BU4001 International Business Strategy Capstone Assignment 1 S1 25-26

BU4001 Assignment Details

Department of Economics and Management and Marketing

CORK UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL

Module Code(s): BU4001

Module Title: International Business Strategy Capstone

Year: 2025/2026

Semester: 1

Assignment 1: Vodafone: Sustainable Strategies For Future Growth

Write a report on Vodafone examining sustainable strategies for future growth addressing the following 6 key questions using the case evidence on Canvas and other evidence available:

1. What should Vodafone’s value proposition be in the medium term? (Note: Your analysis should explore its value proposition, its customer segments, its markets as appropriate.)
2. What are the key opportunities and threats that Vodafone will face into the future? (Note: Your analysis should include an external analysis exploring factors in Vodafone’s wider environment and its industry/market environment)
3. What are the key strengths that Vodafone needs to build sustainable strategies for future growth? (Note: Your analysis should conduct an internal analysis to carefully consider the uniqueness of the resources and capabilities of Vodafone and the strengths and weaknesses of its business model to drive future sustainable growth.)
4. Describe Vodafone’s International strategy, where should it go, how should it enter new markets and how should it manage the political and geopolitical risks it will face.
5. Comment on how Vodafone’s strategy aligns with the ethical and CSR concerns in its internal and external environment.
   Finish by setting out recommendations for future growth and responsible leadership.

Referencing:

Check out the Harvard referencing guide  for referencing styles and the student declaration form which should be attached to your submission.

Submission & Formatting Guidelines:

Please note the following in relation to assignment submission:  Assignments should be typed and submitted as a word document.

• They should use a minimum of 12pt font size.
• The complete document should be named “BU4001_*your name_Assignment1”.
• The final assignment must be submitted via Canvas using the relevant assignment submission folder by 5pm on Friday 28th of November.
• Word Count: 2,500 excluding appendices but the appendices can be no more 25 pages.
• All assignments will be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin.

Assignment extension/permission for absence from an in-class test:

In exceptional circumstances students can apply for an extension on their assignment deadline or for permission for absence from an in-class exam.  More details can be found at: CUBS Coursework Policy. Applications must be made online using the form: Request for Extension/Absence.

Assessment Feedback Policy:

Feedback will be provided via canvas with 20 working days.

Marking & Rubrics:

The assignment tests the application of frameworks to a case study. Marks will be awarded based on the selection of appropriate frameworks to gather a wide breadth of evidence. Strategic principles and models should be clearly, cohesively and comprehensively applied to a breadth of evidence.  There should be a clear and comprehensive critical evaluation of the evidence building from the problem/issue/framework and aligned with evidence collected. Conclusions should set out clear recommendations for sustainable growth and responsible leadership into the future and be linked to the evidence gathered from frameworks.  These should be plausible based on the findings from your analysis. The assessment should be professionally presented (e.g. Section headings and subheadings).  All frameworks, literature and evidence should be carefully cited and referenced. It should be from trustworthy sources.  See overleaf for the marking rubric.

BU4001 Marking Rubric