The word count for this assessment is 2,500 words (excluding references, tables, diagrams, and appendices).
Assessment question
Demonstrate an understanding of the application of relevant concepts, tools, techniques, and methodologies, introduced over the course of this module from strategic thinking, to strategic planning, and strategic momentum.
Select a Healthcare Organisation of your choice and find their existing strategic plan. If you are currently working in a healthcare organisation, you may choose to discuss your own organisation and its strategic plan. If not, you can select an organisation whose strategic plan you have access to or are able to find online. You will play the role of an external Consultant hired by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this organisation. They have hired you at the starting point of the implementation of their strategic plan to write a guidance document on how this strategic plan could be implemented effectively into their organization.
Advise the CEO on implementing their strategic plan using the key concepts you have learnt throughout this module.
When writing this guidance document keep in mind that the CEO is a busy person, so you need to write professionally, concisely, clearly, provide good evidence, and follow Harvard academic referencing systems. It is recommended that you have clear headings that break up your guidance document and make it easy for the CEO to follow, and also consider using infographics and other ways to present information in a clear and easy to understand format.
It is expected that your paper will comprise of the following:
Introduction (Approximately 300 words) – In this section, you will give a brief overview to the CEO of what you intend to cover in your guidance document.
Implementing the Strategy (Approximately1500 words) –
Here, in your advice to the CEO, you will focus on the tools and techniques that can be used in implementing the strategic plan and the challenges that a strategic manager needs to be mindful of during this implementation process. In this section you will explore your learning from the module in relation to the implementation of the strategy with a focus on demonstrating that you can apply the different concepts, tools, and techniques that you have learnt in this module to the strategy that you are exploring. Note that this is not a workplan for implementing the specifics of the strategy, but rather focusses on the theories, concepts, tools and techniques, and challenges that a strategic manager needs to be mindful of when implementing the strategy. These may be explored in the following sub-headings:
Directional Strategies (vision, mission and values)
Service/Product Strategies
Support Strategies
Measuring the success of the strategy (Approximately 400 words) – here you will advise the CEO on how to measure success and the possible challenges in measuring these, and your recommendations, using the concepts you have learnt in this module.
Reflecting and revisiting the strategy (Approximately 300 words) – here you will guide the CEO on issues like when and how to reflect on the strategy, how to continue to align the strategy with the external environment and gain sustainable competitive advantage, and when a new strategy needs to be developed and how.
In the annexes, you must include the strategic plan (or this can be included with a link if the plan is online). You are encouraged to provide additional information such as an action plan for the first 6 months, a contingency plan, or other supporting implementation tools that will be helpful for the CEO.
Learning outcomes to be assessed:
Demonstrate an understanding of the key approaches, theories and concepts that inform strategic management.
Critically appraise different schools of thought to healthcare business practice and strategic management.
Critically explain and analyse a range of strategies linking theory to practice.
Departmental guidelines on preparation and submission of coursework.
If your assessment exceeds the word count limit or range by more than 10% then your awarded grade will be reduced by 10% grade points. For more information please see your student handbook.
There is no grade reduction applied if your assignment does not meet the word count range or limit, but to maximise your opportunity to achieve the highest grade possible, you should aim to meet the word count or range as closely as possible.
Turnitin Originality Check
Before submitting your assignment, you must check the originality of any written part of your work by submitting your assignment to Turnitin and check the report for any problem areas. You cannot submit any audio or video files to Turnitin.
By submitting your assignment to this tool you will receive an originality report which can be used to check that you have not included other authors work without correct citation. It is important to note that submitting your work to the Turnitin Originality Check tool does not count as a submission of your final work.
