Final Assessment: A 4,500-Word Paper D

Final Assessmentthe Final Assessment Is A 4500 Words Paper Divided Int

The Final Assessment is a 4500 words paper divided into two parts. It is strongly advised to start working on it early in the course. The aim of the Final Assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts in strategic management and your capacity to craft a professional document. It will be very good preparation for your dissertation. Part One (approx 3000 words): Choose a concept/model in strategic management. You can choose the concept from the ones discussed in the course or you can choose another one. Examples of concepts are: core competencies, generic strategies, mergers and acquisitions, alliances, CSR, blue ocean strategy, etc. Critically examine the concept: define the concept; identify when it was first discussed and what the arguments were for its creation; discuss how the concept then evolved by identifying the arguments for and against it over time and by noting any adaptations. Explain how the concept fits today with other concepts of strategic management, and discuss how/if the concept is relevant or not to today’s business challenges. In Part One you must demonstrate you can research and develop a deep understanding of a concept by identifying, examining and challenging different views of it. You should reference a minimum of 10 academic sources: academic books and/or articles from academic journals that are peer-reviewed. This excludes textbooks, articles from business magazines and ‘popular’ books you may find in airport bookstores, but you can use these as additional supporting references if needed. All sources should be correctly referenced using the Harvard system, as for any professional academic document. Part Two (approx 1500 words): Present a real life case study of the concept that you chose in Part One ‘in action’. You can use your own organisation or an organisation of your choice – we recommend you use an organisation you are personally familiar with as it will be easier for you to ‘see inside’ the organisation. Part Two should be like a mini-case study where you will present the situation of the organisation you choose, the issues faced, and how the concept was or is being used to solve the issues and raise the general performance of the organisation. In Part Two, you must show you can integrate theory and practice. You do this by giving examples of the theory in action, and by evaluating the approach taken and how effective it was in delivering the desired results. By reflecting on events, you may even challenge the theory itself – From the events you describe, is the theory valid? How can it be improved? Your report for the Final Assessment will be graded using the University’s grading criteria of: Knowledge and Clarity of Reasoning; Interface between Theory and Practice in the Professional Context; Use of literature; Organisation of Material. Scripts that are excessively long (i.e., exceeding the 4500-word limit of the main report by more than 10%) will not be read beyond the point of the word limit; there is no minimum word limit. Do not put your name on the paper. The overall structure should be as follows: 1. Cover Page (1 page) 2. Table of Contents/List of Exhibits (1 page) 3. Executive Summary 4. Main Report (within the 4,500-word limit as above) 5. Exhibits (if any) 6. List of references. Submissions should be machine-readable and in MS-Word format only; submit only one file. RKC is committed to fight plagiarism and we use extensively anti-plagiarism software. Do not use external sources without referencing them. Do not cut and paste the work of others. Do not copy the work of others.

Paper For Above instruction

The given assignment requires a comprehensive exploration of a strategic management concept, followed by its application within a real-world organizational context. This involves two interconnected parts: a detailed theoretical critique and an applied case study, culminating in an academic report structured to meet professional standards.

Part One: Critical Examination of a Strategic Management Concept

The first component, comprising approximately 3000 words, necessitates selecting a strategic management concept such as core competencies, generic strategies, mergers and acquisitions, alliances, corporate social responsibility (CSR), or blue ocean strategy. The candidate must define the selected concept, trace its origins, and analyze the motivations behind its inception. An important aspect involves reviewing the evolution of the concept over time, highlighting debates, criticisms, and adaptations that have occurred in scholarly discourse. The candidate should integrate scholarly literature—at least ten peer-reviewed academic sources—to substantiate claims, articulate different viewpoints, and demonstrate a nuanced understanding. Critical analysis should explore how well the concept aligns with contemporary strategic management frameworks and its relevance or limitations concerning current business challenges.

Part Two: Case Study of the Concept in Practice

The second part, approximately 1500 words, requires presenting a real-life case illustrating the chosen concept's application. This case can involve the candidate’s own organization or one familiar to them, allowing for in-depth insight. The narrative should outline the organizational context, identify specific issues faced, and illustrate how the strategic concept was employed to address these issues and enhance organizational performance. This part demands a synthesis of theory and practice by providing concrete examples of how the concept manifests operationally, evaluating its effectiveness, and reflecting on its validity. The analysis should also critically consider whether the application aligns with theoretical expectations and how the approach might be refined or improved based on actual outcomes.

Structural and Formal Requirements

The entire submission should adhere to formal academic standards, including a cover page, table of contents or list of exhibits, executive summary, main report, any exhibits, and references. The document must be within the 4,500-word limit, excluding supplementary sections. It should be submitted as a single MS-Word file, formatted professionally, and free of plagiarism, with rigorous referencing using Harvard citation style. Proper organization, clarity of reasoning, and integration between theory and practice are essential for grading success.

Conclusion

This assignment offers an opportunity to demonstrate deep theoretical understanding and practical application by critically analyzing a strategic management concept and illustrating its real-world relevance through a case study. Achieving a balanced, well-referenced, and critically reflective paper will showcase the candidate's capability in strategic management research and professional communication.

References

• Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120.
• Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Free Press.
• Prahalad, C. K., & Hamel, G. (1990). The core competence of the corporation. Harvard Business Review, 68(3), 79-91.
• Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (2004). Blue Ocean Strategy. Harvard Business School Publishing.
• Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2017). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Chesbrough, H. (2003). Open Innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Harvard Business School Press.
• Ghemawat, P. (2001). Distance Still Matters: The Hard Reality of Global Expansion. Harvard Business Review.
• Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business. Capstone.
• Barney, J. B., & Hesterly, W. S. (2015). Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage. Pearson.
• David, F. R. (2017). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. Pearson.