Evaluate the importance to SBC of effective strategic implementation if option B is chosen.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Knowledge:
2. What is a joint venture
3. strategic implementation?
4. Different aspects of strategic implementation – managing change, business planning, contingency planning.
5. How strategic implementation fits with strategic analysis and strategic choice and why it is important, in terms of putting a plan/choice into action.
6. Business planning as part of implementation, including mission, objectives and functional business plan sections.
7. Understanding of SA techniques as part of the implementation process.
8. Application:
9. Option B involves a joint venture in a different country, with associated challenges and risks.
10. Comment on problems controlling new colleges 'from a distance', including lack of knowledge about local conditions.
11. Culture of social enterprise company may be quite different, making it difficult to achieve consistency in tuition and courses.
12. Internet and other technology is going to be important.
13. How stable is country Y, given possible change in government?
14. Relevance of contingency planning to different uncertainties.
15. Need to raise $3m.
16. Possible change of legal status to a plc.
17. Gearing currently 53%
18. Lack of knowledge and experience in country Y
19. Recruitment of qualified tutors in country Y
20. Low competition from existing colleges in country Y
21. Analysis:
22. Role of market research in reducing risk – link to lack of knowledge and experience in country Y
23. Consideration of financial implications and how to raise finance: Managing cashflow, Debt finance V conversion to plc, Implications of source of finance in terms of gearing and control
24. How strategic implementation may be carried out effectively – change management, business planning, contingency planning.
25. Predictable versus unpredictable risks.
26. Development and impact of APP points.
27. Evaluation:
28. Will there need to be a significant change in planning if Option B is implemented?
29. What are the main factors that could lead to effective implementation?
30. Costs versus benefits of aspects of SI, e.g. CP
31. PEST factors will be very important for future success in Country Y.
32. Not possible to plan for all eventualities, therefore no guarantee of success.