Since Week 7, we have been studying and analysing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (UN SDGs), plus selected UK Public Limited Companies (PLCs) and their Annual Reports (Cineworld PLC / Bloomsbury PLC, as examples).

     MN6098- The Practice of Management (PoM)

Reminder:

“The purpose of this assignment is to develop Level 6 (Year 3) abilities in team-work, research, communication, academic analysis, and a professional approach to study.”

MN6098, The Practice of Management, (PoM) Assignment 1

-       Date of distribution: w/b Monday 25th September, Week 1

-       Date of submission: 3pm, Monday 15th January 2024, Week 14 (via Turnitin)

Background:

Since Week 7, we have been studying and analysing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (UN SDGs), plus selected UK Public Limited Companies (PLCs) and their Annual Reports (Cineworld PLC / Bloomsbury PLC, as examples).  The purpose of this has been to focus on how CEOs, and other Directors and Governors, all contribute to the financial performance of the company, plus also contribute to meeting financial, legal, CSR, ESG, and statutory requirements placed upon them by various Corporate Governance institutions (especially the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) code.  All PLCs are also under pressure to meet the UN SDGs 2030.   That way, in theory, companies and PLCs can ensure their long-term stability and sustainability.

Task:

In your Seminar, form a pair (one pair = two students)

Select two UK-based PLCs from the same sector (e.g., Next plc and JD Sports plc are in the same sector – fashion retail).  See: https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/stock-market-summary/ftse-all-share  / OR /

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/indices/ftse-all-share/constituents/table for a list of all UK PLCs within the FTSE markets. 

Go to their website, and download their most recent Annual Report. 

Read and study this Annual Report, specifically the sections on (i) Performance, and (ii) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sometimes presented as Environment, Society, Governance (ESG). 

Using data and information from these Annual Reports, combined with what we have studied in class since Week 7, write a 2,500-word report in pairs (two students = one pair, from your Seminar), comparing one company’s performance with another, using this indicative structure:

Introduction: (max 250 words), where you explain, in detail, the industry and market your chosen PLCs are in, their competitors and rivals, their customer profiles, and any key trends affecting the industry / market they are in.

Main Body: (max 2,000-words)

Compare and analyse, in detail, your two chosen PLCs, focussing on their:

- Financial, market, and strategic performance (approx 1,000-words)

- CSR / ESG policies and actions, and how these two PLCs are in a position to meet the UN SDGs 2030 (or not) / (approx 1,000-words)

Conclusion: (max 250 words), where you explain and analyse how all companies and nations need to adjust their policies and management in order to meet the UN SDGs 2030

Notes:

United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals 2030 (UN SDGs 2030): https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Hargreaves Landsdown All Share, for the list of UK PLCs: https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/stock-market-summary/ftse-all-share

London Stock Exchange All Share, for the list of UK PLCs:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/indices/ftse-all-share/constituents/table

You will need to engage in further research on your chosen PLCs, specifically their CSR / ESG policies and actions, plus the UN SDGs 2030

You must also make use of visuals, such as graphs, images, tables, and charts, to enhance your written text – that way, your report will be much more visually appealing. / Use Arial, size 11, 1.5 spacing

Follow the London Met guide to referencing / Referencing - Student Zone (londonmet.ac.uk) /

Make use of ‘feed-forward’, and get advice from your Seminar Tutor prior to submission, plus ask someone else to ‘proof-read’ your report

Make use of our Academic Mentors for help and advice in assignments

Upload your file (one file per pair) to the Turnitin site by 3pm Monday 15th January 2024, Week 14.  Once you have uploaded your file, email your Seminar Tutor to inform them you have done so, and CC your pair.

Ensure everyone contributes equally behind the scenes. You will need to engage in further research on your chosen PLCs, and their industry / sector rivals and competitors.  You will each need to approach this Assignment 1 in a pro-active and enthusiastic style, so we are looking for management in practice!

MN6098 Practice of Management (PoM)  / Assignment  1 (Deadline = 3pm Monday 15th January 2024, Week 14 (via Turnitin)

PRO-FORMA FOR EACH PAIR, TO BE ATTACHED AT THE END OF THE REPORT, ONE PER PAIR

Please place ‘x’ in one box below:

1: Equal Shares:  I / we agree confirm that the work for this presentation was conducted by each member of the group equally (‘equal shares’).

2: Peer Assessment: I / we agree confirm that the work for this presentation was conducted by each member of the group equally, although student XXXXXXXX may be awarded a higher grade due to their exceptional contribution