BUS020C414S Introduction to Management L4 Assessment Brief 2025 | URL

Learning outcomes assessed 

Knowledge outcome – On completion of this module you will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the theories, processes, procedures and practices for effective management in organisations.

Intellectual /transferrable skill outcome – Students who successfully complete this module will be developing your competence in using a range of basic analytical and managerial techniques and processes including objective setting, monitoring and evaluation as well as interpersonal skills of successful managers.

Business Readiness outcomes assessed within this piece of work as agreed at the programme level meeting

Students will be developing an understanding of and using techniques to solve business problems with awareness of commercial acumen as well as developing your ability to write reports and have confidence in team working

Formative Assessment

Detail:
Type
Dates as agreed at programme level meeting
How formative contributes to summative assessment

In Week 5 (Friday 21st February 2025, 5pm) you will be asked to have completed and submitted on Moodle the Sports Direct Group Study Planning Sheet (see and complete Appendix 1 below). You should particularly consider how management theory will need to be applied to the problem and on the basis of your analysis, you propose some solutions to Sports Direct.

Students will be provided oral and written feedback on the quality and coherence of their ideas and planning in Weeks 6 & 7 seminars. 

Assessment Case Study – Sports Direct 

The assessment is based on a business and management case study which requires a critical approach to identifying and problem-solving a range of business and management challenges within the case. Throughout the term you will undertake research and analysis which will inform your individual report. Within the individual report you will include a summary and key justifications for the resolution of one of three problems in the case supported by management theories and principles. 

The report will be an individual 2,000 words report which will address one of the three specific ‘problems’ identified in the case. You will receive a full briefing in Weeks 2 and 3.

Students will be expected to apply management theory to practice throughout the report. 

Case Study – Sports Direct International  (Part of the Frasers Group)

The retail fashion and sportswear market is highly competitive and with the dramatic growth in online fashion sales, retail store operators and sportswear manufacturers such as Sports Direct have been experiencing difficult challenges in terms of making profits with many stores closing 

Businesses in retail fashion such as the Arcadia Group have failed to respond to competition from online retailers and the Covid 19 crisis and have subsequently failed  . The Fraser Group, holding company for Sports Direct, has bucked the trend in the decline in sportswear retail by diversifying (in purchasing the Game retail business and consistently performing well in all areas of its business . Sales for y/e April 2020 were up nearly 7% to just under £4 billion. Annual sales for Sports Direct alone is in excess of £1.2 billion. The group was set up and owned by the entrepreneur Mike Ashley who is known for his charismatic and controversial management style . In 2021 Mike Ashley is stepping down from running the Frasers business passing on the reigns to his 

The Summative Assessment 

Problem 1 – Staffing & HR – Recruitment, selection and retention of store managers and supervisors
Problem 2 – The work culture in the business 
Problem 3 – Poor customer service quality in the stores

Problem 1: Staffing & HR – Recruitment, selection and retention of store managers and supervisors
•    High street retailers experience many challenges in terms recruiting and retaining good quality store managers and supervisors especially in the difficult trading conditions, including those imposed by the Covid 19 crisis. With many of the stores being under financial pressure, attracting talented retail store managers and supervisors to work for the group is difficult. Equally the stores that remain open where they are trading reasonably well, they need to be run efficiently by well-motivated, well-trained, experienced managers and supervisors. Sports Direct, as part of the Frasers Group, have a ‘job search’ site  which tries to attract new managers and supervisors to work in the stores. The site is failing to attract enough new managers and supervisors to staff the stores.