model and focus on the understanding of the purpose of this analysis, the identification of key factors and their implications in terms of key opportunities and threats, and the discussion of their overall impact on the industry growth in the future. Draw your conclusion based on your macro-environment analysis.
(2) Undertake a competitive analysis using Porter’s 5 forces model. You are required to pay attention to the purpose of this analysis, the inter-connectedness of different aspects of the competitive forces, and their overall impact on the industry and the organisation selected in terms of main driving forces in the competitive environment. Draw your conclusions based on your five-force analysis.
3. Conduct internal environment analysis. You should identify key resources and competencies of the organisation (or SBU) that are likely to provide sustainable competitive advantage.
4. Summarise your findings based on your external and internal environment analysis. Identify the key issues that the organisation (or SBU) faces and give your recommendations.
5. Draw your conclusion.

Guidelines for this task:
Ensure that you read widely and address key components of the strategic management process addressed in the literature from Module 1.
You should seek to complement the readings from Module 1 by accessing books and relevant journal articles from the sources listed under ‘Recommended additional reading’ in this Subject Outline.
Use your reading to inform your critical evaluation of the key issues of strategic analysis within the business, public sector or not-for-profit organisation where you work.
While you are required to name the organisation that is the focus of your research, you may wish to make a case for maintaining the anonymity of the organisation (e.g. due to political or commercial sensitivities). Contact your subject coordinator before you start on the assignment if you need to do this.

Rationale
This assessment item relates to the following learning outcomes in this subject:
• be able to identify and explain the key components of strategic management such as strategy analysis;
• be able to review and evaluate the evolution of ideas and practices leading to the development of strategic management and its relationship to other management practices and principles;
• be able to identify and differentiate between functional areas such as marketing, finance, operations and human resource management and evaluate how they should act conjointly toward the attainment of the organisations strategic aims and objectives;
• be able to evaluate the importance of developing strategically appropriate relationships between people, processes, functions, structures and even organisations; and
• be able to critique, act strategically, and make recommendations in the context of the potential of strategic management vis-a-vis the realisation of organisational change and/or success in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.