Mass Customization

This assignment requires you to draw on several areas of study within the Module. You are expected to demonstrate and will be evaluated on your ability to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and apply business theories and concepts to business decision-making.

2. Communicate effectively information and arguments mainly in written form.

A. THE REQUIREMENTS

A written essay of approximately 2,000 words that evaluates management issues selected from the topics in the next page.

The assignment must adhere to standard academic documentation standards:

• Please use appropriate citation and reference according to the Harvard Name Referencing System in order to avoid plagiarism.

• Font type should be Times New Roman.

• Font size should be 12 pts.

• Vertical / line spacing should be 1.5-line spacing.

• You must use enough of your own words to convince that you understand what you are writing and are not just "cutting and pasting". Normally your own words should be no less than 80% of the total word count.

• You should on no account make reference to www.wikipedia.com or its related sites as a source for your work.

• You may include diagrams, figures, tables etc without word penalty.

• A sliding scale of penalties for excess length will be imposed according to the amount by which the limit has been exceeded.

For limit excess:

11 - 20% 10% reduction in the mark

21 – 30% 25% reduction in the mark

31% + the work will be capped at a pass i.e. 50%

Point to note: maximum penalty for exceeding the word limit will be a reduction to a pass grade.

B. Topics: You need to choose only 1 (ONE) of the topics given below:

1. The development of strategies involves decisions about three major elements of strategic choice, namely:

(i) What is to be the basis of the strategy?

(ii) Which direction is it going to take?

(iii) How will it be carried out?

Discuss each of these key elements of strategic choice.

2. Below is shown a Boston Group Portfolio Matrix for a company with 8 Strategic Business Units.

Discuss the appropriate strategies you would suggest for this company with regard to the businesses in each cell of the matrix. Justify your suggestions. What advice would you give this company with regard to the limitations of using the BCG Matrix for strategic planning?

3. The business environment that an organisation operates within influences managerial decision making and managers have to try to control this environment to lessen dependency risk. What are the main influences from the business environment and how might managers try to control the business environment to lessen the dependency risk?

C. ASSIGNMENT STRUCTURE

Your document should incorporate the following items:

i. A cover page

ii. Table of contents

iii. Introduction

iv. Your answer

v. References

vi. Appendix (optional)

D. DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Cover Page

The assignment cover page should contain information as stated below in order:

• UCTI Logo

• Module Name and Code

• Assignment Title

• Assignment Description (Individual Assignment)

• Intake Number

• Hand out and Hand in dates

• Lecturer's Name

Table