Summative Assessment Point 2

ASSESSMENT BRIEF AND MARKING RUBRIC

Module title: LJMU-7503-UNIMBA Operationalizing the Strategy
Assessment point: Assessment point 2 (Week 12)
Assessment task: Written Report
Word count limit: 3000 words Report +/- 10% (excluding references and appendices)
Weighting: 70% of overall module grade

Extenuating Circumstances
Where illness or other verifiable cause prevents timely submission of the summative
assessments, you are required to contact the Unicaf Extenuating Circumstances team in the first
instance, via [email protected], for further information on how to make
an appropriate request for consideration of your circumstances. It is important to note that
any request must be made to the mentioned team in advance of the originally stipulated
deadlines, otherwise shall be considered as late and will not be reviewed further unless valid
independent evidence exists to support that you could not have reasonably gotten in touch any
sooner.

Academic misconduct, including plagiarism

Ensure that you are familiar with the relevant regulations regarding academic misconduct. By
submitting the assignment, you declare that it is your own work and that the material and sources of
information used, including internet sources, have been fully identified and properly
acknowledged. In addition, you confirm that the presented work has not been submitted for any
other assessment.
You also acknowledge that the faculty reserves the right to investigate allegations of plagiarism and
other forms of academic misconduct, which, if proven and dependent on the severity level of the
offense, may result in a penalty that could affect your progress.
By submitting your work, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed with the above
statements.

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General guidance
Your assignment should be MS-Word processed (handwritten assignments are not accepted),
using Times New Roman size 12 font, double spaced, with numbered pages and your student
number printed as a footer on every page. Please note that this report is supported by academic
research, so you should adhere to the appropriate referencing guidance. Please note that your
assignment will be submitted via the Turnitin software. This allows us to monitor and deal with
plagiarism.
The word limit stated for this assignment excludes the list of references at the end of the
assignment but includes all text in the main body of the assignment (including direct quotations,
in-text citations, footnotes, tables, diagrams and graphs). Please be aware that exceeding the word
limit will affect the academic judgment of the piece of work and may result in the award of a
lower mark. Appendices are not considered a supplement and will not be assessed as part of the
content of the assignment. As such, they will not contribute to the grade awarded; however, it
may be appropriate to use an Appendices section for any material which is a useful reference for
the reader. Please note that appendices are not included in the word count. Please indicate the
word count length at the end of your assignment.
The majority of references should come from primary sources (e.g. journal articles, conference
papers, reports, etc.), although you can also utilize area-specific textbooks. You must ensure that
you use the Harvard style of referencing.
Marking and assessment
This assignment will be marked out of 100% and contributes to 70% of the total module mark.
The pass mark is 50%.
Submission deadline
Please note that your work should be uploaded by the coursework deadline - failure to do this
will lead to your coursework being marked as though it was late or missing. Work submitted
after the submission deadline without a granted extension to the submission deadline or a
deferral in accordance with the Extenuating Circumstances Policy will not be accepted and will
be recorded as 0%. Please submit your module summative assessment(s) by 11:59 pm (23:59
hours) VLE (UTC) time on the due date at the latest. Any summative assessment submitted up to
5 days late, will be accepted but the mark will be capped at 50%. Any work submitted more than
5 days late after the submission deadline will be recorded as 0%.

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Please note that you are responsible for making sure you understand the process of uploading
your assignment on the VLE before your coursework submission deadlines.

Submitting via Turnitin

Your assignment will be submitted via Turnitin. Please note that you are responsible for ensuring
you understand the process of uploading your assessment on the VLE before your assignment
submission deadline. This includes submitting your work via Turnitin for similarity checks and
accepting the Turnitin terms and conditions.

As a first step, you are advised to upload your work as a draft and check the Turnitin similarity
indication well before the relevant deadline. This way, you can see whether further amendments
are needed to reduce similarity in case this is high. After editing your work, you can proceed with
the final submission by the deadline.

Any submitted work not accompanied by a Turnitin similarity report will not be accepted. Please
contact your tutor if you experience any issues with the use of Turnitin.

Learning Outcomes
After completing this assessment, the students should be able to:
LO.1 Apply critical understanding of operational trends, theories and frameworks associated with
financial management, marketing, and operations management used to translate strategy into
operational practice.
LO.4 Evaluate key aspects of practical and achievable operational goals and objectives in order to
deliver the desired strategy outcomes.

Assessment guidelines

Produce a 3000-word report (+/- 10%) (Excluding the list of references) approaching the below
task.

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Task
Choose your organisation/or an organisation you are familiar with, identify an area of the
organisation that would benefit from strategic change and create a detailed strategic plan to
implement this change over the coming year. The plan should consider strategic and resource
implications and will evaluate how the organisation will operationalise the strategy. The report
will also identify any key challenges and risks associated with the change as well as providing
some key recommendations for the organisation. You are being assessed on your ability to
critically apply theory to practice and to synthesise information.

Report Structure
1) Executive Summary: (approx. 200 words) This should include a strategy statement and
intention, evaluation points and any implementation issues. The executive summary should
allow the reader to grasp the argument without having to read the entire document.
2) Introduction: (approx. 300 words) A short section setting out the format and structure of
the report. This should also set out key points and key findings of the report.
3) Strategic Aims and Intent: (approx. 300 words) Clearly identify the area for strategic
change and consider what the organisation needs to enhance its performance.
- What is the issue you are trying to address?
- Produce 3 clear aims/objectives that the strategy will work towards addressing
4) Stakeholder Analysis: (approx. 200 words)
- The plan should identify stakeholders e.g. customers, suppliers etc that will be
impacted.
5) Strategic Capabilities: (approx. 800 words) An evaluation of the strategic capabilities
required to operationalise the strategy. This should be an analysis of the resources and
processes required to translate strategy into practice. You will need to consider the
following areas using the concepts and theory covered in class;
- Human resources
- Marketing and Communications
- Project/operational resources (including a Gantt Chart)
- Financial Resources
6) Implementation and Control (approx. 400 Words)
Set out a plan for the strategy to take shape including an approximated timeline with
deliverables and methods for evaluating success e.g. performance measurements.
7) Key Challenges: (approx. 400 words) Critically consider barriers to operationalising the
strategy, this should include;
- Feasibility analysis
- Risk analysis
8) Summary/Conclusion: (approx. 300 words) Conclusions based on findings and
recommendations.
9) References
10) Appendix

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 Marking criteria: Individual Report
Marking Criteria Marks
Clearly identifies the a) Clearly defines key area for specific operational improvement.
aims of the report and b) Critical analysis of current operational performance within chosen
rationale for change organisation to identify specific areas of improvement and or
opportunity to deliver increased customer value and drive wider
stakeholder impacts considering brand, reputation and operational 20
outcomes.
c) Detailed current KPI’s and financial plans used to detail the
problem or potential opportunity for change clearly detailing the
rationale for the proposed change including the strategic outcomes.
Critical Evaluation of a) Evaluation of the operational changes required to implement
the nature of proposed strategy using appropriate theory and concepts.
operational change and b) Detailed analysis of the scope of the change and the various
organisational impact organisational areas impacted.
c) Consideration should be given to organisational impacts in terms 20
of operational resources such as people, finance, sourcing, risk,
performance management, and also to wider managerial and
leadership considerations.
Analysis of a) Detailed review of how the change will be implemented using
implementation of the appropriate theory and concepts.
proposed strategic b) Analysis of tools, techniques and skills that will be used to ensure
change and associated effective implementation to agreed timelines, risks, budgets etc to
challenges. ensure the strategy is implemented effectively with minimal 20
disruption to the organisation.
c) Consideration given to how strategy and implementation will be
evaluated to ensure it has the desired impact in the required timeline.
Strategic Challenges a) A summary of the key findings and recommendations should be
and Evaluation provided, these should detail the main strategic changes taking place
and the suitable strategic choices that have been made.
b) The report clearly demonstrates practical application within the
given work environment, 20
c) The theories, concepts and modes covered in the module are
applied correctly to practical examples to demonstrate a clear
knowledge and understanding.
Quality of Research and a) Evidence of reading beyond the basic texts and materials 10
Referencing b) Appropriate use of theory, concepts and ideas to support points
made
c) Accurate and consistent referencing using Harvard Referencing.
Presentation, Style and a) Good execution of the brief 10
Structure b) Clear and logical structure
c) Well focused and well written.

Overall Mark 100

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 LJMU Level 7 Grading Criteria

Please note that the individual passing mark for Liverpool John Moores University (postgraduate
modules) is 50%.
Mark Performance
range characteristic Grading criteria

• Exemplary attainment of all learning outcomes

90-100 Exceptional • Demonstrates an outstanding synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
Pass analysis of key issues in the subject area
• Wide-ranging emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the
forefront of the discipline
• Offers an exhaustive exploration of the literature and evidence-base
• The material covered is accurate and relevant
• The argument is highly sophisticated
• The standard of writing is refined
• No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
• Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.

• Excellent attainment of all learning outcomes, with some, met to an exemplary

80-89 Outstanding standard
Pass • Demonstrates a comprehensive synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
analysis of key issues in the subject area. Wide-ranging emphasis on knowledge
and ideas that are at the forefront of the discipline
• Extends far beyond expected levels of engagement with the literature and
evidence- base
• The material covered is accurate and relevant
• The argument is generally very astute
• The standard of writing is refined
• No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
• Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
• Excellent attainment of all learning outcomes
70-79 Excellent • Demonstrates a thorough synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
pass analysis of key issues in the subject area
• Strong emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of the
discipline
• Thorough use of the literature and evidence-base
• The material covered is accurate and relevant
• The argument is persuasive and there are very perceptive elements
• The standard of writing is refined
• No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
• Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
• Good attainment of all learning outcomes
60-69 Good Pass • Demonstrates detailed synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
analysis of key issues in the subject area
• Good emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of the
discipline
• Good consideration of the literature and evidence-based that
develops from recommended readings
• The material covered is accurate and relevant
• The argument is persuasive
• The standard of writing is refined
• No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
• Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.

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 • Adequate attainment of all learning outcomes
50-59 Pass • Demonstrates a limited, but sufficient, synthesis of varied theoretical
positions in the analysis of key issues in the subject area
• Some emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of the
discipline
• Sufficient consideration of the literature and evidence-based, but little
consideration beyond recommended readings
• The material covered is mostly accurate and relevant
• The argument is straightforward and relatively clear
• The standard of writing is well clear and readable, with some sophisticated
phrasing
• No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
• Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.

• Meets most, but not all learning outcomes

40-49 Needs some • Demonstrates limited synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the analysis of
improvement key issues in the subject area
• Less than expected emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the
forefront of the discipline
• Basic consideration of the literature and evidence-based, but
restricted to recommended readings
• Some inaccuracies or irrelevant materials that suggest confusion and
misunderstanding
• The argument is relatively clear, although some elements are difficult to
understand
• The standard of writing is well clear and readable, but overly simplistic
• Minor errors in the use of the specified referencing system, but meets key
principles
• Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.

• Approximately half the learning outcomes are met

30-39 Needs major • Demonstrates very little synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
improvement analysis of key issues in the subject area
• Little emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of the discipline
• Minor consideration of the literature and evidence-based, with
inadequate use of recommended reading and no exploration outside
that
• Some materials are accurate, but the amount of inaccurate or
irrelevant materials indicates an insufficient understanding of key
concepts
• The argument is poorly defined and defended
• The standard of writing is mostly clear and readable
• Some errors in the use of the specified referencing system, but meets key
principles
• Generally, well presented and organised, but does not always conform
to conventions of academic presentation.

• Most learning outcomes are not met

20-29 Needs • Demonstrates no synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
significant analysis of key issues in the subject area
revision • Little or no emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of
the discipline
• Superficial consideration of the literature and evidence-base
• There are major inaccuracies or significant amounts of irrelevant material
• The argument is very weak
• The standard of writing is reasonable and there are very few areas
of confusion and/or errors in spelling/grammar
• Attempts to use of the specified referencing system. Meets key principles,
but there are systematic errors
• Good presentation that may include some organisational errors
and/or tendency not to conform to conventions of academic
presentation.

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 • Does not meet any learning outcomes
0-19 Needs • Demonstrates misunderstanding of varied theoretical positions in
substantial the analysis of key issues in the subject area
work • No emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of the discipline
• No engagement with the literature and evidence-base
• The material covered is inaccurate or irrelevant
• The argument is incoherent
• Standard of writing is acceptable. The structure is reasonable, but there
are some areas of confusion and/or some errors in spelling/grammar
• Attempts to use the specified referencing system, but there are significant
errors
• Acceptable presentation that may include some organisational errors and
a tendency not to conform to conventions of academic presentation.

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