Unit 4 Organisations, Competition and Environment
Railtrack was replaced by not-for-profit company Network Rail in 2002.
Assignment One: Leaves on the Line
This assignment will enable you to:
- identify objectives and purposes of organisations
- investigate the key features of the local and national economy in which organisations operate
Scenario
As part of British Rail privatisation, Railtrack was created, originally government owned, and later as a privately owned PLC. Its role was to provide the infrastructure for the rail operating companies which provide rail transport.
Given the massive pressures on the road system there is both commercial and political pressure to create a profitable and efficient rail system. However there have been substantial criticisms of the rail network post-privatisation and, during the summer of, Railtrack itself.
Task 1
You have been provided with information indication some of the issues around the functioning of this company. Using these and other sources which you may be able to obtain, analyse Railtrack in the following areas:
• The nature of the organisation and its aims and objectives
• The organisations stakeholders and their relative importance
• The responsibilities of the organisation both to its stakeholders and to the wider community.
Task 2
Privatisation was a central part of the Industrial Policy of the Thatcher Government and subsequently. This has created some large monopolistic organisations, like Railtrack, and to control them, a series of regulatory agencies were created.
• Analyse the arguments for a Free Enterprise economy any their practical consequences in relation to Railtrack or another Privatised utility.
• Analyse the fiscal and monetary mechanisms for controlling economic activity and assess their impact on large business organisations including the privatised utilities where appropriate.
• Consider the relationship between transport (or other utility) on the economic development of a particular region.
A student may choose a different case study, which may be their own organisation. However, the case study must facilitate the learning outcomes identified and therefore should be agreed in advance with the tutor.
These tasks should be produced as an informal report of no more than 3,000 words, or the two tasks can be presented separately as informal reports of around 1,500 words.
In order to achieve a Pass for this assignment.
The student has identified a range of objectives appropriate to the organisation. The student has identified three stakeholder objectives in an organisation and evaluated the extent to which they are achieved. The student has explained the responsibilities of organisations and the strategies used to meet them.
The student has explained the main features of an economic system. The student has analysed differing views of the role of the state and their implications. The student has discussed the impact of two policies on an organisation. The student has investigated the significance of a regional or local development issues and the impact on an organisation.
In order to achieve a Merit for this assignment.
The student has identified with an explanation a range of objectives appropriate to the organisation. The student has identified with sound explanations three stakeholder objectives in an organisation and evaluated the extent to which they are achieved, using appropriate evidence. The student has explained the responsibilities of organisations and the strategies used to meet them using examples where applicable.
The student has explained the main features of an economic system. The student has analysed differing views of the role of the state and their implications using a range of examples. The student has discussed the impact of two relevant policies on an organisation and the effect on the organisation. The student has investigated the significance of a regional or local development issues and the impact on an organisation.
In order to achieve a Distinction for this assignment.
The student has identified in some detail with an explanation a range of objectives appropriate to the organisation. The student has identified with detailed explanations three stakeholder objectives in an organisation and evaluated the extent to which they are achieved, using appropriate evidence. The student has explained the responsibilities of organisations and the strategies used to meet them using relevant examples where applicable.
The student has explained the main features of an economic system. The student has provided a detailed analysis of the differing views of the role of the state and their implications using a range of examples. The student has discussed the impact of two relevant policies on an organisation and the effect on the organisation illustrating their answer with examples of the policies in action. The student has investigated the significance of a regional or local development issues and the impact on an organisation.
