Course name: Competitiveness, Strategy and Risk Management

A2 Strategic Planning and Crisis Adaptation Report

Details, Description

This report is an individual assignment. It will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge and apply your understanding of the prescriptive planning approach and strategic thinking in coping with tourism organizations' challenges. This assessment requires you to critically evaluate a business crisis situation and design effective strategies to deal with the issue. In particular, to present a business case for a new strategic approach in a live competitive environment, that involves an understanding of the analysis of internal and external business resources, strategic planning, selection and evaluation. In lectures and workshops, we will be practicing some aspects of the process of strategic analysis and how to determine an appropriate course of action from a set of options.

The report should be a maximum of 3,000 words (excluding contents page, references and appendices).

Report Components

You are required to:

Prepare a detailed case study report on current/emerging crisis or disaster issues and challenges facing a particular tourism, hospitality, and events industry sub-sector (can be the same choice as the first assignment). You are recommended to discuss the case selection with the lecturer in advance if you are uncertain.

propose strategies for responding effectively to the identified challenges.

Your (1) assessment of the crisis/disaster impacts and (2) recommendation to the selected tourism/hospitality/event organisation based on current conditions will form the main body of this report, and should include the following:

Describe the selected

organisation’s

purpose, vision, and mission to provide background context.

Provide a critical analysis of one type of crises/disasters faced by this organisation, focusing on its negative impacts on business operations and current/future challenges.

Conduct an internal resource analysis of the organisation including its resources and capabilities.

Conduct an analysis of the macro and micro external operating environment of the organisation (e.g., STEEP + Porter's Five Force analysis, or STEEP + SWOT).

Based on the above, recommend one overarching strategy for the organisation to consider adopting to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. Explain the rationale behind this recommendation, leveraging on analyses presented in earlier sections of the report.

Tips: Complete the Environmental Assessment (internal and external) by using appropriate frameworks. Organise your analysis according to appropriate frameworks and models provided in prescribed course readings/lecture content.

Report Format

You should use academic and industry literature, and theoretical concepts and models to structure the report and justify your recommendations. Recommendations should also be based on your group's strategic analysis and understanding of the organisation’s purpose. The following is the recommended structure for this report:

Title page

Executive summary (max.one page)

Table of Contents

Body (covering all required report components as stated above)

References (APA 7 Style, at least 10 references, a mix of academic journal articles, textbooks, and industry publications). Please refer to the following link for more info on APA 7:

https://www.griffith.edu.au/library/study/referencing/apa-7

Appendices as appropriate, to support the recommendations such as organisational charts and review details

Your Executive Summary should be written at the report front, and must consider the following:

Why you are writing this report

Who you are writing this report for

What research/questions you have asked

What models you have used to assess the issue and answer the questions

Where you have found the information

An overview of key results

Your final key recommendations

Format: numbered headings, 12-point font, 1.5-line spacing, and 2.5 cm margins, Calibri or Times New Roman

Important: It is more challenging writing a 'tight' report with a restricted word limit, however this is exactly the type of situation you will find yourself in once you begin working in industry. Therefore, spend time reading and thinking about the most important aspects of the strategic direction you are exploring, and focus your thoughts accordingly.

All information required to complete this report will be provided in both lectures and seminars.

Please see your lecturer or tutor if you required assistance.

Strategic management for tourism, hospitality, and events

Book by Nigel G. Evans 2023 4

Rubric

Executive Summary and Report Structure

A concise and comprehensive executive summary that can be easily understood and is effective in communicating the report findings. Writing is coherently organised and excellently structured.

Excellent, pts 8

Background Introduction

Clearly and comprehensively describe the selected organisation’s purpose, vision, and mission to provide background context that is highly related to the report context.

Excellent, pts 6

Crisis Identification and Impacts

Identify very clearly the type of crises/disasters faced by the selected organisation. Discuss well the negative impacts on business operations and current/future challenges.

Excellent, 10 pts

Environmental, Scanning, and Resources Auditing (internal and external)

A highly diagnostic environmental scanning and resources auditing that adroitly synthesises relevant information and focuses on significant issues. Highly appropriate use of tables/diagrams. STEEP and Porter's Five Forces analysis provides an astute situation summary.

Excellent, 15 pts

Strategies Selection and Recommendation

A clear and effective strategy is selected, which is succinctly justified based on a previous clear analysis. Insightful consideration is given to implementation issues.

Excellent, 15 pts

Adherence to referencing and citation standards

Accurate referencing that consistently adheres to APA 7 style throughout. Use more than 10 academic references.

Excellent, 6 pts

Learning Material

Crisis and disaster management process and strategies, Introduction to Crisis and Disaster Process and Strategies, Crisis and Disaster Prevention, Crisis and Disaster Preparedness, Crisis and Disaster Response, Crisis and Disaster Recovery

Reading: Ritchie, B. (2009). Crisis and disaster management for tourism. Channel View Publications: Bristol Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 9

Queensland Flood Management: https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/2021-22-Southern- Queensland-Floods

Australian Disaster Resilience: Knowledge

Hub https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/disastersLinks to an external site.

Major event: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/flood-queensland-2010-2011Links to an external site.

Reading: QRA: 2021–22 Southern Queensland Floods

External environment analysis – Macro Context - Part 1 External Analysis (Macro Environment)

STEEP Analysis/Approach

Evans, N. (2023). Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 4th ed. Routledge: Oxford. Part 3: Chapter 7

External environment analysis – Micro Context - Part 2

External Analysis (Micro Environment), Porter’s Five Forces Framework, Strategic Group Analysis, SWOT Analysis

Evans, N. (2023). Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 4th ed. Routledge: Oxford. Part 3: Chapters 8 and 9

Internal environment analysis of THE organisations – Part 1

THE organisational internal resources (RBV), Resources Analysis (Categories), Human Resources & Audit, Knowledge management and organisational learning

Evans, N. (2023). Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 4th ed. Routledge: Oxford. Part 2: Chapters 3 and 4

Internal environment analysis of THE organisations – Part 2

Core competencies, Product and market analysis

Evans, N. (2023). Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 4th ed. Routledge: Oxford. Part 2: Chapters 5 and 6

Porter’s Generic Strategies Framework (Strategic Positioning)

Ansoff’s Matrix (Strategic Direction), Strategic Selection, Organic vs Inorganic Growth

Evans, N. (2023). Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 4th ed. Routledge: Oxford. Part 4: Chapters 10, 11 and 12

Strategic Evaluation and Implementation

Strategic Evaluation, SFA Framework, Evaluation tools, Strategic Implementation, Four aspects of strategic implementation, The balance scorecard

Evans, N. (2023). Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 4th ed. Routledge: Oxford. Parts 4 & 5: Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15