UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (UNISA)
Department of Business Management
⋄
Contemporary Management Issues
Assignment 01 — Semester 2 2026
⋄
Module Code: MNG2602
Module Name: Contemporary Management Issues
Assignment No.: Assignment 01
Total Marks: 46
Semester: Semester 2, 2026
Department: Business Management
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for MNG2602: Contemporary Management
Issues
at the University of South Africa.
, UNISA | MNG2602 Contemporary Management Issues – Assignment 01
Section A: Annual Report
The questions below are based on the Chief Executive Officer’s statement extracted from
Imbokodo Manufacturing Group’s 2025 annual report.
Question 1
Consider Imbokodo Manufacturing Group’s three product lines (brands) and do the fol-
lowing: 1.1 Identify which business-level strategy Umkhombe Signature is implementing.
Theoretically explain what this strategy entails and provide a quotation from the report
to support your answer. (3 marks) 1.2 Identify which brand is implementing a low-cost
strategy. Theoretically explain what a low-cost strategy entails and provide a quotation
from the report to support your answer. (3 marks) 1.3 Quote two (2) strengths and one (1)
weakness for each of Imbokodo’s brands. (9 marks)
1.1 Umkhombe Signature: differentiation strategy
Umkhombe Signature is implementing a differentiation strategy. Porter’s (1985) generic
strategies framework identifies differentiation as a business-level strategy in which a firm
develops a product that customers perceive as unique and valuable along dimensions that
matter to them, such as design, craftsmanship, or brand identity, which allows the firm to
charge a premium price rather than compete on cost <cite index="4-1">since firms position
themselves by leveraging either a cost advantage or differentiation, applying these strengths
in a broad or narrow scope</cite>. <cite index="12-1">A differentiation strategy calls for devel-
oping a product or service that offers unique attributes that are valued by customers and that
customers perceive to be better than or different from competitors’ products, with the added
value allowing the firm to charge a premium price</cite>. The report supports this reading
of Umkhombe: it describes the brand as “our premium handcrafted cookware and homeware
line, known for its attention to detail and distinctive designs”, which is precisely the combina-
tion of premium positioning and perceived uniqueness that Porter’s model associates with
differentiation.
Page 1 of 12
Department of Business Management
⋄
Contemporary Management Issues
Assignment 01 — Semester 2 2026
⋄
Module Code: MNG2602
Module Name: Contemporary Management Issues
Assignment No.: Assignment 01
Total Marks: 46
Semester: Semester 2, 2026
Department: Business Management
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for MNG2602: Contemporary Management
Issues
at the University of South Africa.
, UNISA | MNG2602 Contemporary Management Issues – Assignment 01
Section A: Annual Report
The questions below are based on the Chief Executive Officer’s statement extracted from
Imbokodo Manufacturing Group’s 2025 annual report.
Question 1
Consider Imbokodo Manufacturing Group’s three product lines (brands) and do the fol-
lowing: 1.1 Identify which business-level strategy Umkhombe Signature is implementing.
Theoretically explain what this strategy entails and provide a quotation from the report
to support your answer. (3 marks) 1.2 Identify which brand is implementing a low-cost
strategy. Theoretically explain what a low-cost strategy entails and provide a quotation
from the report to support your answer. (3 marks) 1.3 Quote two (2) strengths and one (1)
weakness for each of Imbokodo’s brands. (9 marks)
1.1 Umkhombe Signature: differentiation strategy
Umkhombe Signature is implementing a differentiation strategy. Porter’s (1985) generic
strategies framework identifies differentiation as a business-level strategy in which a firm
develops a product that customers perceive as unique and valuable along dimensions that
matter to them, such as design, craftsmanship, or brand identity, which allows the firm to
charge a premium price rather than compete on cost <cite index="4-1">since firms position
themselves by leveraging either a cost advantage or differentiation, applying these strengths
in a broad or narrow scope</cite>. <cite index="12-1">A differentiation strategy calls for devel-
oping a product or service that offers unique attributes that are valued by customers and that
customers perceive to be better than or different from competitors’ products, with the added
value allowing the firm to charge a premium price</cite>. The report supports this reading
of Umkhombe: it describes the brand as “our premium handcrafted cookware and homeware
line, known for its attention to detail and distinctive designs”, which is precisely the combina-
tion of premium positioning and perceived uniqueness that Porter’s model associates with
differentiation.
Page 1 of 12
