Assignment. Programme: Higher National Diploma in Travel and Tourism Mgt. QCF Level: 5. Unit Number: 10. Credit Value 15

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1 Assignment Programme: Higher National Diploma in Travel and Tourism Mgt Unit Title: Lecturer: Business Health Check Mr Tawfiq Elahi QCF Level: 5 Unit Number: 10 Credit Value 15 Assignment Starts: Immediately Date for Completion: w/c 14 th December 2015

2 - 2 - Aims: The aim of this assignment is to enable you to build on the work done in class to develop further your understanding of the way that the progress of a business involved in travel and tourism can be checked and its direction amended depending on what is happening inside and outside the company at any time. Learning outcomes (LOs): On successful completion of this Unit, you will have the ability to: 1. Understand the focuses of the business (LO1) 2. Be able to develop plans for businesses (LO2) 3. Be able to evaluate and develop skills of management and staff (LO3) Unit Content: By the time you have completed this assignment, you should have explored and thought about in depth: 1. Learning outcome 1 Focuses: current positioning of business /priorities / successes / distracters / current, future aims (short, medium and long-term) / strengths and weaknesses / stakeholders / sources of advice and guidance / potential for business improvement Factors impacting on the business: external / internal / resources / opportunities / threats 2. Learning outcome 2 Review : areas e.g. products and services / marketing / sales / finances / staffing / effectiveness / overall business performance / business image / record keeping Business planning: forecasting e.g. for marketing and sales / design / productivity / quality / service / financial management systems / roles and responsibilities of staff and management / performance monitoring / laws and regulations (including updating) / action planning / timescales / risk assessment / appropriate sources of advice / relevant information / information handling and administration 3. Learning outcome 3 Evaluate: monitor performance, to include current experience, skills and abilities (technical, operational, managerial) / effect of current performance on the business, assess targets set, other relevant information, make informed judgements. Planning and development:

3 - 3 - assessing re-skilling & up-skilling needs, setting clear targets, linking skills targets to business targets, advice and training, cost-benefit analysis. Support and advice: free and paid-for help, personal contacts, networks, fees, limitations of advice and support, record keeping. Outline of assignment: For the purposes of this assignment you are to take the role of a consultant called in to carry out a business health check Shearings a company which is based in the UK and well known in the travel sector for being middle of the road You will be given a hard copy of a case study showing where the company was in business terms in 2008 however, you should note that COPYWRITE REGULATIONS MEAN THAT WE CANNOT PUT THIS ON SHAREPOINT you will only be able to access a copy in class. This year s theme for all higher education colleges is digital literacy so, for this reason, much of the information you will need to deal successfully with this assignment must be accessed on line through your own activities and research. It will not be available on SharePoint, nor will it be available in hard copy form in class. You should note that it is ESSENTIAL that, in doing your research you look well beyond just the company s own website because there, you will only find their own point of view. For example, you can search TripAdvisor and similar websites, also newspapers and journals and different search engines. Task 1 Understand the focuses of the business (LO1) You begin by carrying out an analysis of Shearings current situation and its position within the travel and tourism industry. a) First of all, you analyse Shearings history together with their short and long term objectives and, in doing this, you gather information from a variety of digital sources. (LO1.1) Note: Under no circumstances are you to make direct contact with the company all your information MUST BE GATHERED DIGITALLY b) Secondly, you investigate the external influences on the business through carrying out a detailed PESTLE analysis plus an industry analysis using Porter s Five Forces and you follow this with an analysis of the internal situation. You then draw out the results of these analyses into a detailed SWOT analysis. (LO1.2)

4 - 4 - c) Then, using your SWOT analysis as a base, you consider possible options for improvements to the company and its operation using Ansoff s Matrix to assist your development of possible options (LO1.3) Task 2 Be able to develop plans for the business (LO2) Now, you begin the consider the future in more detail using the information you gathered as part of Task 1 a) Your starting point is a final review of the effectiveness of the company looking at products / services; marketing; finance; staffing; business image (LO2.1) b) This leads you to a plan for the company s future development in which you consider internal and external issues and you also provide a justification of the recommendations you make. (LO2.2) Task 3 Be able to evaluate and develop skills of management and staff (LO3) Your final task is to consider the current skills and the development needs of management and staff. a) Using the information sources you have already identified, you should investigate, and also evaluate, the current skills, experience and abilities of Shearings management and staff (LO3.1) b) Knowledge of the current situation leads you to the production of an outline plan for future skills development. This may cover new skills that you have identified as desirable and also the improvement of existing skills. You also consider the need to link skills targets to business targets and you also provide a detailed justification of your plans. (LO3.2)

5 - 5 - Some useful Guidelines: 1. You should note that simply repeating information from the company website and your other sources of information will not gain you a Pass grade you must carry out analysis and make judgements based on the information you have gathered through digital means 2. It is essential that in each of the tasks you focus directly on the company (Shearings). General essays will not attract a Pass grade. 3. All tasks should be completed within a word limit of 4500, plus or minus 10%. Words in tables, diagrams and appendices. (including your reference list) do not count. You should note that there may be penalties for assignments which are over length 4. The source of all figures and diagrams should be clearly referenced 5. Your references should evidence clear use of the Harvard System 6. It is essential that you make practical use of models and concepts from the theory you have covered in class. Work that does not do this will not attract a Pass grade. 7. During the period of the assignment, your course tutor will act as your consultant. He will be happy to discuss with you your approach to the assignment and your chosen organisational focus so you should feel able to try out your thoughts and ideas. It is sensible to seek advice instead of taking the risk of handing in an assignment that will fail 8. You will need to carry out background research via company and other websites, and appropriate books and journals 9. You are reminded that the City College assessment process does not allow for late work if you want your work to be marked, it is essential that you submit it by the published deadline. 10. The only exception to the rule about late work is if you have submitted an extenuating circumstances request using the appropriate form and have received an official extension. The system is explained in your Student Handbook. All decisions about extenuating circumstances are made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel and the Panel s decision is final. You should note that lecturers do not have the power, under any circumstances at all, to extend assignment deadlines. Performance criteria: Pass: 1. The assignment will cover the main areas as specified below but with only limited evidence of critical analysis or evaluation and possibly some errors or omissions. However, there will be evidence of an ability to think independently as shown through the application of appropriate theory To achieve Learning Outcome 1 (Understand the focuses of the business)

6 - 6 - you must: o Analyse the objectives of the business (LO1.1) o Explain factors that impact on the business (LO1.2) o Determine potential improvements to the business organisation and/or operation (LO1.3) To achieve Learning Outcome 2 (Be able to develop plans for businesses) you must: o Review the effectiveness of the business (LO2.1) o Develop plans to improve the business, justifying their value (LO2.2) To achieve Learning Outcome 3 (Be able to evaluate and develop skills of management and staff) you must: o Evaluate the current skills of management and staff (LO3.1) o Devise and justify plans for the development of skills of management and staff (LO3.2) 2. The presentation of the material must be appropriate and business-like but may display weaknesses in the way in which it is communicated 3. All tasks must be dealt with 4. The assignment must meet the specified deadline and must not exceed the specified word limit. Merit: As for Pass but with more detailed and analytical responses which show a clear understanding of the processes involved in human resource management. This would involve producing evidence within the completed assignment to meet the performance criteria set out below. Note: Guidance from BTEC indicates that students should be given more than just a single opportunity to achieve Merit criteria and the criteria set out here have been designed with that guidance in mind so that you can make choices.naturally you do not need to achieve every single criterion however, you should note that M1.3 and M3.1 are essential for the achievement of Merit grade and that you must meet one criterion from each of M1, M2, M3.

7 - 7 - o You must identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions and provide evidence to show: (M1) Effective judgements have been made e.g. with regard to appropriate skills development for management and staff (M1.1) Complex problems with more than one variable have been explored e.g. in recommending strategies for future organisational development (M1.2) An effective approach to study and research has been used and will be evidenced through an assignment which is submitted by the published due date and achieves Pass grades for all elements of all tasks. (M1.3) o You must also select/design and apply appropriate methods/techniques and provide evidence to show: (M2) Relevant theories and techniques have been applied e.g. PESTLE and Porter s Five Forces used at a level significantly higher than for a basic Pass (M2.1) A range of sources of information has been used which might be evidenced by detailed and correct use of the Harvard System. (M2.2) The methods selected have been justified e.g. by an explanation of why the chosen approach has been used rather than another e.g. Task 2 and Task 3 (M2.3) Complex information / data have been synthesised and processed. Evidence here might be in the form of graphs or tables (M2.4) Appropriate learning methods/techniques have been applied e.g. independent study and research and/or discussions with tutors (M2.5) o Your work must also present and communicate appropriate findings and provide evidence to show: (M3) Appropriate structure and approach has been used e.g. professional report style as specified for the complete assignment (M3.1) Coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for the intended audience e.g. detailed and appropriate use of the growth vector matrix in developing possible directions for the future of the business (M3.2) A range of methods of presentation has been used e.g. tables and diagrams as well as text and Technical language has been accurately used e.g. all the correct terms of strategic analysis accurately used (M3.3) Communication has taken place in familiar and unfamiliar contexts (M3.4) The communication is appropriate for both familiar and unfamiliar audiences i.e. the approach is clear and easily understood (M3.5)

8 - 8 - Distinction: o You will have used critical reflection to evaluate your own work and justify valid conclusions. Your evidence will show: Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified The validity of results has been evaluated using defined criteria Self criticism of approach has taken place Realistic improvements have been proposed against defined characteristics for success o You will have taken responsibility for managing and organising activities and your evidence will show: Demonstration of autonomy/independence Substantial activities/projects or investigations have been planned, managed and organised Activities have been managed The unforeseen has been accommodated The importance of interdependence has been recognised and achieved o You will demonstrate convergent, lateral and creative thinking and your evidence will show: Ideas have been generated and decisions taken Self evaluation has taken place Convergent and lateral thinking have been applied Problems have been solved Innovation and creative thought have been applied Receptiveness to new ideas is evident Effective thinking has taken place in unfamiliar contexts