Microsoft
The organization in focus for this assignment is “Microsoft”. You must specifically focus on the Microsoft’s business division operating in the game console industry, i.e. the Gaming Hardware segment producing the Xbox gaming console (hereafter “Microsoft Game Console business division”). Feel free to collect information from their annual reports, press releases and the Internet to support your analysis.
The Word Limit
The report length is 3,000 words excluding the Executive Summary, cover pager, any tables/diagrams within the text, the Appendix, and references.
The structure of the assignment
Must include 4 main different sections, each one covering one of the following questions (in addition to the initial brief summary).
Follow this structure
1. One page Executive Summary;
2. Table of Contents;
3. Introduction
4. Main part MUST include 4 main different sections, each one covering one of the following questions
5. Conclusion – key points drawn out of the discussion to ensure that the reader is clear what the answer to the question being tackled is
6. reference
7. appendices
You MUST clearly indicate the number of words of your work (main text, excluding Summary, Appendix, and references) in the front page.
Please address all of these questions:
1. Critically assess:
a) the business macroenvironment within which the Microsoft Game Console business division operates: use the PESTEL Framework;
b) the business microenvironment (industry) within which the Microsoft Game Console business division operates: use the Porter’s Five Forces Framework.
2. Select the 5 most relevant trends/drivers of changes (opportunities and threats) in the business macroenvironment and microenvironment that might affect the competitive position of the Microsoft Game Console business division in the next five (5) years. Describe these trends/drivers and justify why they are very relevant.
3. Identify:
a) the most critical resources which are currently at the heart of the competitive advantage of the Microsoft Game Console business division;
b) the most critical resources that Microsoft Game Console business division should use, develop further or acquire in the next 5 years to face the 5 most relevant trends/drivers of changes (opportunities and threats) you selected above (question 2).
Use here the conceptual framework(s) which you think is (are) most appropriate.
4. Evaluate the business portfolio of the whole Microsoft company: what are the other business divisions? What synergies between the Game Console business division and the other divisions can Microsoft exploit/develop in order to face in the next 5 years the 5 most relevant trends/drivers of changes (opportunities and threats) you selected above (question 2)?
The final document MUST show
1. Theoretical understanding: has the candidate shown a good breadth of understanding and referenced a range of literature?
2. Use of examples to support points made: where appropriate, have the arguments been supported by examples drawn from business practice or the case study?
3. Structure of the answer: use paragraphs that are linked and build to form a coherent answer to the question
4. Clarity of expression and analytical ability: is the language used clear & easy to follow and does it contain evidence of critical reflection?
5. Conclusion – Have the key points been drawn out of the discussion to ensure that the reader is clear what the answer to the question being tackled is?
OUTSTANDING APPRECIATION AND CRITICAL REVIEW OF FULL RANGE OF CONCEPTS/LITERATURE AND ISSUES.
FLUENT PRESENTATION OF RELEVANT INFORMATION AND ISSUES, ENGAGING WITH CURRENT DEBATES AT A HIGH LEVEL.
REFLECTION AND EVALUATION IN THE TEXT/PRESENTATION EXPRESSED WITH A SKILL ANDDISCRIMINATION THAT ENRICHES AND EXTENDS THE AREA UNDER STUDY, SHOWING SOME EVIDENCE OF ORIGINALITY.
The Executive Summary and Report Style
The executive summary, which comes at the beginning of the report, is a summary of what the report says, its key issues, findings and any recommendations. It is not a preface or introduction saying what the report will cover. It is essentially a quick way for busy executives to find out what a report said, its key findings and conclusions, rather than them having to read the whole report in detail.
Break the text up into meaningful paragraphs and include numbered headings for your different sections and sub-sections in the report. Also don’t forget to number your pages and include the appropriate page numbers in your table of contents. Use charts, diagrams and tables and other illustrations to support your arguments.
References and Plagiarism
Be very careful that your work is properly referenced throughout (using the Harvard referencing system). That means that any information/facts referred to in your assignment, that you have obtained from other sources, must be fully referenced. Direct quotations must be put in quote marks, with the source provided at the end of the quote.
Use only relevant and not out of date reference.
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