RECENT ASSIGNMENT

Case study: ‘Cordia LLP: service reform in the public sector’ (Johnson, G, Whittington, R & Scholes, K 2011, pp. 613–617).
Case study questions:
1. Assess the strategic position of Cordia paying particular attention to an organisational cultural perspective. (10 marks)
2. What modes of strategy development are evident in Cordia, and which would you expect to be prevalent, given the strategic change described? (20 marks)
3. What strategy should Cordia adopt and why? (10 marks)
4. What organisational structure should Cordia adopt and why? (10 marks)
The following are some notes to assist with interpreting the requirements of this assignment:
• You can use essay format to respond to this requirement. Answer each question separately.
• This assignment is based on a specific case study. Make sure you read it carefully. The case study is the means to an end – the end in this case is getting you to demonstrate your understanding and application of some of the key concepts in strategic management in general and strategy development processes in particular. You are doing this on the basis that you now have a greater appreciation of what strategic management is about.
• The case considers elements of the change journey facing Cordia LLP, formerly known as Direct and Care Services of Glasgow City Council. The strategic changes illustrated in the case occur as the former council department changes into an arms length company of the council.
• Use the discussion forum on the study desk for this course assignment to raise questions and make comment about these requirements.
• Don’t forget the expectation of research. The textbook and study book provide the basic resource kit for this course but you are expected to do your own research on issues of significance. The extent and quality of further research can only enhance your response to the assignment and support your arguments and punchlines. Punchlines refer to the paragraphs that state the point you are making. Some students are good at writing but it is descriptive writing. In other word, they describe a lot of things particularly what other people say but they don’t clarify what point or argument they are making out of all this description. This situation will lead some examiners to comment after reading such descriptions ‘so what?’. Make sure you understand the essence of writing in an analytic rather than descriptive way.
• Make sure you study the marking criteria for this assignment very carefully because this is the template for assessing and grading your submitted assignment. The marking criteria sheet is provided below. The criteria will be applied to each of the four assignment questions.
• You are required to have a minimum of 15 references to support your critical discussion. You only need to present one reference list. In the minimum of 15 applies to the answer of the four questions in total.
• Don’t forget, you must submit your Turnitin report when you submit your assignment file. Hence, you will be submitting two files on submission day.