Business Strategy - Guideline for Group Project

                                                 BUSINESS STRATEGY

                                                        BUS460 (F2016)

                                 GUIDELINE FOR GROUP PROJECT

GROUP PROJECT (35% out of 100% - 15% for oral presentation and 20% for the written report)

Each group is required to conduct a research relating to the strategic management and business policy of a Company operating in Hong Kong or overseas.

The objective of the research is that you as the Strategic Planning Manager make recommendation to the CEO of the Company for the improvement of its strategic management and business policy.

First, you select the Company and the area(s) of strategic management and business policy in which you have keen interest. Such areas may include those at the corporate level (e.g., strategy for growth); business level and/or operational level (e.g., human resources strategies; purchasing strategy).  

Second, you identify the problem(s), find solution(s) and make recommendation(s) by applying the strategic management model that runs throughout the textbook:

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Specifically, you can go through the four processes of: 1) environmental scanning; 2) strategy formulation; 3) strategy implementation; and 4) evaluation and control.  The problems and their solutions can be identified and solved via an appropriate research method/design such as participant observation, in-depth interview, focus group, questionnaires, and/or secondary data analysis.

To analyse the situation, you should consider whether the problems are caused by the inappropriate strategies that the Company has been practising corporate-wide, business-wide or function-wide. In your recommendation, you may conclude that you need to work out a new strategy to replace the existing one. 

You should apply at least 5 theories and/or concepts learned. A minimum of 5 academic/refereed articles are to be used to support your report.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR GROUP PROJECT REPORT AND PRESENTATION

1. Members of each group make an oral presentation in English.  20 minutes for each group and a maximum of 10 minutes for Q&A after the presentation.

1. Each group submits a written report on the date of presentation: December 8 and 9 and December 15 and 16. Late submission will not be graded.  

1. The written report should be double-spaced and no more than 3,000 words which is about 26 pages, excluding appendices and references. The report should be printed in letter (laser) quality with A4 and single-sized paper. Cover page should include Course Title, Section Number, Group Number, Title of the Report, Group Members’ Names and Student IDs, and number your report at the bottom of each page. Each group attach to your written report a separate sheet indicating which part(s) of the report is done by which group member.

1. A Group Declaration on plagiarising in the standard format of the University should be attached to the written report.

1. No more than 2 groups in a particular section can select the same Company. Selection is on a first come first serve basis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR GROUP ORAL RESENTATION (15%)

1. Content and analysis;
2. Ability to adopt theories and apply to the situation
3. Teamwork (flow and integration)
4. Creativity

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR WRITTEN REPORT (20%)

Following criteria are applied as a guideline (reference only) for the preparation of a research report. Contents are to be modified in accordance with your research objective, nature, area and requirement. However, there are some basic issues which are important so far as the professionalism of your report is concerned, as follow:

Introduction

The introduction provides a clear overview of the research project.