Assignment Brief
This module is assessed by an individual assignment of 3,000 words. The assignment accounts for 100% of the mark awarded. For the assignment, you should choose ONE option from the choice of three below:

Assignment Option 1: Strategy from the Outside-In
• Undertake a Porter ‘Five Forces Analysis’ for an industry of your choice (1000 words).
• Strategically, which are the most important forces for organizations in this industry to consider, and why? (500 words)
• Critically evaluate the outside-in approach to strategy formulation. (1500 words)

Assignment Option 2: Strategy from the Inside-Out
• For an organisation with which you are familiar, apply the principle components of Prahalad and Hamel’s theory of core competence to explain the basis of the organisation’s competitive advantage (1500 words)
• Critically evaluate the inside-out approach to strategy formulation. (1500 words)

Assignment Option 3: Debating Strategy
• Using relevant theories, concepts and real-world examples, critically discuss the following statement: ‘Strategy should only ever develop from detailed rational planning’. (3000 words) 
Assignment Further Guidance

Assignment Option 1
The assignment should:
1. Provide an introduction to the chosen industry (including relevant core characteristics such as location, size, spread, etc.).
2. You are not permitted to draw on the cases covered in the seminars. Instead, you must develop your own case study on an industry of your choice.
3. Provide a detailed application of the five forces framework to the chosen industry, using appropriate and relevant terminology.
4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the five forces framework and any other relevant theories, tools and frameworks, as evidenced through the quality of application and discussion.
5. Produce a balanced and critical evaluation of the outside-in approach to strategy formulation, drawing on a wide-ranging literature. Note that this evaluation should not be restricted to the work of Porter but to the broader notion of strategy as an outside-in process.


Assignment Option 2
The assignment should:
1. Provide a brief introduction to the chosen organization (including relevant core characteristics such as location, size, industry, etc)
2. You are not permitted to draw on the cases covered in the seminars. Instead, you must develop your own case study on an organization of your choice.
3. Provide a detailed application of the core competence approach, using appropriate and relevant terminology.
4. Produce a balanced and critical evaluation of the inside-out approach to strategy formulation, drawing on a wide-ranging literature. Note that this evaluation should not be restricted to the work of Hamel and Prahalad but to the broader notion of strategy as an inside-out process.


Assignment Option 3
The assignment should:
1. Begin with a clear and concise introduction that addresses the topic under investigation, interprets the basic premise of the debating statement, and outlines the aims and the structure of the assignment;
2. Provide a balanced and detailed answer to the statement. Try to avoid simply describing phenomena and instead seek to analyse, challenge and critique the ideas you are discussing. In this assignment you are engaging with one of the key debates in the strategy field, and it is important to demonstrate that you are able to consider competing perspectives on the validity of the claim that is being made. You should also make use of real world examples of strategy in practice to substantiate your discussion.
3. You should finish with a robust and persuasive conclusion that summarizes the arguments that have been made and then offers a final ‘response’ to the statement. In this case, do you agree with the statement?