What am I required to do in this assignment?
Unit task
In this unit you will participate in a competitive business game designed to simulate a realistic management situation. You will engage in the simulation as part of a group and as team of ‘Directors’, over successive periods you will monitor the performance of
your own business and the competition, adjusting your tactical decisions accordingly. As this is part of your dissertation phase you will need to be able to select and apply models, frameworks and theories from the MBA to the task of running the business. These might include elements from:
 Strategic management
 Strategic Marketing
 Finance
 HRM
 Leadership
(or others that you find applicable and useful)
Assignment Task
You will produce an individual report. Your individual report should be 3,000 (+/- 10%) words in which you will:
1. Discuss how and why specific theories or models were applied in order to make the decisions made by your group in the running of the business. You should use evidence from the simulation (results) to demonstrate the effectiveness of the decision making process; comparison of your own management performance to that recommended in the theory (this is likely to be critical evaluation of the group’s processes, organisation and effectiveness).
2. Produce a critical evaluation of the usefulness of the tools and theories that were applied in running the business. Support this
evaluation with academic theory.
3. Produce recommendations focusing on how you and your group could use the tools, models and theories more effectively to
obtain better results.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)
There are three things you must do to pass:
1. Show adequate independence of thought in evaluating the usefulness of theory in practice applied to a live consultancy project or a simulated task of running a business, monitoring performance and adjusting decisions in the light of the success or failure in a competitive environment
2. Demonstrate adequate appraisal of the complexity of management in the implementation of strategic decisions
3. Research, select and use creatively appropriate business and management theory to manage and complete a project in the context of a new situation. These three expectations are reflected in the marking criteria grid below (see the Marks and Feedback section). All three expectations are embedded in and linked to the various areas of marking but especially the application of theory and analysis sections. The selection of relevant key academic material (theories and frameworks) from the MBA Toolkit to the task set by the simulation is essential.
How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?
We will be filling this section in together in class on (date to be arranged with tutor) make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.
Produce a professional and compelling report that draws on the theories and frameworks from the MBA toolkit to evaluate the performance of your organisation during the business simulation. Assignments attracting the highest marks will be focused, analytical, will include critical analysis that explores in depth the implications of the issues under discussion and this will be supported and evidenced thoroughly by using robust and valid academic material and frameworks from the MBA Toolkit. You must provide a clear introduction that provides a structure for your report and will highlight the main topics and areas for discussion; a main body that includes a critique and analysis of your decision making and strategy during the simulation in relation to your organisation’s performance; conclusions that are clearly derived from this analysis and recommendations that are clear and realistic to the demands of the task and nature of the business. Presented as a professional report, make sure your submission is discursive, and analytical throughout, use appropriate frameworks to focus the narrative and draw on a good range of quality academic sources – especially up to date academic journals – not spurious web- based sources. You should reference properly throughout your work using the Harvard Referencing style only.
How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions? The scheduled sessions begin with an introduction to the business simulation and the role you will play in it, it will also help to get you familiar with the layout and how it operates. Over a three-week period, you and your group will work through the business simulation creating, using and implanting various strategies you have been taught during the MBA course. During the scheduled sessions you will work with your tutor to discuss strategies, theories and academic frameworks that you may use to create a positive outcome for your business. The scheduled sessions will also address the requirements of the assignment. Organise your work and communicate professionally. Please ensure your submission is all your own work. Do not rely on internet searches. Do not use ‘essay’ sites.