IB2490 Global Business Strategy and Sustainability
Individual Assignment, 2025-26

Assignment Instructions
All assignments must be submitted ONLINE via my.wbs no later than 11:59:59 (midday) UK time on
the date displayed against this assessment.

Please allow sufficient time to complete the automatically generated coversheet, especially if (where
permitted) you have used a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool during the process of
completing your assessment as you will be asked to briefly outline which AI tool you have used and
what you have used it for.

Word Limit
3000-word limit.
Important Links
Academic Practice
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Mitigating Circumstances Policy














Your assignment instructions begin below:






Scenario: Walmart - Managing a Low-Cost, High-Volume Global Supply Chain
Role: You are the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (CECO) for Walmart, the world's largest
retailer. Walmart's “Everyday Low Prices” promise is built on an immense and highly efficient
global sourcing network, with a heavy reliance on suppliers in emerging markets.
The Challenge: Walmart has persistently faced intense criticism regarding its supply chain
practices. High-profile incidents, such as the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh which
produced garments for Walmart suppliers, have highlighted severe risks. The company is
under constant pressure from NGOs, labour unions, and consumers regarding factory safety,
low wages, and its overall environmental footprint, all of which challenge its corporate
reputation and business model.
Your Task: As Walmart's CECO, you are tasked with developing a strategic report that
analyses the company's global value chain and recommends actions to enhance its
sustainability and competitive resilience. Your report must address the following four
sections:
1. The Controversy in Context (Approx. 600 words):
Identify and describe one social or environmental controversy Walmart has faced within an
emerging market (e.g., factory safety in Bangladesh, sourcing practices in China). Explain
the key events, the main criticisms levelled against Walmart, and how this issue exposes
the risks inherent in its low-cost Global Value Chain (GVC).
2. Stakeholder Analysis (Approx. 1000 words):
Analyse the key stakeholders involved in this controversy (e.g., factory workers, local
governments, NGOs, consumers, or investors). For each stakeholder group, evaluate their
primary interests and their power to influence Walmart. Explain how the conflicting
demands of these stakeholders create a complex challenge for the company's
management.
3. Recommendations for Sustainable Value Creation (Approx. 900 words):
Propose specific and actionable recommendations for Walmart to address the root causes
of the controversy. Justify how your recommendations would help mitigate future risks,
improve sustainability performance, and strengthen Walmart's long-term competitive
position.
4. Practitioner Reflection (Approx. 500 words):
Reflecting on your analysis from the perspective of Walmart's Chief Ethics & Compliance
Officer (CECO), answer the following:
What are the most significant tensions and trade-offs you would face when trying to
implement your recommendations (e.g., balancing shareholder profit demands vs. supplier
welfare; upholding global ethical standards vs. respecting local practices)? Discuss how you
would navigate these challenges to drive meaningful change within the organisation.



ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The individual assignments are marked according to the following key assessment criteria:
1. Comprehension (20%)
2. Analysis (20%)
3. Critical evaluation (20%)
4. Academic Writing (20%)
5. Reflection (20%)

Comprehension (20%) (Showing knowledge & understanding of the subject matter)
• Describe the controversy clearly and accurately, providing a thorough account of the key
events and context as required by Question 1.
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of Walmart's Global Value Chain (GVC) and effectively
explain how the chosen controversy exposes risks within it.
• Effectively connect the controversy to relevant concepts from the module, such as global
business strategy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and stakeholder theory.
• Show a solid grasp of the key stakeholders involved and the fundamental nature of their
interests in the issue.

Research and analysis (20%) (Presenting logical arguments supported by evidence)
• Apply relevant theories and frameworks from the module to dissect the chosen controversy.
• Provide a thorough and well-supported analysis of stakeholders as required by Question 2,
moving beyond simple description.
• Effectively evaluate the power dynamics between stakeholders and explain how their
conflicting demands create strategic challenges for Walmart.
• Support the analysis with credible and relevant evidence from a range of sources, such as
academic articles, company reports, NGO findings, and reputable news media.
• Develop and demonstrate original thoughts, ideas, and creative thinking.



Critical evaluation (20%) (Showing capacity for original thought by questioning relevant
arguments and/or identifying their strengths and weaknesses)
• Go beyond description to critically evaluate the complexities of the controversy, considering
multiple perspectives and potential biases.
• Propose insightful, practical, and well-justified recommendations in response to Question
3, considering potential trade-offs, implementation challenges, and long-term implications.
• Demonstrate a deep and thoughtful practitioner reflection in Question 4, providing a
nuanced discussion of the professional tensions and trade-offs.
• Show the ability to think critically and independently about the complexities of
implementing a global sustainability strategy in a multinational corporation.

Academic writing (20%) (Presenting a clear and structured assignment; use of relevant
literature; academic honesty, referencing and citation)
• The report is logically structured, with clear and professional writing.
• Integrate a wide range of high-quality literature, including both academic journals and
credible non-academic sources (e.g., industry reports, policy documents).
• Adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, with consistent and accurate in-text
citations and a correctly formatted reference list.
• Ensure all sources are appropriately referenced and cited. Please refer to my.wbs UG
Student Handbook.

5. Reflection (20%)
• Identify and explain the key tensions and trade-offs involved in implementing the
recommendations.
• Reflect critically on how these challenges could be navigated, offering realistic and ethically
grounded responses.
• Demonstrate learning by questioning assumptions, recognising alternative perspectives,
and considering the wider organisational impact.

=================================================================================






Word Count Policy
WBS has a school-wide policy on word counts. This is strictly enforced to ensure consistency across
modules and programme. You can find more information about this policy in the Undergraduate
Student Handbook under Academic Practice - 7i. Word count policy.
This is a strict limit not a guideline: any piece submitted with more words than the limit will result
in the excess not being marked.
Academic Practice
Please ensure you read the full guidelines for Academic Practice in the Undergraduate Student
Handbook and ensure you understand it. If in doubt, please seek clarification in advance of your
submission. This includes important information on:
• Cheating, plagiarism and collusion
• Correct referencing
• Using internet sources in assessments
• Academic writing
• English Language support
• Word count policy
When you submit this assignment online, you will be required to tick a declaration box indicating
that the work involved is entirely your own. Each assignment will be put through plagiarism software
to identify any collusion or inadequate referencing of materials used from different sources. Please
do not submit images of your typed work unless you have been specifically requested to do so.
We would consider taking action if your work:
1. is too reliant on the words of particular authors (rather than presenting your ideas in your own
words), if the essay uses the ideas or words of an author without referencing them or putting their
words into quotations (plagiarism).
2. suggests that you have worked very closely with another student or students (unless explicitly
asked to do so by your Module Leader/Tutor) (collusion).
3. includes unreferenced work that you have previously submitted for any accredited course of study
(unless explicitly asked to do so by your Module Leader/Tutor) (self-plagiarism).
The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The University recognises an increasing number of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and
that they may be applicable in your completing this assessment. The assessment brief sets out
specific requirements or restrictions, and the Undergraduate Student Handbook has further
guidance and advice which you should note.
You are reminded that the inappropriate use of such a technology may constitute a breach of
University policy, such as the Proofreading Policy or Regulation 11 (Academic Integrity). If you
breach these policies, it may have significant consequences for your studies. Please make sure you
read and understand the assessment brief and how AI may or may not be used.
If a generative AI or similar is permitted and has been used you MUST make clear why you used such
a tool or service, what you used it for and you will be obliged to confirm that you take
sole intellectual ownership of any submitted work.



Failure to disclose the use of generative AI (or similar) at the point of submission may be prejudicial
in any later investigations should they arise.
For this assessment the use of AI is:
- Permitted
If you use a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the process of completing this assessment you
MUST set out clearly the following:
• WHY you used a generative AI
• WHAT it was used for
• WHICH AI was used; and
• If any generated content has been used directly in this submission, if so where.
Note that this declaration does NOT contribute towards the word count for the assessment.
You will also have to confirm in your declaration that the work remains yours and you have
intellectual ownership of it. You may be called for viva or other interview to demonstrate such
intellectual ownership. A failure to disclose the use of AI, or the use of a misleading description of its
use may have significant consequences for your studies. As a result, keeping good records of your
interactions is strongly advised.
Extensions and Self-certification
Assessments will incur a penalty if they are submitted late. This penalty is 5% for each working day*
that the assessment is late, so for example: if an assessment is two working days late, it will incur a
10% penalty. This begins one second after the submission deadline, so an assessment submitted at
12:00pm (noon) UK Time will incur a 5% penalty.
*Late penalties will not accrue on weekends, public holidays and University closure days.
Requests for specific extensions (of up to 15 days) which are typically for longer and more serious
concerns must be submitted via my.wbs ideally 72 hours BEFORE the deadline. Extensions can only
be approved if you clearly detail your circumstances and provide supporting documentation (or a
reason as to why you cannot provide the supporting documentation at the time) as set out in the
Mitigating Circumstances Policy.

Self-certification is a university-wide policy whereby you are permitted an automatic extension of 5
working days on eligible written assessed work without the need for evidence. WBS permits self-
certification for all types of written, assessed works such as essays and dissertations. It is not
permitted for exams, class tests, or presentations.
You can self-certify twice within each year of study, starting from the anniversary of your course
start date. This will cover all eligible written assessments that fall within the self-certification period,
as long as they have not previously had an extension applied. To find out further details about the
self-certification policy please see: https://my.wbs.ac.uk/-/academic/20778/item/id/1244460/.
If you wish to self-certify for an extension of 5 working days, please select 'Self-certification' in the
Extension Type field. If you wish to request a longer extension than 5 working days, please leave the
Extension Type as 'Standard'.



Once you have successfully submitted a self-certification, you will receive email confirmation, it will
appear on your my.wbs page ‘Assignment Extensions’ and a new deadline will appear on my.wbs. If
none of these occurs your self-certification was not successful.









学霸联盟