Assignment Brief Template
Page 1 of 5
Assessment Information
This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes:
1. Appreciate the contributions of different theoretical lenses to practical strategy analysis.
3. Analyse and evaluate strategic choices for sport and event organisations and make specific
recommendations for future business actions.
This assignment is an individual assignment.
This assignment requires you to produce a report to the executive board of an international sport/event
organisation. The organisation must be different to the one you chose for your first attempt.
Your report should include the following:
1. An analysis of the current strategic position of the organisation using ONE of the following strategic tools:
• Five Forces Framework
• VRIO
Assignment Brief Template
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2. A comprehensive analysis and evaluation of TWO suitable strategic choices (E.g. Cost leadership,
differentiation, focus, market penetration, product development, etc.) that would be suitable for your chosen
organisation to adopt.
3.A specific and detailed recommendation for ONE of the choices you discussed in Q2. which you feel the
organisation should be moving towards over the next year. You need to demonstrate full awareness of the
business and competitive environment and how these might impact on the strategic direction you are
proposing.
Your work should demonstrate application of appropriate theory and use academic references throughout.
Criteria for Assessment
Component Class I
80-100%
Class I
70-79%
Class II:I
60-69%
Class II:II
50-59%
Class III
40-49%
Fail
0-39%
Analysis of current
position
(25%)
Outstanding
analysis of the
strategic current
position showing a
thorough and
detailed
understanding of
the business
environment.
Excellent
application of
strategic tools to
the organisation.
Excellent analysis of
the strategic
current position
showing a thorough
and detailed
understanding of
the business
environment.
Excellent
application of
strategic tools to
the organisation.
Very good analysis
of the strategic
current position
showing an
adequate summary
of the business
environment.
Very good
application of
strategic tools to
the organisation.
Good analysis of
the strategic
current position
showing some
understanding of
the business
environment.
Good application of
strategic tools to
the organisation.
Fair analysis of the
strategic current
position showing
limited
understanding of
the business
environment.
Fair application of
strategic tools to
the organisation.
Poor or no analysis
of the strategic
current position or
understanding of
the business
environment.
Poor or no
application of
strategic tools to
the organisation.
Strategic choice
(25%)
Outstanding
discussion of
strategic choices
which have been
researched fully to
ensure their
suitability.
Excellent discussion
of strategic choices
which have been
researched fully to
ensure their
suitability.
Very good
discussion of
strategic choices
which have been
partly researched to
ensure their
suitability.
Good discussion of
strategic choices
but limited
justification of their
suitability.
Fair discussion of
strategic choices
but no justification
of their suitability.
Poor or no
discussion of
strategic choices
and no justification
of their suitability.
Strategic
recommendation
(30%)
Outstanding level of
detail provided to
justify the future
direction.
The business
environment is
discussed showing a
good depth of
knowledge.
Excellent level of
detail provided to
justify the future
direction.
The business
environment is
discussed showing a
good depth of
knowledge.
Very good level of
detail provided to
justify the future
direction.
The business
environment is
discussed showing
some depth of
knowledge.
Good level of detail
provided to justify
the future direction.
The business
environment is
partially discussed
showing limited
depth of
knowledge.
Fair level of detail
provided to justify
the future direction.
The business
environment is not
discussed.
Poor or no detail
provided and no
justification for the
future direction.
The business
environment is not
discussed.
Application of
academic theory
(10%)
Outstanding
application of
appropriate
academic theory.
Excellent
application of
appropriate
academic theory.
Very good
application of
appropriate
academic theory.
Good application of
appropriate
academic theory.
Fair application of
appropriate
academic theory.
Poor or no
application of
appropriate
academic theory.
Presentation
(10%)
Outstanding
structure that
clearly signposts
discussion and an
excellent
introduction
explaining the
work’s design and
rationale. The work
adheres to the CU
Harvard
Referencing
standards.
Excellent structure
that clearly
signposts discussion
and an excellent
introduction
explaining the
work’s design and
rationale. The work
adheres to the CU
Harvard
Referencing
standards.
Very good structure
that clearly
signposts discussion
and a very good
introduction
explaining the
work’s design and
rationale. The work
mostly adheres to
the CU Harvard
Referencing
standards.
Good structure that
signposts discussion
and a good
introduction
explaining the
work’s design and
rationale. The work
partly adheres to
the CU Harvard
Referencing
standards.
Fair structure that
has little discussion
and a fair
introduction
explaining the
work’s design and
rationale. The work
does not adhere to
the CU Harvard
Referencing
standards.
Poor structure that
does not signpost
discussion and a
poor or no
introduction
explaining the
work’s design and
rationale. The work
does not adhere to
the CU Harvard
Referencing
standards.
Assignment Brief Template
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Generic Criteria
Class
Mark range
Guidelines
Class I
90 – 100%
80 – 89%
70 – 79%
In addition to that for 70 – 79% below, an outstanding answer that could hardly be
bettered. High degree of understanding, critical/analytic skills and original research,
where specified. Outstanding in all respects.
In addition to that for 70 – 79% below, the answer will demonstrate an excellent level of
understanding, presence of clear description, critical/analytical skills or research, as
appropriate.
Answer entirely relevant to the assignment set. Answer will demonstrate clear
understanding of theories, concepts, issues and methodology, as appropriate. There will
be evidence of wide-ranging reading and/or research, as appropriate, beyond the
minimum recommended. Answers will be written/presented in a clear, well-structured
way with clarity of expression. At level 3, evidence of independent, critical thought would
normally be expected.
Class II : I
65 – 69%
60 – 64%
Answer demonstrating a very good understanding of the requirements of the assignment.
Answer will demonstrate very good understanding of theories, concepts, issues and
methodology, as appropriate. Answer will be mostly accurate/appropriate, with few
errors. Little, if any, irrelevant material may be present. Reading beyond the
recommended minimum will be present where appropriate. Well organised and clearly
written/presented.
A good understanding, with few errors. Some irrelevant material may be present. Well
organised and clearly written/presented. Some reading/research beyond recommended
in evidence.
Class II : II
55 – 59%
50 – 54%
Answer demonstrating a good understanding of relevant theories, concepts, issues and
methodology. Some reading/research beyond that recommended may be present. Some
errors may be present and inclusion of irrelevant material. May not be particularly wellstructured,
and/or clearly presented.
Answer demonstrating a reasonable understanding of theories, concepts, issues and
methodology. Answer likely to show some errors of understanding. May be significant
amount of irrelevant material. May not be well-structured and expression/presentation
may be unclear at times.
Class III
45 – 49%
40 – 44%
An understanding demonstrated, but may be incomplete and with some errors. Limited
use of material with limited reading/research on the topic. Likely to be poorly structured
and not well-expressed/presented. Irrelevant material likely to be present.
Basic understanding demonstrated, with some correct description. Answer likely to be
incomplete with substantial errors or misunderstandings. Little use of material and
limited reading/research on the topic in evidence. May be poorly structured and poorly
expressed/presented. Some material may be irrelevant to the assignment requirements.
Marginal fail
35 – 39%
Some relevant material will be present. Understanding will be poor with little evidence of
reading/research on the topic. Fundamental errors and misunderstanding likely to be
present. Poor structure and poor expression/presentation. Much material may not be
relevant to the assignment.
Fail
30 – 34%
20 – 29%
Inadequate answer with little relevant material and poor understanding of theories,
concepts, issues and methodology, as appropriate. Fundamental errors and
misunderstandings will be present. Material may be irrelevant. Poorly structured and
poorly expressed/presented.
Clear failure to provide answer to the assignment. Little understanding and only a vague
knowledge of the area. Serious and fundamental errors and lack of understanding. No
evidence of relevant reading/research. Poorly structured and inadequately
Assignment Brief Template
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Word Count
The word count is 2,500.
There will be a penalty of a deduction of 10% of the mark (after internal moderation) for work exceeding the
word limit by 10% or more.
The word limit includes quotations and citations, but excludes the references list.
How to submit your assessment
•
Your
coursework
will
be
given
a
zero
mark
if
you
do
not
submit
a
copy
through
Turnitin.
Please
take
care
to
ensure
that
you
have
fully
submitted
your
work.
•
Please
ensure
that
you
have
submitted
your
work
using
the
correct
file
format,
unreadable
files
will
receive
a
mark
of
zero.
The
Faculty
accepts
Microsoft
Office
and
PDF
documents,
unless
otherwise
advised
by
the
module
leader.
•
All
work
submitted
after
the
submission
deadline
without
a
valid
and
approved
reason
(see
below)
will
be
given
a
mark
of
zero.
•
The
University
wants
you
to
do
your
best.
However
we
know
that
sometimes
events
happen
which
mean
that
you
can’t
submit
your
coursework
by
the
deadline
–
these
events
should
be
beyond
your
control
and
not
easy
to
predict.
If
this
happens,
you
can
apply
for
an
extension
to
your
deadline
for
up
to
two
weeks,
or
if
you
need
longer,
you
can
apply
for
a
deferral,
which
takes
you
to
the
next
assessment
period
(for
example,
to
the
resit
period
following
the
main
Assessment
Boards).
You
must
apply
before
the
deadline.
You
will
find
information
about
the
process
and
what
is
or
is
not
considered
to
be
an
event
beyond
your
control
at
https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Deferrals-and-Extension.aspx
•
Students
MUST
keep
a
copy
and/or
an
electronic
file
of
their
assignment.
•
Checks
will
be
made
on
your
work
using
anti-plagiarism
software
and
approved
plagiarism
checking
websites.
GUIDELINES
AND
BACKGROUND
TO
THIS
ASSIGNMENT
Plagiarism
As
part
of
your
study
you
will
be
involved
in
carrying
out
research
and
using
this
when
writing
up
your
coursework.
It
is
important
that
you
correctly
acknowledge
someone
else’s
writing,
thoughts
or
ideas
and
that
you
do
not
attempt
to
pass
this
off
as
your
own
work.
Doing
so
is
known
as
plagiarism.
It
is
not
acceptable
to
copy
from
another
source
without
acknowledging
that
it
is
someone
else’s
writing
or
thinking.
This
includes
using
paraphrasing
as
well
as
direct
quotations.
You
are
expected
to
correctly
cite
and
reference
the
works
of
others.
The
Centre
for
Academic
Writing
provides
documents
to
help
you
get
this
right.
If
you
are
unsure,
please
visit
www.coventry.ac.uk/caw.
You
can
also
check
your
understanding
of
academic
conduct
by
completing
the
Good
Academic
Practice
quiz
available
on
Moodle.
Self-plagiarism
or
reuse
of
work
previously
submitted
You
must
not
submit
work
for
assessment
that
you
have
already
submitted
(partially
or
in
full),
either
for
your
current
course
or
for
another
qualification
of
this
and
any
other
university,
unless
this
is
specifically
provided
for
in
your
assignment
brief
or
specific
course
or
module
information.
Where
earlier
work
by
you
is
citable,
i.e.
0 – 19%
expressed/presented.
Complete failure, virtually no understanding of requirements of the assignment. Material
may be entirely irrelevant. Answer may be extremely short, and in note form only.
Answer may be fundamentally wrong, or trivial. Not a serious attempt.
Assignment Brief Template
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it has already been published/submitted, you must reference it clearly. Identical pieces of work submitted
concurrently will also be considered to be self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism is unacceptable because you cannot
gain credit for the same work twice.
Moodle includes a plagiarism detection system and assessors are experienced enough to recognise plagiarism
when it occurs. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections
from a book or the internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences. Please familiarise
yourself with the CU Harvard Reference Style (on Moodle) and use it correctly to avoid a case of plagiarism or
cheating being brought. Again, if you are unsure, please contact the Centre for Academic Writing, your
Academic Personal Tutor or a member of the course team.
Return of Marked Work
You can expect to have marked work returned to you onI f for any re a son the re is a d elay y ou w ill be kep t
infor med. Mark s and f eed back will b e p rov ided onlin e. As a l wa ys, mark s will h ave been inter nally mod erated
only, and w ill the refo re b e provision al; your mark w ill be form ally agr eed late r in the year on ce th e ex terna l
examine r has comp lete d his / her rev ie w.