Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment

Authorised Assignment Brief 1

Student Name/ ID Number

Unit Number and Title Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment
Academic Year
Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Industry Analysis Factsheets

Issue Date
Submission Date

Submission Format
The submission is in the form of a portfolio of factsheets and an organisational flow chart
document. The factsheets should be written concisely to summarise and highlight key
information and data. You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and sub-sections
as appropriate. All work must be supported with research and referenced correctly using the
Harvard referencing system (or an alternative referencing system).
You will also need to provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system (or an
alternative referencing system). Inaccurate use of referencing may lead to issues of plagiarism
if not applied correctly.
The recommended word limit for the factsheets is 1,000–2,000 words, although you will not be
penalised for going under or exceeding the total word limit.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Explain the different types, size and scope of organisations.
LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organisation and
how they link to organisational structure.

Transferable Skills and Competencies Developed

 Analytical skills to conduct own analysis to draw conclusions.
 The ability to provide information based on collation, analysis and interpretation of data.
 Creative thinking for presenting information and data in a simplified and informative
manner.
 Digital skills, using different software applications to visually present information and data
concisely.
 Communicating effectively in all forms, written, visual and oral, for operating efficiently in
the international business environment.

Vocational Scenario
Organisation
A sports company* engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, worldwide marketing
and sales of sports footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services. As of 2020, the
company employed more than 75,400 people worldwide and the company brand alone was
valued in excess of $32 billion, making it the most valuable brand among sports businesses.
Strategic Planning teams keep the company moving in the right direction by leading the
strategic business planning process and spearheading transformational projects across the
businesses and geographies. Embedded in teams across the company, strategy professionals
explore complex business issues; conduct consumer, competitive and market analyses; create
financial models and develop action plans. The Strategic Planning teams help write the future
of sport by charting the company’s path forward.
Role
You are employed as a Junior Insights Strategist for the Strategic Planning team. The team
acts as a key partner to senior leaders, the executive team and the CEO. It provides thought
leadership and an external perspective on the most critical strategic initiatives and pressing
challenges facing the company. Your key roles include the following:
 supporting data and business analyses to develop business plans
 measuring business performance to compare actual data to forecasted values
 executing market research projects and gathering intelligence on current industry,
technology and consumer trends.
*Select an appropriate sports company that meets local needs.

Assignment Activity and Guidance

You have been tasked with conducting an industry analysis that focuses on the sports industry
in order to gain access to industry perspectives, best practices from other high- performance
companies and insight into high-growth sectors. You will present your analysis to your line
manager and to the management team. The industry analysis will involve the research and
analysis of overall market size (international and national) and different sub-sectors (public,
private, voluntary), and the organisational mapping of one of the highest-performing
companies. Organisations to be considered will include public (national and local sports
organisations, local leisure centres), private (gyms, sporting goods, retailers, manufacturers)
and voluntary (local clubs and teams).
You will present this industry analysis as a portfolio of ‘insights’ factsheets, to include:
1. an introduction to sub-sectors and the different types of organisation in the industry, the
market size and the growth of the international business environment
2. a factsheet for a selected sub-sector organisation, with explanation of each of the chosen
organisations, including background details of the organisation; the products and services
they supply; the size and scope of the organisation; their vision, mission and business
objectives; the organisational and legal structure and information about their stakeholders.
For business modelling purposes, you will also need to examine the various business functions
in one organisation and create an organisational chart to explore the interrelationships
between the different functions.
In addition to the ‘insights’ factsheets, you will present an organisational flow chart that shows:
3. an analysis for one of the chosen organisations, using visual mapping to show how internal
departments, for example. finance, marketing, work together to meet business objectives
and how interrelationships are defined by the structure of the organisation; present the
advantages and disadvantages
4. conclusions based on critical impact analysis of different business structures and the
interrelationships between internal departments in successfully fulfilling overall business
objectives.
Recommended Resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in your
research – the list is not definitive.

Weblinks
 Allied Market Research (2020) Sports Apparel Market by End User. Available at:
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/sports-apparel-market
 Xtensio (2021) How to Create a Fact Sheet. Available at: https://xtensio.com/how-to-create-
a-fact-sheet
 The Sportswear Industry: An Analysis of The Athletic Apparel Market. Available at:
https://creatitive.com/sports-industry-analysis-2019/
 HubSpot (2021) 9 Types of Organizational Structure Every Company Should Consider.
Available at
 https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/team-structure-diagrams
HN Global
 HN Global (2021) Reading Lists. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/learning-
zone/reading-lists
 HN Global (2021) Student Resource Library. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.
com/subjects/resource-libraries
 HN Global (2021) Textbooks. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/textbooks
Textbooks
 Burns, J. and Needle, D. (2019) Business in Context: An Introduction to Business and its
Environment. 7th Ed. Cengage Learning
 Worthington, I. and Britton. C. (2018) The Business Environment. 8th Ed. Harlow: Pearson
Authorised Assignment Brief 2
Student Name/ ID Number

Unit Number and Title Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment
Academic Year
Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Environmental Business Audit Presentation

Issue Date
Submission Date

Submission Format
Submission is in the form of a 15-minute presentation and five minutes for questions. The
presentation slides for the findings should be submitted along with speaker notes as one copy.
You are required to make effective use of PowerPoint headings, bullet points and subsections
as appropriate. Your research should be referenced using the Harvard referencing system (or
an alternative referencing system). Inaccurate use of referencing may lead to issues of
plagiarism if not applied correctly.
The recommended word limit is 1,000–1,500 words, including speaker notes, although you will
not be penalised for going under or exceeding the total word limit.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/
impact the macro environment has on business operations.
LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and their
interrelationship with external macro factors.

Transferable Skills and Competencies Developed

 Analytical skills to conduct own analysis in order to draw conclusions.
 Providing information based on collation, analysis and interpretation of data.
 Creative thinking for presenting information and data in a simplified and informative
manner.
 Digital skills, using different software applications to visually present information and data
concisely.
 Communicating effectively in all forms, written, visual and oral, for operating efficiently in
the international business environment.

Vocational Scenario
In your role as Junior Insights Strategist, you have completed the industry insight analysis and your
line manager has now given you another project. This is to complete research into the external and
internal business environment. The sports company*is looking to expand their distribution
channels to include both e-commerce players (for example Google shopping) and physical retailers
(for example JD Sports). To enable the company to make any strategic decisions, they need you to
present a business case to the leadership team.
*As selected for Assignment 1 to meet local needs.
Assignment Activity and Guidance
Completion of the project will involve a PESTLE analysis to research the sports retail market,
develop insights and predict future growth potential in new markets. The project will also involve a
SWOT analysis to determine the company position in the marketplace and the potential
opportunities for distribution expansion while minimising risks and threats.
Your presentation will include the findings from an external and an internal audit:
 a PESTLE analysis to identify positive and negative impacts of external factors and
influences on the sports retail market, including a ‘traffic light chart’ evaluating level of
competition, funding activity, legal complexity and investment opportunity available
 a SWOT analysis to explore and explain the organisation’s internal strengths and
weaknesses as a company
 critical analysis of both the external and internal factors, to determine whether the
organisation should proceed with their expansion plans, presented as conclusions and
recommendations.

Recommended Resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in your
research – the list is not definitive.

Weblinks
 BPlan How to Do a SWOT Analysis for Better Strategic Planning. Available at: https://articles.
bplans.com/how-to-perform-swot-analysis
 Business Balls Swot Analysis Templates. Available at: https://www.businessballs.com/strategy-
innovation/swot-analysis/
 Pestle Analysis.com What is PESTLE Analysis? Available at: https://pestleanalysis.com/what-is-pestle-
analysis/
 Swot analysis of Nike. Available at: https://bstrategyhub.com/swot-analysis-of-nike-nike-swot-
analysis
HN Global
 HN Global (2021) Reading Lists. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/learning-
zone/reading-lists
 HN Global (2021) Student Resource Library. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.
com/subjects/resource-libraries
 HN Global (2021) Textbooks. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/textbooks
Textbooks
 Morrison, J. (2020) The Global Business Environment: Towards Sustainability? 5th Ed. Red Globe Press

 Wetherley, P. and Otter, D. (2018) The Business Environment: Themes and Issues in a Globalised World.
4th Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Explain the different types, size and scope of organisations LO1 and LO2
D1 Provide critical
P1 Explain different types and M1 Analyse how the structure,
analysis of the
purposes of organisations; size and scope of different
complexities of
public, private and voluntary organisations link to the business
different
sectors and legal structures. objectives and product and
organisations and
services offered by the
P2 Explain the size and scope of structures.
organisation.
a range of different types of
organisations.

LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within

an organisation and how they link to organisational structure

P3 Explain the relationship M2 Analyse the

between different interrelationships between
organisational functions and organisational functions and the
how they link to organisational impact that can have upon
objectives and structure. organisational structure.

LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive LO3 and LO4
and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on
D2 Critically evaluate
business operations
the impacts that both
macro- and micro
P4 Identify the positive and M3 Apply appropriately the
factors have on
negative impacts the macro PESTLE model to support a
business objectives
environment has on business detailed analysis of the macro
and decision making.
operations, supported by environment in an organisation.
specific examples.

LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific

businesses and their interrelationship with external macro factors

P5 Conduct internal and M4 Apply appropriately SWOT/

external analysis of specific TOWS analysis and justify how
organisations in order to they influence decision making.
identify strengths and
weaknesses.
P6 Explain how strengths and
weaknesses interrelate with
external macro factors.
Unit 20: Organisational Behaviour
Authorised Assignment Brief 1
Student Name/ ID Number
Unit Number and Title Unit 20: Organisational Behaviour
Academic Year
Unit Tutor
Assignment Title Management and Personality Portfolio
Issue Date
Submission Date
Submission Format

The submission is in the form of an individual portfolio of evidence. You are to produce a
portfolio of reflective evidence and take part in a simulated group activity. The portfolio
should include the following:
1. completed personality and attribute audits and a reflective statement
2. a motivational group activity
3. a reflective presentation that includes the participation and outcome of areas 2 and 3
above.
You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs, and subsections as appropriate, and
all work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing
system (or an alternative system). You will need to provide a bibliography using the Harvard
referencing system (or an alternative system). Inaccurate use of referencing may lead to
issues of plagiarism if not applied correctly.
Word count is 2500–3000 words, although you will not be penalised for going under or
exceeding the total word limit.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Reflect on own personality and perceptions to understand how individual difference
informs and influences management approaches.
LO2 Apply content and process theories of motivation to create and maintain an effective
workforce.
LO3 Participate in a group team activity for a given business situation to demonstrate
effective team skills.

Transferable Skills and Competencies Developed

 Development and delivery of HR solutions to the business that are appropriate to the
organisational context.
 Ability to analyse facts and circumstances to determine the cause of a problem and being able
to identify and select appropriate solutions.
 Ability to lead the improvement of people capability in the business or in own team.
 Development of and building and motivating teams by identifying their strengths and enabling
development in the workplace.
  Able to manage talent and performance.
 Able to reflect on own performance and working style, and their impact on others.
 Ability to plan own development and show commitment to the job and the profession.

Vocational Scenario

Organisation
The organisation is a retailer*, with stores in multiple countries, for example England,
Germany, Singapore, Thailand Vietnam. The retailer offers the latest fashion, beauty and
homeware at the best value on the high street. They keep the prices low and offer a large
range of own-brand items.
They pay well and expect their staff to work hard. Managers can expect to work in a fast-
paced environment but with a family feel and with good training and expertise on hand for
support.
Role
You are currently working as a Graduate Trainee Store Manager. You are responsible for
leading, motivating and developing the team of store employees to ensure consistent
delivery on standards, customer service and product knowledge, maximising the store’s
sales potential and profitability. You ensure that the delivery of the brand is in line with all
visual merchandising guidelines and with creative flair, you proactively drive store
performance across all departments.
As part of your graduate training, the retail company provides ‘Master Class’ management
training sessions led by the Executive Team. In each session, you will carry out individual
and group activities with your peers. You are to record what you do and use the information
gathered to reflect on your contribution and make justified improvements for self and
towards creating an effective workforce.
*Select an appropriate retail company that meets local needs.

Assignment Activity and Guidance

Each ‘Master Class’ focuses on different aspects of leadership and management, and involves
different activities.
Master Class 1 – Personality and Perceptions
Complete a personality and attribute evaluation that audits your skills and personality traits. Discuss
whether they are positive or negative in terms of management approaches. Reflect on personality
and perceptions of self in terms of your own performance.
Master Class 2 – Motivation
As part of the training, you have been asked to provide solutions for addressing low morale, lack of
focus and productivity of employees on the shop floor. Staff work long shifts, are often dealing with
challenging customers and work can be repetitive. They often work in isolation.
You are to work in a small group of your peers to prepare, produce and deliver a short, dynamic
motivational activity for the rest of the management team to take part in. You should fully
participate in the creation and management of this activity. The activity should apply content and
process theories of motivation.
Discuss the outcome of the activity with your peers to critically assess how successful the
application of motivation theories can be.
Master Class 3 – Reflection
Following the group activity in Master Class 2 and the completion of the audits in Master Class 1,
you are to present the outcome of your results and participation in the group activity. To support
your improvements and recommendations, appropriate literature and additional business examples
should be used. In your presentation, you should consider the following areas.
 Exploration of team and group behaviour and its relevance to an effective team.
 Assessment and reflection on the results of the audits, your participation in the group activity
and the importance of personality etc. in effective workforce and managerial relationships.
 Challenge and reflection on your personal perspectives, traits and attributes, as well as your
individual contribution to the group activity.
 Consideration and justification of the adaptation of self and business managers in creating an
effective team and a motivated workforce.

Recommended Resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in your
research – the list is not definitive.

Weblinks
 BBC News (2018). Personality Tests. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-
45561194
 Practice Aptitude Tests. Free aptitude tests. Available at:
https://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/free-aptitude-tests/
 Forbes (2019) Six Strategies to Maintain Employee Motivation. Available at: https://www.
forbes.com/sites/rebeccaskilbeck/2019/02/12/six-strategies-to-maintain-employee-
motivation/?sh=738b01481d35
HN Global
 HN Global (2021) Reading Lists. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/learning-
zone/reading-lists
 HN Global (2021) Student Resource Library. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.
com/subjects/resource-libraries
 HN Global (2021) Textbooks. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/textbooks
Textbooks
 Brooks, I. (2018) Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups and Organisation. 5th Ed.
Harlow: Pearson
 Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2019) Organizational Behaviour. 10th Ed. Harlow: Pearson
 Mullins, L. J. (2019) Organisational Behaviour in the Workplace. 12th Ed. Harlow: Pearson
Authorised Assignment Brief 2
Student Name/ ID Number

Unit Number and Title Unit 20: Organisational Behaviour

Academic Year
Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Power, Politics and Culture

Issue Date
Submission Date

Submission format
The submission format is in the form of an academic poster. The academic poster should be
written in a concise style using an appropriate template. You are required to make use of
headings, paragraphs, and subsections as appropriate, and all work must be supported with
research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system (or alternative system). Please also
provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system (or alternative system). Inaccurate
use of referencing may lead to issues of plagiarism if not applied correctly.
The recommended word limit is 1,500–2,000 words, although you will not be penalised for going
under or exceeding the total word limit.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO4 Examine how power, politics and culture can be used to influence employee behaviour and
accomplish organisational goals.

Transferable Skills and Competencies Developed

 Conceptual and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation
 Research skills for evidence-based decision making
 Ability to be open, approachable and authentic, and able to build trust with others
 Ability to seek the views of others and value diversity
 Ability to operate according to organisational values.

Vocational scenario
Role
In your position as Graduate Trainee Store Manager, central office has raised concerns with you
that organisational power and politics are negatively influencing the culture of the business. This
is preventing some stores from achieving set business goals. As a Graduate Trainee Store
Manager running an operation, you must be commercially aware and be responsible for delivering
on-sales targets while delighting your customer at every interaction.
You have been asked to investigate how power, politics and culture influence employee behaviour
and impact customer satisfaction and sales. Your investigation will be presented as an academic
poster in your next Master Class training session and will focus on driving performance and
productivity.
Assignment Activity and Guidance

You are to evaluate a variety of different organisational examples of how organisational, power,
politics and culture affect employee behaviour.
You should make recommendations on how organisational power, politics and culture could be
used to encourage and guide employee behaviour to help achieve sales and target goals, improve
interaction with customers, and with visual merchandising and stock presentation.
You should consider:
 different perspectives of power
 the occurrence of organisational politics
 levels of culture and how national culture can influence management and employee
behaviour
 the combined effect of power, politics and culture on behaviour and the accomplishment of
organisational goals.

Recommended Resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point
in your research – the list is not definitive.

Weblinks
 Business News Daily. Are Workplace Politics Destroying Your Business? Available at: https://
www.businessnewsdaily.com/6374-fix-workplace-politics.html

 Hofstede Insights. National Culture. Available at:

 https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/national-culture

 MindTools: 7 Ways to Use Office Politics Positively. Available at: https://www.mindtools.com/

pages/article/newCDV_85.htm

HN Global
 HN Global (2021) Reading Lists. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/learning-
zone/reading-lists

 HN Global (2021) Student Resource Library. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.

com/subjects/resource-libraries

 HN Global (2021) Textbooks. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/textbooks

Journal Articles
 Giovanni Di Stefano, Maria Gaudiino. (2019) Workaholism and work engagement: how are they
similar? How are they different? A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Work
and Organizational Psychology 28:3, pages 329-347.

 Anthony M. Grant (2017) The third ‘generation’ of workplace coaching: creating a culture of quality
conversations, Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 10:1, 37-53,
DOI: 10.1080/17521882.2016.1266005

 Morgan J. Tear, Tom W. Reader, Steven Shorrock, Barry Kirwan,

 Safety culture and power: Interactions between perceptions of safety culture, organisational
hierarchy, and national culture, Safety Science, Volume 121, 2020, Pages 550-561, https://
 www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753518303771

 Zawadzki, M. (2018). Dignity in the Workplace. The Perspective of Humanistic Management. Central
European Management Journal, 26(1), 171-188. https://doi.org/10.7206/jmba. ce.2450-7814.224

Textbooks
 Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2019) Organizational Behaviour. 10th Ed. Harlow: Pearson
 Mullins, L. J. (2019) Organisational Behaviour in the Workplace. 12th Ed. Harlow: Pearson
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Reflect on own personality and perceptions to understand how

individual difference informs and influences management approaches

P1 Assess own personality traits and M1 Challenge own perspectives

attributes in terms of them having and individual traits and
a positive or negative effect on attributes to influence and
management approaches and improve managerial
company performance. relationships.
P2 Reflect on the value and
importance of personality and D1 Adapt personal
LO1 and LO2 traits and
perspectives,
perception for effective managerial
relationships. attributes to justify
improvements that
LO2 Apply content and process theories of motivation to create and influence and enhance
maintain an effective workforce employee motivation
and create an effective
P3 Apply content and process M2 Critically assess the extent workforce.
theories of motivation for enhancing that employee motivation can
and maintaining an effective be enhanced and maintained by
organisational workforce, practical application of content
providing specific examples. and process theories of
motivation.

LO3 Participate in a group team activity for a given business situation D2 Revise personal
to demonstrate effective team skills contribution and skills
for effective teams to
P4 Contribute to the creation and M3 Reflect on personal
make justified
management of effective contribution to group behaviour
recommendations for
teamworking in a given business and dynamics in the creation
own improvement.
situation. and management of effective
teamworking.
P5 Explore the relevance of group
behaviour and team theory in the
creation and management of
effective teamworking.

LO4 Examine how power, politics and culture can be used to D3 Make justified
influence employee behaviour and accomplish organisational goals recommendations on
how power, politics
P6 Examine how the operation of M4 Evaluate how the operation and culture can be
power, politics and culture in an of power, politics and culture used effectively to
organisation affect employee affect employee behaviour and influence and direct
behaviour and the accomplishment the accomplishment of employee behaviour
of organisational goals. organisational goals. towards the
accomplishment of
organisational goals.