| HNC Assignment Brief Session: September 2019 Programme title Pearson BTEC HNC in Business (RFQ) Unit number and title 1 Business and the Business Environment Assignment number & title 1 of 1 Understanding and analyzing business environment Unit Level 4 Credit Value: 15 Assessor(s) Mehul Halari/Pronab Mondal Issue Date 23 September 2019 Final assignment submission deadline 20 December 2019 Late submission deadline The learners are required to follow the strict deadline set by the College for submissions of assignments in accordance with the BTEC level 4 – 7 submission guidelines and College policy on submissions. They should also refer to Merit and Distinction criteria that require evidence of meeting agreed timelines and the ability to plan and organize time effectively without which the learner may not expect to receive a higher grade. On completion, assessments should be uploaded to Canvas. You will receive a receipt to acknowledge your submission of evidence. This ensures that there is a clear audit trail for the submission of assignments. Resubmission deadline TBA General Guidelines The work you submit must be in your own words. If you use a quote or an illustration from somewhere you must give the source. Include a list of references at the end of your document. You must give all your sources of information. Make sure your work is clearly presented and that you use readily understandable English. Wherever possible use a word processor and its “spell-checker”.The work you submit must be in your own words. Include a list of references at the end of your document. You must give all your sources of information (this must be in accordance with the Harvard referencing system). Make sure your work is clearly presented in chronological order and has a logical flow. English presented within the body of your assignment must show academic proficiency and comply with academic requirements. If an individual has additional learning needs these should be appropriately assessed and met. Feedback In-class feedback will be available from draft submissions on a task-by-task basis in the form of formative feedback and also for initial submission (formative feedback will not include any indication of final grades, the process will focus upon supporting development). Summative feedback will be provided within 3-4 weeks of the assignment submission, however; final grades will be released in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. Please note you will be required to authenticate receiving your summative feedback. Internal verifier Lisa James Signature (IV of the brief) L James Date 18/09/2019 |
Unit 1 Business and the business environment City CollegeAim
The aim of this unit is to provide students with background knowledge and understanding of business, the functions of an organization, and the wider business environments in which organizations operate. Students will examine the different types of organizations (including for-profit and not-for-profit), their size and scope (for instance, micro, SME, transnational, and global), and how they operate. Students will explore the relationships that organizations have with their various stakeholders and how the wider external environments influence and shape business decision-making.
The knowledge, understanding, and skillset gained in this unit will help students to choose their own preferred areas of specialism in future studies and in their professional careers.
Unit 1 Business and the business environment City College
Learning outcomes and criteria covered by this assignment:
- All pass criteria
- All merit descriptors
- All distinction descriptors
Edexcel Grading Criteria
This assignment/portfolio will be assessed according to the following grading criteria:
- To attain a ‘PASS‘grade, learners need to achieve all the ‘PASS‘criteria.
- To attain a ‘MERIT‘grade, learners need to achieve all the ‘MERIT‘criteria, along with all the ‘PASS’ criteria.
- To attain a ‘DISTINCTION‘grade, learners need to achieve all the ‘DISTINCTION’ criteria, along with all the ‘MERIT’ and PASS criteria.
*NB: It is not accepted practice to submit assignments that present the grades, pass, merit, and distinction as separate entities. A holistic integrated approach must be used whereby the criterion appears seamless within the body of the text.
Unit 1 Business and the business environment City College
Plagiarism and collusion
Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the City College Limited regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below:
Learning outcomes and assessment criteria:
| Learning outcomes On successful completion of this unit a learner will: | Assessment criteria for Pass | Assessment criteria for Merit | Assessment criteria for Distinction |
| LO1 Explain the different types, sizes, and scopes of organizations. | P1 Explain different types and purposes of organizations; public, private and voluntary sectors, and legal structures. P2 Explain the size and scope of a range of different types of organizations. | M1 Analyse how the structure, size, and scope of different organizations link to the business objectives and product and services offered by the organization. | LO1 & 2 D1 Provide a critical analysis of the complexities of different types of business structures and the interrelationships of the different organizational functions. |
| LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organization and how they link to organizational structure. | P3 Explain the relationship between different organizational functions and how they link to organizational objectives and structure. | M2 Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of interrelationships between organizational functions and the impact that can have upon organizational structure. | |
| LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations. | P4 Identify the positive and negative impacts the macro environment has upon business operations, supported by specific examples. | M3 Apply appropriately the PESTLE model to support a detailed analysis of the macro-environment within an organization. | LO3 & 4 D2 Critically evaluate the impacts that both macro and micro factors have upon business objectives and decision-making. |
| LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors. | P5 Conduct internal and external analysis of specific organizations in order to identify strengths and weaknesses. P6 Explain how strengths and weaknesses interrelate with external macro factors. | M4 Apply appropriately SWOT/TOWS analysis and justify how they influence decision-making. |
Unit 1 Business and the business environment City College
Unit 1 Assignment
Scenario:
You are a self-employed Business Development Consultant and have been approached by a prospective overseas client who is keen to invest in a UK Business. In order to understand the market sector, your client needs more information in the form of a business report which addresses the following:
LO1: Explain the different types, size, and scope of organizations
Task 1:
1.1 Provide a critical analysis of how the structure, size, and scope of different organizations link to the business objectives and the product and services it offers. Your analysis would be expected to include an explanation of the different types, sizes, legal structures, and scope of business organizations within the public, private and voluntary sectors.
- NB: It is important to note that this task requires you to incorporate your understanding of various theoretical models applied within the business environment.
LO2: Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organization and how they link to organizational structure
Task 2:
2.1 Critically analyze the complexities of different types of business structures and the interrelationships of the different organizational functions. Your analysis should be supported by an example of an organizational chart of an organization you have worked for or are familiar with and should include an explanation and evaluation of the relationship between different organizational functions and how they link to organizational objectives and structure.
LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations
Task 3:
As part of your business advisory services, it is important for your client to understand the influence and impact of both macro and micro environmental factors upon business operations. To make your analytical report more effective, you will be required to complete a PESTLE analysis of your selected organization. This should include:
- A critical evaluation of the impact of the macro-environment by applying the PESTLE model to your selected organization. This should embed discussion on the influence of the macro environment within the selected organizations.
*NB: Your analysis should be based on the identification of the positive and negative impacts the macro environment has upon business operations. This should be supported with specific examples.
LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors
Task 4:
4.1 Select two organizations and critically evaluate the impact of the microenvironment by applying the SWOT/TWOS model on your selected organizations. Determine the impact of the internal strengths and weaknesses of the selected businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors with a justification of how the internal strengths and weaknesses influence decision-making.
A formal report should contain the following:
Your work will be presented as a report to the client and should include the following:
Cover page, Summary, Contents page, introduction, main body of the report, Conclusion, Recommendations, References, Appendices (where applicable), Harvard referencing, Citation.
Submit your individual work for the above tasks in the form of a business report. Limit your work to a maximum of 1000 words per task. Arial font, size 12, 1.5 line spacing. (You have complete anonymity as to how the subheadings interlink)
Important Information
You should include a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system.
Each unit will be graded as a Pass, Merit, or Distinction. A Pass is awarded for the achievement of all outcomes against the specified assessment criteria based mostly on DESCRIPTIVE content. Merit and Distinction grades are awarded for higher-level achievement which includes degrees of CRITICAL THINKING, ANALYSIS & EVALUATION – these are higher level skills that you should work on over the period of your program.
If your submission fails to meet all Pass criteria, it will be referred. The second attempt will then be capped at a Pass, as per the Pearson Edexcel regulations.
Please access HN Global for additional resources support and reading for this unit. For further guidance and support on report writing please refer to the Study Skills Unit on HN Global.
For support with this assignment please contact your tutor on 0121 4557964 or via email at info@city-college.co.uk
Submission Instructions
Please submit your work soft copy digitally on the Box/CANVAS and send a copy via email to your course tutor on the set dates and notify via email to info@city-college.co.uk. Request a receiving receipt in the form of a reply email which you should keep safe.
All marked work is expected to be returned to learners within 4 weeks of submission.
Glossary:
Analyze: Break an issue or topic into smaller parts by looking in-depth at each part. Support each part with arguments and evidence for and against (Pros and cons).
Critically Evaluate/Analyse: When you critically evaluate your look at the arguments for and against an issue. You look at the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments. This could be from an article you read in a journal or from a textbook.
Discuss: When you discuss you look at both sides of a discussion. You look at both sides of the arguments. Then you look at the reason why it is important (for) then you look at the reason why it is important (against).
Explain: When you explain you must say why it is important or not important.
Evaluate: When you evaluate you look at the arguments for and against an issue.
Identify: When you identify you look at the most important points.
Key reading material: BPP Professional Education, 2013, edition — http://www.bpp.com/lm-product-details/lmproddetails/3331
Link to:www.highernationals.com
BARON, P. (2012) Business and its Environment. 7th Ed. London: Prentice-Hall.
PALMER, A. and HARTLEY, B. (2011) The Business Environment. 7th Ed.
Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
WEATHERLEY, P. (Editor) and OTTER, D. (Editor) (2014) The Business
Environment: Themes and Issues in a Globalised World. 3rd Ed. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
WORTHINGTON, I., and BRITTON. C. (2014) The Business Environment. 7th Ed.
Harlow Pearson.
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 2: Marketing Essentials
Unit 12: Organisational Behaviour
Unit 18: Global Business Environment
Unit 25: Principles of Operations Management
Unit 32: Business Strategy
Unit 34: Business Systems
Wider reading is available via our MOODLE website with the guidance given within the Unit 1 folder. Links are also available giving remote access to the e-library resources including e-books, journals & databases. You are encouraged to use these to develop your assignment. Let your college administrator know if you need any help with the ATHENS login.
Criteria
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome
LO1
Explain the different types, size, and scope of organizations
P1
Explain different types and purposes of organizations; public, private, and voluntary sectors and legal structures.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeP2
Explain the size and scope of a range of different types of organizations.
M1
Analyze how the structure, size, and scope of different organizations link to the business objectives and product and services offered by the organization.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeD1
Provide a critical analysis of the complexities of different types of business structures and the interrelationships of the different organizational functions.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeLO2
Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organization and how they link to organizational structure.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeP3
Explain the relationship between different organizational functions and how they link to organizational objectives and structure.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeM2
Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of interrelationships between organizational functions and the impact that can have upon organizational structure.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeLO3
Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeP4
Identify the positive and negative impacts the macro environment has upon business operations, supported by specific examples.
M3
Apply appropriately the PESTLE model to support a detailed analysis of the macro-environment within an organization.
D2
Critically evaluate the impacts that both macro and micro factors have upon business objectives and decision-making.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeLO4
Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors.
P5
Conduct internal and external analysis of specific organizations in order to identify strengths and weaknesses.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeP6
Explain how strengths and weaknesses interrelate with external macro factors.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeM4
Apply appropriately SWOT/TOWS analysis and justify how they influence decision-making.
3000WORDS
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