You have obtained an appointment to pitch for additional funding to a leading finance house. As part of developing your approach, you decide to make detailed notes so that you can demonstrate your broad knowledge

Unit 1 Strategic Planning ATHE Level 7 Assignment

Assignment Scenario

In partnership with a colleague, you have successfully secured some initial finance to set up a new business called Vista. Vista aims to develop software programmes and applications to assist people with learning difficulties at work.

At this formation stage of the business, you need to develop a mission, vision, and strategy document to support your planning activities. This will also be used to convey the business’s growth plans to other potential investors. This is an exciting opportunity and you are keen to make the most of it.

Task 1

You have obtained an appointment to pitch for additional funding to a leading finance house. As part of developing your approach, you decide to make detailed notes so that you can demonstrate your broad knowledge of the foundations for developing business strategy.

In your notes, you will:

• Explain the relationship between a business mission, vision, strategy, and plans
• Explain how external factors and stakeholder expectations influence organisational strategy

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

LO1 AC 1.1, 1.3

Task 2

At the first meeting with your new software development team, you want to establish that your employees understand the purpose of a business mission and vision to help them engage with Vista. You decide that it would be useful to use some examples to illustrate how mission and vision statements are used by other organisations that they are familiar with.

Create a document to share with your team which:

• Analyses the mission and vision statements of three named organisations.

Extension activities

To achieve a Merit, you must include a further section in the document which evaluates the impact of a named organisation’s vision and mission on its strategy.

To achieve a Distinction, you must add another section to the document which analyses how external influences affect organisational strategy in a named organisation.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

LO1 AC 1.2, 1M1, 1D1

Task 3

At a senior management team meeting you want to emphasise the importance of reviewing Vista’s strategy and business plans as this will influence thinking for the business’ future direction.

Produce a presentation with accompanying notes for the meeting which:

• Explains the importance of review in developing organisational strategy and business plans
• Evaluates the tools which can be used to review organisational strategy and business plans

During the meeting, the team identified that there are clearly several strategic options to consider at Vista. You offer to develop strategy options for a smaller organisation to illustrate how modelling tools are used. Add a further section to your presentation with accompanying notes to:

• Develop strategy options for a chosen organisation, using modelling tools
• Develop criteria for reviewing the potential strategy options

Extension activities

To achieve a Merit, your presentation and notes must also:

• Review the position of an organisation in its current market using appropriate tool
• Apply the criteria you have developed to evaluate the options for delivering the strategic direction of the organisation you have chosen

To achieve a Distinction, your presentation and notes must also analyse the competitive strengths and weaknesses of an organisation’s current business strategy and business plans.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

LO2 AC 2.1, 2.2, 2M1, 2D1

LO3 AC 3.1, 3.2, 3M1