Business and the Business Environment

ICON COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
Pearson BTEC HND in Business (RQF)
Unit 1 Business and the Business Environment
Assignment Brief
Session: September 2020

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ICON College of Technology and Management
Pearson BTEC HND in Business (RQF)
Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment (L4)
Session: September 2020
Coursework
Recommended Word limit: 3,500–4,500
This Unit will be assessed by assignment.
You are strongly advised to read “Preparation guidelines of the Coursework Document”
before answering your assignment.
ASSIGNMENT
Assignment Context and Business Scenario
You have been employed as a Business Analyst by a large UK-based organisation of your choice to
investigate different types and sizes of business they will have to compete with.
You are required to investigate and explain three different types of organisations, their size and
classification to highlight differences between them. This should include their legal structure, size
and scope, as well as their key stakeholders.
For one of the organisations you must then explain the various functions within the business and
create an organisational chart to explain the interrelationships between different functions. You
must also explain how this would be different in the other two organisations.
This will be presented as a report to the Chief Executive Officer and should include the following:
1. Introduction to provide an overview of different types of organisations and the growth of the
international business environment (LO1).
2. An 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 (LO2).
3. In detail, explain the functions for one of the chosen organisations, using an organisation
chart to show how the functions interrelate and an explanation of how they relate to structure
(LO2).
4. Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact
the macro environment has on business operations (LO3).
5. Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their
interrelationship with external macro factors (LO4).
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What you must do
The following issues are required to be carried out:
LO1: Explain the different types of organisations, including their size and scope
You are required to explain three different types of organisations which operate in the UK, their size
and classification to highlight the differences among them. This should include their legal structure,
size and scope, as well as their key stakeholders. You should also analyse how the structure, size
and scope of different organisations link to the business objectives and product and services offered
by your chosen organisation.
LO2: Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organisation and
how they link to organisational structure.
Using your chosen organisations, explain the various functions within the business and create an
organisational chart to demonstrate the interrelationships between different functions and how they
link to organisational objectives and structure. In addition, you should analyse the advantages and
disadvantages of the interrelationships between organisational functions and the impact that they
can have upon organisational structure and provide a critical analysis of the complexities of
different types of business structures and the interrelationships of the different organisational
functions.
LO3: Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative
influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations
Using specific examples from your chosen organisation, use PESTLE to identify the positive and
negative impact the macro environment has upon the business operations of your chosen
organisation. You should also apply the PESTLE model appropriately to support a detailed
analysis of the macro environment that affects the operations of your chosen organisation.
LO4: Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain
their interrelationship with external macro factors.
Using SWOT or TOWS conduct an internal and external analysis of your chosen organisation in
order to identify its strengths and weaknesses and explain how strengths and weaknesses
interrelate with external macro factors and justify how the analysis influence decision-making by
your chosen organization. You should also critically evaluate the impact of both micro and macro
factors upon the business objectives and decision-making of your chosen organisation.
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Relevant Information
To gain a Pass in a BTEC HND Unit, you must meet ALL the Pass criteria; to gain a Merit, you must
meet ALL the Merit and Pass criteria; and to gain a Distinction, you must meet ALL the Distinction,
Merit and Pass criteria.

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Guide to student
1. Preparation guidelines of the Coursework Document
a. Document margins must not be more than 2.54 cm (1 inch) or less than 1.9cm (3/4 inch).
b. The assignment should be in a formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
c. Standard and commonly used type face such as Arial should be used.
d. All figures, graphs and tables must be numbered.
e. Material taken from external sources must be properly referenced using the Harvard
referencing system.
f. You should provide references using the Harvard referencing system.
g. Do not use Wikipedia as a reference.
2. Plagiarism and Collusion
Any act of plagiarism or collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the College
regulations. In this context, the definition and scope of plagiarism and collusion are
presented below:
Plagiarism is presenting somebody else’s work as your own. It includes copying information
directly from the Web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint coursework
as an individual effort.
Collusion is copying another student’s coursework; stealing coursework from another
student and submitting it as your own work.
Suspected plagiarism or collusion will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be
dealt with according to the College procedure. (For details on Plagiarism & Collusion
please see the Student Handbook)
3. Submission
a. Initial submission of coursework to the tutors is compulsory in each unit of the course.
b. Student must check their assignments on ICON VLE with plagiarism software Turnitin to
make sure the similarity index for their assignment stays within the College approved level. A
student can check the similarity index of their assignment three times in the Draft
Assignment submission point located in the home page of the ICON VLE.
c. All Final coursework must be submitted to the Final submission point into the unit (not to
the Tutor). A student would be allowed to submit only once and that is the final
submission.
d. Any computer files generated such as program code (software), graphic files that form part
of the coursework must be submitted as an attachment to the assignment with all
documentation.
e. Any portfolio for a unit must be submitted as a hardcopy to the Examination Office.
f. The student must attach a tutor’s comment in between the cover page and the answer in the
case of Resubmission.
4. Good practice
a. Make backup of your work in different media (hard disk, memory stick, etc.) to avoid distress
due to loss or damage of your original copy.
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5. Extension and Late Submission and Resubmission
a. If you need an extension for a valid reason, you must request one using an Exceptional
Extenuating Circumstances (EEC) form available from the Examination Office and ICON
VLE. Please note that the tutors do not have the authority to extend the coursework
deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension. The completed
form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you
being sick.
b. Late submission will be accepted and marked according to the College procedure. It is noted
that late submission may not be graded for Merit and Distinction.
c. All Late coursework must be submitted to the Late submission point into the unit (not to
the Tutor). A student will be allowed to submit only once and that is the final submission.
d. Only one opportunity will be given for reassessment (resubmission) will be permitted and the
assessment will be capped at Pass for the unit. In addition, no resubmission will be allowed
in any component of the assessment for which a Pass grade or higher has been achieved.
e. Repeat Units – A student who has failed to achieve a Pass in both Final/Late submission
and in the Resubmission must retake the unit with full attendance and payment of the unit
fee. The overall unit grade for a successfully completed repeat unit is capped at Pass for
that unit. Units can only be repeated once.
6. Submission deadlines
Submission deadlines Online to the ICON College VLE
Final Submission date: 11-16 January 2021
Late Submission date: 18-23 January 2021
Glossary:
Analyse: Break an issue or topic into smaller parts by looking in depth at each part. Support each
part with arguments and evidence for and against (Pros and cons). Break something down into its
components; examine factors methodically and in detail to recognise patterns by applying concepts
and making connections to predict consequences.
Apply: Use a particular method/technique to solve a problem
Critically Evaluate/Analyse: When you critically evaluate you look at the arguments for and
against an issue. You look at the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments.
Conduct: To do or carry out, to organise and perform a particular activity
Determine: Find a solution by argument, making clear your reasoning (e.g., determine the type of
event that has occurred, based on the data provided”) (application) or “Determine the most
appropriate course of action for the company, within the given constraints” (higher order skills).
Demonstrate: Show that you can do a particular activity or skill. Provide several relevant examples
or related evidence which clearly support the arguments you are making.
Explain: When you explain you must say why it is important or not important.
Clarify a topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurs, or what is meant by the use
of this term in a particular context.
Identify: When you identify, you look at the most important points. Establish or indicate the origin,
nature or definitive character of something