The document provides instructions for a business management assignment requiring students to analyze the competitiveness of a small business. Students must write a 500-word business profile of a selected small business, complete a business analysis identifying its strengths and weaknesses compared to 2-3 competitors, and provide 1500 words of recommendations to address weaknesses and ways to improve performance based on research and models. The assignment aims to investigate business performance and propose improvements to meet unit learning outcomes. Formatting and submission requirements are also outlined.

1. Higher National
Diploma in
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Unit Title: Small Business Enterprise
Assignment Title: Assignment 1
Student Name &
Number
Unit Lecturer:
Jay Glover
Group:
Issue Date:
Draft Submission:
Final Submission:
IV Name & Date:

2. HND in Business Management
Unit Learning Outcomes:
LO1 - Be able to investigate the performance of a selected small business enterprise
LO2 - Be able to propose changes to improve management and business performance
Assignment Brief:
You are required to investigate the competitiveness of a business that you are familiar with,
identifying its key strengths and weaknesses in relation to its closest competitors. This may be
your current employment or another business that you have sufficient access to. Please note
that the second assignment uses the same business and will require that you gain access to
business and corporate objectives and goals. It is therefore crucial that you are able to gather
internal information about the business.
For the first assignment, you must:
- Write a business profile describing the main function and objectives of the business,
location and typical customer base. Reference all sources where appropriate. Copying
information from the company homepage is not allowed. (500 words)
- Complete in full a business analysis, investigating your own business strengths and
weaknesses and at least two and ideally 3 of its closest competitors.
- Write up your recommendations to address the outcomes of the business analysis.
(1500 words)
All recommendations must be supported with additional research and reference to theory and
models. You should reference your work where appropriate using the Harvard referencing
system and include a bibliography.

3. HND in Business Management
Submission Format
Submission Format
This submission is an individual report (including Business Analysis Template) and must only be
submitted electronically (1500 - 2000 words), to TurnItIn.
Class Id: tba Password: tba
Your report must be saved in the following format: SBE1_FirstnameDatanr
eg. SBE1_Jay804556.docx
Key Task:
1.1 Produce a profile of a
selected small business
identifying its strengths and
weaknesses
1.2 Carry out an analysis of the
business using comparative
measures of performance
2.1 Recommend with
justification, appropriate actions
to overcome the identified
weaknesses in the business
2.2 Analyse ways in which
existing performance could be
maintained and strengthened
2.3 Recommend with
justification, new areas in which
the business could be expanded

4. HND in Business Management
GRADING CRITERIA
THIS ASSESSMENT TASK GIVES YOU THE FOLLOWING GRADING OPPORTUNITIES
Grade Criteria at a Pass:
1.1 Produce a profile of a selected small business identifying its strengths and weaknesses
1.2 Carry out an analysis of the business using comparative measures of performance
2.1 Recommend with justification, appropriate actions to overcome the identified weaknesses
in the business
2.2 Analyse ways in which existing performance could be maintained and strengthened
2.3 Recommend with justification, new areas in which the business could be expanded
Grade Criteria at a Merit
In addition to the above Pass Criteria:
Effective judgements have been made.
A range of sources and information has been used.
Grade Criteria at a Distinction
In addition to the above Merit criteria:
Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified

5. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a particular form of cheating. Plagiarism must be avoided at all costs and
students who break the rules, however innocently, will be penalised. You must keep a
careful record of all sources you use, including all internet material. It is your
responsibility to ensure that you understand correct referencing practices. These are
referred to in the Handbook. Please consult the relevant unit lecturer or your course
tutor if you need any further advice. As a university level student, you are expected to
use appropriate references and keep carefully detailed notes of all your sources of
materials, including any material downloaded from the Internet.
Student Declaration
I certify that the contents of my assignment will be entirely my own work and
understand fully the consequences of plagiarism:
Signature: ……………………………………………………………