Business ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION Research a technological trend, pick an industry/organisation that will likely be impacted by this trend, and use situational audit tools discussed in class to summarise its 3-year prospect. The Individual (research) Report is a formative assessment scheduled in the middle of the teaching period to assess your understanding of concepts and technological trends introduced in unit. For this assessment, students will select one technological trend and research its origins, underlying technology, common or nascent applications to different industries, and its current or potential impact on business. Students will then have to pick an industry or organisation to feature in their report, then conduct detailed research on its business model, inputs/processes/outputs, value chain, internal and external environment, and its market potential and/or its performance (i.e. profitability, growth, competitive advantage). Students will then assemble the information and structure their report using one or several of the situational audit tools discussed in class. Finally, students will conclude the report with an assessment of the 3-year prospects of the industry/organisation as a result of the selected technological trend (i.e. acceleration/deceleration/increase/decrease of its market potential, profitability, growth, competitive advantage). In the report, students have to demonstrate systematic and thorough research, analytical skills, a sound understanding of the research material and the situational audit tools featured in the report, as well as, an informed assessment of the case. Guidance for this report will be provided in class discussions through selected technological trends. The Individual Report has a word limit of 1,800 words, may include up to 3 appendices. You will be assessed on these key criteria: • Identify the trends in external forces that have the biggest impact on an organisation’s profitability; • Summarise the latest developments in a chosen field of interest; • Apply the unit’s analytical frameworks to the impact of recent developments on the attractiveness or growth rate in a chosen industry; • Predict the implication of recent developments on the well-being of an industry or organisation, its employees, consumers, community groups, society, or other groups of stakeholders; and • Synthesise the views of experts or participants on the latest developments in a chosen field of interest.
