Assessment 3 - Business Report
Weighting: 25% Learning Outcomes: 3, 4, 6
Graduate Attributes: 1, 3, 4, 6 Length: 2500 words
Due date: Week 12
Read the case study below. Write a business report to the three owners of DEF on planning,
organising, leading and controlling this expansion of the business, choosing one of the team
structure options. Findings are to be based on research and industry best practice with in-text
referencing included.
Case study
DEF is an incorporated business established in 1994 by three financial advisors. It is now one of
Australia’s largest specialist financial advisory firms with more than 300 staff, offices along the
east coast of Australia and a network of partner firms throughout the country. They run financial
planning and retirement seminars as well as specialist advice in retirement, superannuation,
divorce, aged care and corporate. Their strategy is focused on quality and growth as they have a
strong industry reputation. Their vision is: To enrich the life of clients by empowering them to
make important life decisions based on specialist financial advice from our team of dedicated
experts.
They are setting up a new Financial Planning Advice Division. The aim is to provide an innovative
telephone advice service. They plan to operate the financial advice line where clients can speak to
qualified Financial Planners from 7 am to 10 pm Monday to Sunday. They will initially employ 30
people including planners, team leaders, IT experts and administrative support staff. DEF are
considering two options to operate the advice line team: a virtual team or a self-managed team.
The business report should have the following format:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Summarise the importance of planning, organising, leading and controlling change and your principle
report recommendations. Overview the scenario.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A TEAM STRUCTURE
- Compare the drawbacks and benefits of virtual and self-managed work teams
- Recommend a preferred team option for DEF based on academic research
PART B PLANNING, ORGANISING, LEADING AND CONTROLLING
Based on your preferred option for either a virtual or self-managed team, prepare recommendations
for the management of DEF for the management of the Financial Planning Division.
1. PLANNING
Subject Guide: BUMGT101A/ACBUS102A Management Fundamentals
© TAFE NSW – Higher Education Page | 20
1.1 Financial Planning Advice Division goals
Write two short-term and two long-term goals for the operational and human resources aspects of
the team.
1.2 Environmental scan
Prepare an environmental scan or PESTLE analysis researching the forces and conditions which
potentially affect the financial services industry in Australia.
1.3 Operations / team management
Identify strategies for building the effectiveness and cohesion of the advice line team, related to your
recommended preferred team structure.
2. ORGANISING
2.1 Team structure/design
Based on research, recommend the structure and design of the advice team in terms of:
- Specialisation: How will you divide up tasks? Specialists or generalists?
- Centralisation: At what level will decisions be made?
- Formalisation: What style of team will it be – to what extent will you be guided by rules,
policies and procedures?
- Structure: Is the new division mechanistic or organic?
3. LEADING
3.1 Leadership style
Recommend and justify a leadership style best suited for this type of team.
3.2 Reward, recognition and motivation
- Recommend and justify reward and recognition strategies for this type of team.
- Identify strategies for motivating the advice line team, supported by motivation theories.
3.3 Communication
- Discuss the importance of communication and interpersonal skills for managers and identify
strategies for management communication to and from the advice line team
- Recommend processes to facilitate consultation and negotiation between management and
the team
- Recommend processes to handle conflict and dispute resolution
4. CONTROLLING
Subject Guide: BUMGT101A/ACBUS102A Management Fundamentals
© TAFE NSW – Higher Education Page | 21
Explain the importance of the control function. For this Division, identify what managers/team
members should control and measure; how and when.
5. REFERENCES
Format:
Written submissions should be a maximum of 2500 words in length (excluding references) and
professionally presented. 12 point, 1 ½ spaced, Arial or Calibri font is preferred.
Your business report must include the following:
• Introduction
• Answers to sections 1-5
• List of References
• Research and in-text referencing
• Definitions and explanation of theory
This is an academic report and demands analysis and synthesis of academic literature found in
refereed journals and academic books.
The report is to be written in an academic convention with proper citations and references. As a guide,
8-10 academic references are envisaged. Additional (optional) references may be cited from any
source. These should be documented using Harvard reference style.
This assessment requires students to analyse the case study and research the questions asked.
Responses in each section of the reportshould be based on research of academic theories and industry
best practice.
Submission
Work submitted for all assignments must be accompanied by a completed and signed copy of the
Assessment Cover Sheet. Students must always retain an electronic copy of all assignments.