Year 2 Integrated Business Functions

Assignment 2 (20 marks)

Module 4: Organizing for value creation

This is a GROUP assignment, which is marked out of 100. It is worth 20 marks of the total course scores (i.e., 600 marks).    The written report is due on 28 March 2025 (Week 30) by 5:00 pm.

Word Limit: 2500 words (excluding appendices and footnotes)

Read ALL the information in the exhibits ofthe business case PolarStar and attempt ALL FIVE questions.

You should apply what you have learned in Module 4 and study all exhibits provided to develop your answers. In addition to conducting business analyses, you will need to provide sound and viable recommendations that are actionable and feasible. Ensure that both your analyses and  recommendations are supported by evidence, clearly demonstrating strong organization and with good rationale.

The guiding questions provided will help you structure your thinking and analysis as you prepare your answers. Keep in mind that these questions are not exhaustive, so feel free to explore additional questions or areas of inquiry that may emerge as you analyze the exhibits to develop your responses.

1.   Analyze the impact of external environmental forces on PolarStar’s current business and future development (20%)?

Guiding questions:

•      How do forces in the macro-environment affect PolarStar in terms of customer demand and preferences as well as company decisions and operations?

•      How do competitors affect PolarStar’s business?

•      How do infrastructure developments or limitations impact PolarStar's growth potential?

•      In what ways do environmentally friendly issues pose challenges or opportunities for PolarStar, and how do they affect the company's sustainability initiatives?

2.   Identify and discuss major issues in the management functions of PolarStar that CEO Sara Thompson needs to tackle. Please state at least TWO major issues in each management function (20%).

Guiding questions:

•      What are the key management issues faced by PolarStar with respect to its a) Planning, b) Organizing, c) Leading, and d) Controlling functions? You should identify at least TWO for each function.

•      How do the identified management issues impact PolarStar's ability to achieve its vision, mission, and goals?

3.   Please make recommendations to address the management function issues of Planning that you identified in Q2. Specifically, derive THREE major goals to be attained, providing justification with reasons and a timeline for attainment (15%). Guiding questions:

•      How do your goals align with PolarStar's overall business goals, vision, and mission?

•      What evidence from the exhibits supports the need for establishing these specific goals?

•      What is the proposed realistic timeline for achieving each goal?

•      How will achieving these goals positively impact key stakeholders (employees, customers, investors, etc.)?

4.   Please make recommendations to address the management function issues of Organizing that you identified in Q2. You should also consider the goals established in Q3 (15%).

Guiding questions:

•      How should the organizational structure of PolarStar be redesigned to address the management function issues of organizing and achieve its goals?

•      What are the necessary roles and responsibilities of employees in PolarStar?

•      How  should  PolarStar prepare  its human resources for achieving the goals through staff development and selection?

5.   Please make recommendations to address the management function issues of Leading that you have identified in Q2 (15%).

Guiding questions:

•      What significant challenges might the CEO Ms.  Sara Thompson encounter when implementing the recommendations from Q3 and Q4, and how can these challenges impact the organization's progress?

•      What potential leadership-related challenges might CEO Ms. Sara Thompson face  when  implementing  these  recommendations,  and  how  could  these challenges affect overall organizational morale and performance?

•      Which leadership theories (e.g., trait, behavioural, contingency, transactional, transformational or servant leadership, etc.) should the CEO apply to effectively address  these   challenges and ensure successful implementation of   the recommendations?

•      What specific leadership styles and skills should the CEO use to enhance employee motivation and engagement beyond traditional leadership approaches?

•      What other policies and measures should be taken to motivate the employees of PolarStar?

6.   Please  make  recommendations  to  address  the  management  function  issues  of Controlling that you identified in Q2. Recommend three control mechanisms to be implemented for monitoring progress and ensuring the attainment of the goals within the proposed timeline stated in Q3, with elaborations (15%).

Guiding questions:

•      What specific tools and metrics can be used to effectively measure and evaluate organizational performance at PolarStar?

•      Which performance evaluation methods can be utilized to effectively assess and promote employee productivity and effectiveness?

•      What  contingency  plans  should  be  developed  to  ensure  that  PolarStar  can quickly adapt and maintain operational continuity during unforeseen challenges or situations?

•      What specific managerial actions can be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the controlling process and address any identified performance gaps?

INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE GROUP WRITTEN REPORT

1. Submission due date:

28 March 2025 (Friday) by 5:00 pm

No extension of the submission due dates is allowed.

2. Assignment Submission

As a mechanism to maintain academic integrity, students are required to submit the soft copy of their assignments as below:

i.     Submission of soft copy

Students should upload a soft copy of the assignment to the OLE of the course by 5:00pm on the submission due date. Files uploaded to the OLE should be prepared  in  Microsoft  Word.  Please  refer  to   the   quick  start  guide  for submission of assignments to Turnitin.

You do not have to submit a hard copy of your assignment.

ii.     10%  of the  marks  awarded  to  the  assignment  will be  deducted  for each calendar day overdue until the soft copy of the assignment is submitted.

3. A  maximum  length  of  this  group  written  report  is 2500  words (excluding appendices and footnotes). Please state the word count on the cover page of your written report. A template of the cover page is provided at the end of this assignment.  Failure to comply with the above may result in mark deduction based on the followings:

4. Plagiarism

All assignments will undergo plagiarism check.

Plagiarism     involves      copying      from      another     source      without acknowledgement.    Students should make sure all sources they used in the assignment are properly referenced.

Even there is proper referencing, student should not make excessive use of the words composed by others.

Penalty will be applied if plagiarism is confirmed.

Sources of information and references must be stated in the format as instructed  by your tutor.    Training on the format of stating source of information (reference) will be given to you in tutorial prior to the submission due date.     Students must  follow strictly the format as stated below.   No marks will be given for the part(s)  that is/are copied from the works of others without stating the source of reference.  You  should  follow  the  guideline, “Academic   Writing:  Acknowledging  your sources” on the OLE to avoid plagiarism.

5. Marks will be  given  on a group basis. A peer assessment will be conducted. Students will be evaluated based on their individual contribution to the group assignment.     The  teaching  team  has  full  discretion  to  adjust  the  marks  of individual student based on his or her contribution in the group assignment.