Assessment 2 – Brief & Tips

The assessment for the simulation is a report-based piece of coursework worth 60% of the
overall grade.
• 60% of final grade – final INDIVIDUAL report write up on simulation. Individually
graded but based on the work and decisions of the team so active participation is
required.
• 5000 word report (+/- 10%) (not including bibliography, charts and illustrations) on
how your decisions were made, applying the theory you have learned in the module
and using references. DO NOT WORRY if your company lost money – the report is
assessed based on your knowledge and application.
Deadline – Wednesday, 27 April 2022, 17.00.00

During the Global Strategy simulation, your team has been involved in developing an
international strategy to boost long-term growth and profitability of a start-up company. Your
team has operationalised your international strategy by setting (and revising) targets and
implementing decisions over a simulated six-year period. This includes all relevant
opportunities associated with international expansion and growth.

Considering your team’s key strategic choices made during the international strategy
simulation and using relevant theory-informed insights and analytical frameworks from
BS4S112, critically evaluate to what extent your team may have facilitated (and/or inhibited)
value creation for the start-up company.

It is essential that your answer addresses the four key points below:
1. Provide an analysis of the strategic thinking process involved during the simulation
(i.e. strategy analysis  strategic choice and formulation  strategy implementation)
2. Provide an assessment of some of the most important choices you made during the
simulation. For example, why did you choose to enter country A rather than country B
and what were the consequences of that decision? Why did you invest in a particular
function (such as marketing and R&D) and why did that investment positively or
negatively influence growth?
3. Analyse how the choices and strategy created value, and why some of your team’s
choices may have failed to add value (i.e. in terms of key performance indicators).
4. Demonstrate critical use of theoretical insights and analytical frameworks to assess
the strategic, competitive and performance implication during the international
strategy simulation.
The key objective of the assessment is to demonstrate your knowledge and application
of the Global Strategy frameworks. Discuss the theory and how it influenced your
decisions in the simulation.
A strong essay must use the key themes and frameworks addressed in the module.
1. Use academic research using literature from journals, books etc.
2. Undertake a critical evaluation of your simulation business and internationalization
strategy making effective use of evidence and sources
3. Present findings in an appropriate format with Harvard referencing

Assessment Criteria Weighting

Demonstrated understanding of the question and relevance of 15%

answer

Evidence of engagement with the literature and demonstrates 25%

understanding

Justification of the application of relevant strategy frameworks 20%

Quality of the research involved in the analysis 20%

Structure of the report – clarity and organisation 20%

Guidelines:
1. The word limit is 5000 words +/- 10% inclusive of appendices.
2. Where you directly quote or take ideas from something you have read you MUST
reference these correctly using the Harvard referencing system, NOT numbered
footnotes
3. Assignments should be word processed in 12 point type
4. Write clearly and professionally and avoid the use of 1st person ‘I’ and ‘We’ and take
pride in presentation and spelling
5. A good conclusion is crucial for good marks
Plagiarism:
You must reference the author and originator when quoting – you must acknowledge the
source. If you fail to acknowledge the source you risk being accused of plagiarism.
Assignments are submitted through the Turnitin link set up in the Assessment folder on the
module’s Blackboard site. You are able to submit work several times prior to the deadline but
the systems can take up to a day to allow you to resubmit work.
Late submission is not accepted and if you are unable to meet the deadline and have
reasonable grounds please contact the Student Advice Zone to apply for extenuating
circumstances.
TIPS FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT (REPORT FOR BS4S112 - Simulation)

1. These are some of the main criteria that you can use to reflect on after you have
completed your individual report.

1. Evidence of adequate and appropriate background reading

2. Application of insights from theoretical frameworks and the literature to defend some of
the relevant content, including but not limited to strategic analysis, strategic choices and
strategic implementation.
3. Careful planning and organization of the report (sections).
4. Evidence of systematic thought and argument
5. Clarity of expression
6. Careful presentation of ideas as well as accurate typing and proof-reading, helpful
diagrams, etc.
7. Accurate bibliographic and referencing standards
8. Observation of length requirements

Criteria 1-4 are to do with content and Criteria 6-8 involve issues of presentation. Criteria 5
involves the use of appropriate academic vocabulary at MBA level.

2. Balance

One key element in a successful report is balance, in two senses: physically, it refers to the
distribution of information in your text; and intellectually, there is an expectation that you
will present both sides of an issue where appropriate.
a. Balance in presentation
You need to decide roughly how much space (how many words) to allocate to the various
sections of the assignment.
b. Balance in argument

The second aspect of balance in academic writing is that you are expected to present an
‘evenhanded’ argument. Making a strong logical case using the literature to persuade your
reader to accept your point is really only half the picture. Effective argumentation also
involves
(i) Anticipating possible objections to your reasons or evidence
(ii) Showing that (implicitly) you have considered those objections,
(iii) Using counter-arguments (where appropriate) - the process known as refutation.

3. Structuring the report

Introduction
Introductory paragraph
The introduction should explain the general ideas to come, as well as your thesis statement,
which tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the report. The rest of the report should
gather evidence and organize a case around your thesis statement.

Topic sentences
A topic sentence is like a mini introduction to the body of your paragraph. Your topic
sentence should explain what the body of the paragraph will cover, (just like your
introduction explains what to expect in the report). It is a good idea to “map” out your
report, by first writing topic sentences for each of the different paragraphs or sections of
your report.

Body
Support sentences
Support sentences are the body of paragraphs. This is the section of your report that serves
to provide evidence and examples that reinforce your main arguments. Support sentences are
also used to clearly explain and underpin main ideas.

Conclusion
Concluding sentences
The concluding sentence is used to reiterate the main points developed by the support
sentences, and signal the end of a paragraph. They are also useful for adding emphasis to
certain key points, through repetition.

Also provided below is how to create the different parts of a report outside of the general
writing, which are: Title, Summary, Recommendations, Appendix. (References and Table of
Contents are to be done in accordance with standard norms and conventions of an academic
report).

Title
The title is your first contact with the reader, and should inform them succinctly about what
they are about to read.

Summary (Abstract)
The purpose of a summary is to provide an overview of the report. It is not necessary to give
detailed information in the summary, but rather to provide an indication of the type of
information that the report contains. Average summaries are between 100-150 words, and
are generally written after the report has been completed, so that you know exactly what you
are summarizing.

Recommendations
Recommendations are not an essential part of this report; however, if you are including one,
it should follow from your conclusion. A brief statement clearly declaring your
recommendations will suffice.

Appendix
An appendix contains materials that are peripheral, but relevant to your report.
For example you may wish to include a glossary of terms in your appendix if you are writing
a technical report for those who are not experts on the subject. You should include copies of
research findings (where appropriate) from the simulation including tables and diagrams
that you feel would disrupt the flow of your report by breaking it up. If your appendix does
contain tables, diagrams etc., make sure to label them properly, so that they can easily be
found when referenced in-text.

Provided below is a snapshot of what a typical report looks like.

4. Writing the report: the seven essential stages

All reports need to be clear, concise and well structured. The key to writing an effective
report is to allocate time for planning and preparation. With careful planning, the writing of a
report will be made much easier. The essential stages of successful report writing are
described below.
Consider how long each stage is likely to take and divide the time before the deadline
between the different stages. Be sure to leave time for final proof reading and checking.

Stage One: Understanding the report brief

This first stage is the most important. You need to be confident that you understand the
purpose of your report as described in your report brief or instructions. Consider who the
report is for and why it is being written. Check that you understand all the instructions or
requirements, and ask me if anything is unclear.

Stage Two: Gathering and selecting information

Once you are clear about the purpose of your report, you need to begin to gather relevant
information. This will be mostly in the form of findings from simulation in each round. Your
information may come from a variety of strategic choices used in each rounds, but how much
information you will need will depend on how the primary focus of the report, i.e. in what
ways in which your group has added value for the focal firm. In some cases, it is quite
possible that your group were not able to deliver the results as expected. In this regard, your
focus should be on analysis of why some of your choices may have failed to add value (i.e. in
terms of market share, profit, customer satisfaction etc.). You may want to begin by reading
relevant literature to widen your understanding of the topic or issue before you go on to look
at other forms of information such as questionnaires, surveys etc. As you read and gather
information you need to assess its relevance to your findings and select accordingly. Keep
referring to your report brief to help you decide what relevant information is.

Stage Three: Organising your material

Once you have gathered information you need to decide what will be included and in what
sequence it should be presented. Begin by grouping together points that are related. These
may form sections. Remember to keep referring to the report brief and be prepared to cut any
information that is not directly relevant to the report. Choose an order for your material that is
logical and easy to follow.

Stage Four: Analysing your material

Before you begin to write your first draft of the report, take time to consider and make notes
on the points you will make using the facts and evidence (data/information) you have
gathered from the simulation results. What conclusions can be drawn from the findings on
performance as a consequence of some of the strategic choices made? What are the
limitations or flaws in the strategy used? Do certain pieces of evidence conflict with one
another? It is not enough to simply present the information you have gathered; you must
relate it to the problem or issue described in the report brief.

Stage Five: Writing the report

Having organised your material into appropriate sections and headings you can begin to write
the first draft of your report. You may find it easier to write the summary and contents page
at the end when you know exactly what will be included. Aim for a writing style that is direct
and precise. Avoid waffle and make your points clearly and concisely. Sections and
individual paragraphs should be written with a clear structure. The structure described below
can be adapted and applied to chapters, sections and even paragraphs.

- Introduce the main idea of the chapter/section/paragraph

- Explain and expand the idea, defining key terms
- Present relevant evidence to support your points
 - Comment on those information/data that created value for your group especially as a
result of the implementation of strategic choices and most importantly, how it relates
to your point(s).

Make sure that there is a coherent flow of arguments linking one paragraph or section to
the next one. Also, conclude your section/paragraph by showing its significance to the report
as a whole.

Stage Six: Reviewing and redrafting

Ideally, you should leave time to take a break before you review your first draft. Be prepared
to rearrange or rewrite sections in the light of your review. Try to read the draft from the
perspective of the reader. Is it easy to follow with a clear structure that makes sense? Are the
points concisely but clearly explained and supported by relevant evidence? Writing on a word
processor makes it easier to rewrite and rearrange sections or paragraphs in your first draft. If
your group is using hand notes, try writing each section on a separate piece of paper to make
redrafting easier and then combine it and review it further. This hand-written draft however
needs to be typed in a word document later and maybe-time consuming but it might work
very well for certain groups who are comfortable with this style.

Stage Seven: Presentation

Once you are satisfied with the content and structure of your redrafted report, you can turn
your attention to the presentation. Check that the wording of each section/subheading is clear
and accurate. Check that you have adhered to the instructions in your report brief regarding
format and presentation. Check for consistency in numbering of sections and appendices.
Make sure that all your sources are acknowledged and correctly referenced. You will need to
thoroughly read your report for errors of spelling or grammar. If time allows, read more than
once. Errors in presentation or expression create a poor impression and can make the report
difficult to read.