How to Write an MGT5024 PESTLE Strategic Analysis Report
To write an MGT5024 PESTLE strategic analysis report, pick one listed Malaysian company with plenty of public data, name its current business-level strategy in a short introduction, then rank only the three or four PESTLE factors that really change its decisions. Explain each one as evidence, strategic effect and implication, and keep the whole report to the word limit. If you want a second pair of eyes, our report writing help team can review your plan.
What the brief is really asking
The MGT5024 Assessment 1 brief from Sunway University is a 1,000-word individual report worth 20% of the module. You choose a publicly listed Malaysian company in technology, consumer goods or energy, and you will reuse the same company in Assessment 2, so choose one with enough public information for two reports.
Part 1A asks for a brief introduction and the company’s current business-level strategy, without extended history. Part 1B asks you to identify and prioritise PESTLE factors, explain how they affect strategic decisions, and judge the implications for strategy, performance, opportunities and threats. The brief says you do not need all six factors, and that is where many students lose marks: they describe everything and prioritise nothing.
How the marks and words split
| Part | Marks | Suggested words | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction and strategy | 20 | 200–250 | Concise context and a clearly named strategy |
| Macro-environmental analysis | 70 | 650–700 | Prioritised, justified factors and implications |
| Written skills and presentation | 10 | Within total | Clear writing, APA 7th referencing |
The word split is our suggestion, not an official rule. Confirm the limit, tolerance and formatting in your own brief.
Step-by-step plan for your MGT5024 PESTLE strategic analysis report
- Shortlist two or three companies and check that each publishes an annual report, results announcements and sustainability or investor presentations.
- Choose the one where you can name a clear business-level strategy, such as cost leadership, differentiation or focus, and defend it with evidence.
- Collect current facts: latest results, regulatory or policy changes, interest rate and exchange rate moves, technology shifts and sustainability targets.
- Sort every fact under a PESTLE heading, then score each by how strongly it changes a strategic decision. Keep the top three or four.
- Write each factor in three beats: what is happening, how the company responds, and what it means for strategy and performance.
- Finish with a short implications section that names opportunities and threats and links back to your Part 1A strategy.
- Check word count, APA 7th citations, the reference list and your generative AI declaration before uploading.
You can also browse other Sunway University briefs or read about MBA assignment help for postgraduate-level reports. If you are still deciding between companies, our management assignment help page shows the kind of support available.
How to prioritise PESTLE factors without guessing
A simple scoring grid makes your choices visible to the marker. Give each factor a score from 1 to 5 for how strongly it affects a strategic decision, and a second score for how certain the evidence is. The numbers are your own judgement, so label them that way in the report.
| Factor | Impact (1–5) | Evidence strength (1–5) | Keep? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political or legal change that alters pricing or licences | Often 4–5 | Often 4–5 from official notices | Usually yes |
| Economic conditions such as rates, growth and currency | Often 3–5 | Often 4–5 from central bank statements | Usually yes |
| Technological shift in demand or operations | Varies by sector | Check company disclosures | Often yes |
| Social trend with no clear link to a decision | 1–2 | Weak | Drop or merge |
The scores in this table are illustrative, not data about any company. Replace them with your own reasoning for the firm you choose.
What markers reward
- A named, evidenced business-level strategy rather than a general overview of the company.
- Clear prioritisation, with a reason why some PESTLE factors matter more than others.
- Current Malaysian evidence, such as the latest Overnight Policy Rate decision, tariff rules, energy transition targets or trade policy, checked against official sources.
- Each factor linked to a specific decision, such as investment, pricing, sourcing or market entry.
- Balanced opportunities and threats, not a one-sided story.
- Accurate APA 7th in-text citations matched to the reference list.
- Professional layout and a similarity score that stays within the limit in your brief.
How to write one factor in three beats
Use the same pattern every time so the marker can follow your reasoning. Start with the fact, including its date and source. Then show the company’s response, such as an investment, a pricing move or a partnership. Finish with the implication for strategy, performance, opportunities or threats.
For example, if a central bank holds its policy rate steady, do not stop at the number. Say what stable borrowing costs mean for a company with heavy capital spending, then say whether that strengthens or weakens its chosen strategy. One tight paragraph of about 120 words per factor is usually enough.
Where possible, put numbers in the body of the report, as the brief asks for charts and financials to sit there. A small table of three or four figures can replace a long paragraph and save words for analysis.
Finding current Malaysian evidence
Start with the company’s own annual report, results announcements and investor presentations, because they show how management describes its strategy. Then add outside views: the central bank for interest rates and growth, the sector regulator for tariffs or licensing, and government roadmaps for industrial or energy policy. Established business newspapers can fill gaps, but check that the figure matches the primary source.
Always note the date. A fact that was true last year may have changed, and markers notice when a report relies on old policy numbers. Use a strategy textbook for the framework and definitions, and keep external opinion pieces to a minimum.
Finally, keep a short log of every source as you go. Writing the reference list at the end from memory is how citation errors and missing entries creep in, and the referencing criteria carry real marks.
Keep the reader in mind throughout. Your marker has many reports to read, so short topic sentences, clear headings and consistent terminology make your reasoning easy to credit. Read the draft aloud once; if a sentence needs two breaths, split it.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is a PESTLE list with no analysis. Writing “interest rates are important” earns little; explaining how a stable policy rate affects a capital-heavy company’s funding plans earns more.
The second is out-of-date evidence. Rates, tariffs and policies change, so quote the latest official statement and date it. The third is spending half the word count on company history, which the brief specifically discourages.
The fourth is forcing all six factors in. If legal or social factors are weak for your firm, say so briefly or fold them into a stronger heading. The fifth is a strategy that is only asserted. Show it with results, investments or announcements.
Student pain points
“I cannot decide which company to pick.” Choose the one with the richest recent disclosures, because you will need them again for Assessment 2.
“Every factor feels equally important.” Rank them by how much each one changes a real decision, then drop the rest.
“1,000 words is too tight.” Use a compact table for the screening and spend your prose on the top factors.
“I do not know what counts as a credible source.” Prefer annual reports, regulator and central bank statements, Bursa filings and established business media, plus a strategy textbook for the framework.
“I am worried about similarity and AI rules.” Write in your own words, cite properly and declare any generative AI use as your university requires.
See a worked example
To see how a prioritised analysis can be laid out, read our MGT5024 PESTLE report sample. It is an abridged model for reference only and should not be submitted as your own work.
FAQs
Which companies can I choose for MGT5024 Assessment 1?
The brief asks for a publicly listed Malaysian company in technology, consumer goods or energy. Check your module page for any extra restrictions.
Do I need to cover all six PESTLE factors?
No. The brief asks you to prioritise the most significant factors, so a focused analysis of three or four usually reads better than a thin look at six.
What is a business-level strategy?
It is how a business competes in its market, commonly described as cost leadership, differentiation or focus. State which one fits and support it with evidence.
How many sources should I use?
The brief does not set a number in the summary we reviewed, so check yours. In 1,000 words, six to ten current, credible sources is a sensible range.
Which referencing style is required?
The brief calls for APA 7th, with no footnotes. Charts and financial figures should sit in the body of the report.
Should I mention generative AI use?
Yes, if you used it. The brief requires an acknowledgement and a declaration, so follow your university’s wording exactly.
When you are ready for tailored support with your own company choice, send your MGT5024 brief through our submit page.
