Reference no: EM131924247 , Length: word count:6000

Final Project Portfolio

"A portfolio is a collection of papers and other forms of evidence that learning has taken place".

The company chosen by client is Smart Technology.

The purpose of your portfolio: Your portfolio will allow assessment of progress towards the module learning outcomes by using chronological work samples collected at different points of time. Please make sure that your portfolio provides evidence of your development throughout the module. The achievement of the following learning outcomes is expected to be demonstrated by the range of reports, personal reflection and evaluations included in your portfolio:

• Work independently and demonstrate the potential for leadership within an organisation
• Research, analyse and apply critical academic underpins relevant and appropriate to various business issues across organisation's operation.
• Analyse valid and reliable business environmental drivers to draw sound business conclusions
• Aligning operational objectives and strategies with corporate goals and strategies in negotiation with the interested parties
• Design and present business reports articulating knowledge and understanding of critical business issues in various aspects of the business operations.
• Reflect on personal development and assess developmental need from career aspiration perspective

Portfolio content:

1. Three rounds critical appraisal report submitted weekly from round four to round six of the simulation. It is an individual appraisal and reflection of areas of individual responsibility. This has a word limit of 2500 words per report. (Please see below for further information)

2. Reflective piece on group performance reviewing overall activity of the team. This will include both qualitative (coherence, communication, leadership etc) and quantitative (finance position and performance) aspects of the team's activities.

3. Individual reflective diary to reflect on personal development throughout the simulation. This also has a word limit of 2000 words.

Portfolio structure -

• Cover Page
• Executive summary
• Content Page
• Introduction
• Critical Appraisal Report (Round/Year 4)
• Critical Appraisal Report (Round/Year 5)
• Critical Appraisal Report (Round/Year 6)
• Team Performance Review
• Individual Reflection
• References (Please collate all the references for each into one overall reference list)
• Appendices

Critical Appraisal Report -

Week 7 - Round 4 FINANCE (I did the finance part but tutor wants a lot of changes)

Week 8 - Round 5 PRODUCTION

During the next three rounds you are required to write a report after the completion of each round. The report needs to be written from the perspective of your position held in the team during that round. For example, if your responsibilities in Round 4 were to look after the marketing function of the business your critical appraisal report will focus on the marketing decision.

By the end of the project, you will have completed three critical appraisal reports, each with different focus, Marketing, Operations/Production and Finance.

As part of your CW1 you have already submitted Team work plan in which you have outlined the responsibilities of each team member for the entire duration of the simulation. Please follow your plan and the division of responsibilities as scheduled.

Critical Appraisal Report Structure -

Cover Page

Introduction - 400 words

Literature review - 700 words

Business Analysis - 1000 words

• Situation analysis/Market outlooks (for the round)
• Core strategy (for the round)
• Analysis of company performance (for the round)
• Recommendations for next round

Conclusions - 400 words

References

Additional information for the Critical Appraisal Reports -

The Marketing Critical Appraisal Report should include:

Detail marketing efforts, including identifying the company's target customer and market. In this section, the marketing report covers marketing efforts initiated in the previous year and how those efforts panned out. Provide examples that give actual results of your marketing efforts, so that those reading the report can get an idea of how your company has been successful with marketing initiatives.

Keywords: Demand, marketing plan, competitors' analysis, marketing mix, promotion, market share, pricing strategy.

The Production/Operations Critical Appraisal Report should include:

The key operational variables for performance evaluation are sales and profitability. In our simulation we decided to use cumulative shareholders return as a success indicator. To what extent you achieved the sales volume predicted in your planning and how changes in your sales volume compare to the changes at your competitors are accurate measures of company performance. For example the percent profit margin indicates how much of each pound earned from sales your company keeps as profit and is a good indicator of overall performance. In your analysis it is essential that you evaluate your research and development strategy together with the production strategy of different products with different functionalities.

Keywords: Production planning, Manufacturing, capacity utilisation, inventory management, production plants, contract manufacturing, buying technology and licences, research and development, product development, logistics, transfer pricing, network coverage.

The Finance Critical Appraisal Report should include:

In addition to numerical factors such as profit margin, other indicators allow you to evaluate your company's performance on purely financial terms. For example liquidity and investment ratios evaluate your company's performance with regard to ensuring that it can continue its operations and in terms of attractiveness for investment. Understanding financial statements is essential for good financial reporting and analysis.

Keywords: Taxation, capital structure, selling share, buyback management, analysis of financial statements, balance sheet, cash flow statement and profit and loss accounts.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar