Unit 1 HNC - Assignment Brief 1: Business and the Business Environment

Unit 1 Learning Outcomes

LO1 Explain the different types, size and scope of organisations. 
LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organisation and how they link to organisational structure. 

Transferable skills and competencies developed

• Analytical skills to conduct own analysis to draw conclusions. 
• The ability to provide information based on collation, analysis and interpretation of data. 
• Creative thinking for presenting information and data in a simplified and informative manner. 
• Digital skills, using different software applications to visually present information and data concisely. 
• Communicating effectively in all forms, written, visual and oral, for operating efficiently in the international business environment. 

Unit 1 Vocational scenario 

Organisation 

A sports company* engaged In the design, development, manufacturing, worldwide marketing and sales of sports footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services. As of 2020, the company employed more than 75,400 people worldwide and the company brand alone was valued in excess of $32 billion, making it the most valuable brand among sports businesses. Strategic Planning teams keep the company moving in the right direction by leading the strategic business planning process and spearheading transformational projects across the businesses and geographies Embedded in teams across the company, strategy professionals explore complex business issues; conduct consumer, competitive and market analyses; create financial models and develop action plans. The Strategic Planning teams help write the future of sport by charting the company's path forward. 

Role 

You are employed as a Junior Insights Strategist for the Strategic Planning team. The team acts as a key partner to senior leaders, the executive team and the CEO. It provides thought leadership and an external perspective on the most critical strategic initiatives and pressing challenges facing the company. 

Your key roles include the following: 

• supporting data and business analyses to develop business plans 
• measuring business performance to compare actual data to forecasted values 
• executing market research projects and gathering intelligence on current industry, technology and consumer trends. 

'Select an appropriate sports company that meets local needs. 

Unit 1 Assignment activity and guidance

You have been tasked with conducting an Industry analysis that focuses on the sports industry in order to gain access to Industry perspectives, best practices from other high-performance companies and insight into high-growth sectors. You will present your analysis to your line manager and to the management team. The industry analysis will involve the research and analysis of overall market size (international and national) and different sub-sectors (public, private, voluntary), and the organisational mapping of one of the highest-performing companies. Organisations to be considered will include public (national and local sports organisations, local leisure centres), private (gyms, sporting goods, retailers, manufacturers) and voluntary (local clubs and teams).
 
You will present this industry analysis as a portfolio of 'insights' factsheets, to include: 

1. an introduction to sub-sectors and the different types of organisation in the industry, the market size and the growth of the international business environment 
2. a factsheet for a selected sub-sector organisation, with explanation of each of the chosen organisations, including background details of the organisation; the products and services they supply; the size and scope of the organisation; their vision, mission and business objectives; the organisational and legal structure and Information about their stakeholders. For business modelling purposes, you will also need to examine the various business functions in one organisation and create an organisational chart to explore the interrelationships between the different functions. In addition to the 'insights' factsheets, you will present an organisational flow chart that shows:
3. an analysis for one of the chosen organisations, using visual mapping to show how internal departments, for example. finance, marketing, work together to meet business objectives and how interrelationships are defined by the structure of the organisation; present the advantages and disadvantages 
4. conclusions based on critical impact analysis of different business structures and the interrelationships between internal departments in successfully fulfilling overall business objectives.