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The essay structure you have provided is a common one for organizational strategy essays. It covers three key areas:
Contextual overview(maximum 300 words excluding charts, tabels and photos): This section provides an overview of the organization, its current strategic approaches, and the rationale for conducting the analysis and choice of models. It is important to provide enough context so that the reader can understand the organization and its strategic context, but not so much that the essay becomes bogged down in detail.
Critical literature review(800 words max excluding charts tables and photos): This section presents the results of a critical literature review into current thinking on the concept of organizational strategy, strategy in a digital world, and the different theoretical frameworks and models that can be used in an organizational context. The literature review should be comprehensive and critical, and it should demonstrate the student’s understanding of the relevant theory and literature.
Analysis/Findings(400 words max excluding charts, tables and photos): This section applies the relevant models of strategy to the organization and summarizes the findings. The analysis should be evidence-based and should demonstrate the student’s ability to apply theory to practice.
Here is a more detailed explanation of each section:
Contextual overview
The contextual overview should include the following information:
A brief overview of the organization, including its industry, size, products or services, and mission and vision.
A discussion of the organization’s current strategic approaches, including its competitive strategy, growth strategy, and internationalization strategy.
A rationale for conducting the analysis and choice of models. What are the organization’s strategic goals? What are the challenges and opportunities facing the organization? Which models are most relevant to the organization’s strategic context?
Critical literature review
The critical literature review should discuss the following topics:
The concept of organizational strategy: What is organizational strategy? What are the different types of organizational strategies? What are the key factors that influence organizational strategy?
Strategy in a digital world: What are the challenges and opportunities of the digital age for organizations? How can organizations develop and implement effective digital strategies?
Theoretical frameworks and models of strategy: What are the different theoretical frameworks and models of strategy that can be used in an organizational context? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each framework or model?
The literature review should be critical in the sense that the student should not simply summarize the findings of other authors. Instead, the student should evaluate the literature and identify the key insights that are relevant to the organization’s strategic context.
Analysis/Findings
This section applies the relevant models of strategy to the organization and summarizes the findings. The analysis should be evidence-based and should demonstrate the student’s ability to apply theory to practice.
For example, the student might use PESTLE analysis to identify the key political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors that are impacting the organization’s industry. The student might then use Porter’s Five Forces model to analyze the competitive landscape of the organization’s industry.
Once the student has completed the analysis, they should summarize the findings and discuss the implications for the organization. For example, the student might identify the key opportunities and threats facing the organization, and they might recommend some strategic actions that the organization should take.
When writing the essay, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:
Be clear and concise.
Avoid jargon and technical language.
Use evidence to support your claims.
Cite your sources correctly.
Proofread carefully before submitting your essay.
I hope this explanation is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
