Assignment 1: Environment Analysis (5 pages)
Purpose: This assignment is the first of three assignments. Students will use the tools and apply concepts learned in this and previous business courses to demonstrate an understanding of how organizations develop and manage strategies to establish, safeguard and sustain its position in a competitive market.
Monitoring competitors’ performance is a key aspect of performing an external environment analysis. This assignment provides students the opportunity to evaluate the competitive position of one of the organizations listed below and integrate that information in an External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrix and Competitive Profile Matrices (CPM).
Students also have the opportunity to review an organization’s objectives and goals and the key functional areas within the organization. Performing an internal environment analysis helps assess a firm’s internal resources and capabilities and plays a critical role in formulating strategy by identifying a firm’s strengths to overcome weaknesses. In completing the internal environmental analysis students will construct an Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) matrix and calculate financial ratios.
Instructions:
Part I
Students will perform an external analysis on a company from the list below or from a list of companies provided by the instructor.
• Priceline Group
• Domino Pizza
• Spirit Airlines
In completing the assignment, students will perform research on the company provided, answer the questions below in narrative form and follow the steps below:
Step 1: Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product will be between 5 pages in length excluding the title page, exhibits and reference page.
Step 2: Review assignment grading rubric.
Step 3: Follow this format:
• Title page with assignment title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
• Introduction;
• Comprehensive Written Analysis:
o External Environmental Analysis
o Internal Environmental Analysis
Step 4: In writing the analysis, the writing is in the third person. What this means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
Step 5: In writing this assignment, students are required to support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa. View the sample APA paper under Week 1 content.
Step 6: In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes unless citing a company’s mission statement and vision statement. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Step 7: Read all course material for weeks 1 – 3 and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive external and internal environmental analysis.
Step 8: Jot down or highlight key facts from the scenario. Consider making an outline to capture key points.
Step 9: In your paper, respond to the following:
Part 1: External Environmental Analysis
• Use tools, concepts and information from your own research, perform an external analysis of the company’s environment.
1) an industry analysis and
2) a competitive analysis. Use the top two competitors plus the company selected from the list above or the list provided by the instructor;
• Analyze the market environment and identify opportunities and threats that challenge the organization;
• Construct an EFE for selected company,
• Develop a CPM for selected company;
• Evaluate trends significant to the industry and company.
• Discuss key areas of uncertainty related to trends or events that potentially could impact the company’s strategy.
Part 2 Internal Environmental Analysis
Identify the company’s mission, vision and objectives;
• Provide a company background;
• Perform an internal analysis:
o Corporate Level Strategy
o Business Unit Level Strategy
o Functional Level Strategy
o Assess the company’s interactions with its stakeholders, the organizational structure, the organizational culture, and communication/decision making among managers within human resources, marketing production, operations, finance and accounting, R&D, and computer information systems, which can be accomplished by viewing the company’s website, interviews, and surveys.
• Identify company strengths and weaknesses. What must the company do to perform successfully in the industry?
• Construct an IFE Matrix for selected company;
• Perform a financial analysis for the last reported fiscal year:
o Use the company’s income statement and balance sheet and calculate key (emphasis added), but no less than 10 key financial ratios to the business;
o Research the industry average financial ratios for the same ratios above and record in a second column;
o In the third column, indicate whether the company’s ratio is a strength, a weakness or a neutral factor.
• Discuss what strategies would allow the company to capitalize on its major strengths;
• Discuss strategies that would allow the company to improve upon its major weaknesses.
Step 10: Create an introductory paragraph. The Introduction should clearly and concisely convey the main points of the assignment’s requirements. Review the following website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 11: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.
Step 12: Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
• Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
• Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
• Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Assignment 2: Strategy Analysis and Selection (5 pages)
Purpose: This assignment is the second of three assignments. Students will use the tools and concepts learned in the course and in previous business courses to develop an understanding of how organizations develop and manage strategies to establish, safeguard and sustain its position in a competitive market.
In this assignment, students will 1) assess long-term objectives, 2) identify and evaluate alternative strategies and 3) recommend strategies for a company to pursue.
Students will use the company used in Assignment 1.
Instructions:
In completing the assignment, students will perform research on the company provided, answer the questions below in narrative form and will follow the steps provided below:
Step 1: Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product will be between 4-5 pages in length excluding the title page, exhibits and reference page.
Step 2: Review assignment grading rubric.
Step 3: Follow this format:
• Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
• Executive Summary;
• Comprehensive Written Analysis:
Step 4: In writing the analysis, the writing is in the third person. What this means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
Step 5: In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa. View the sample APA paper under Week 4 content and How to Cite and Reference, also under Week 4 content.
Step 6: In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes unless citing the mission statement of a company. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Step 7: Read all course material for weeks 1 and 2 and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive internal environmental analysis.
Step 8: Jot down or highlight key facts from the scenario. Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper.
Step 9: In your paper, respond to the following:
Use the tools, concepts and information from your own research to perform a strategic analysis and selection of strategies.
• Develop a BCG Matrix for selected company;
• Develop a Grand Strategy matrix;
• Develop a QSPM for selected company;
• Analyze and discuss possible strategies;
• Discuss cultural factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies;
• Recommend the best strategies among the alternative strategies and explain why these strategies are the best;
Step 10: Create an introductory paragraph. The Introduction should clearly and concisely convey the main points of the assignment’s requirements. Review the following website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 11: Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s) of the essay. Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the essay is complete. The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.
Step 12: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.
Step 13: Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
• Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
• Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
• Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 14: Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder.
Assignment 3: Strategic Plan (Group Assignment) (8 pages)
This assignment is the last of three assignments. Students will use the tools and concepts learned in the course and in previous business courses to develop an understanding of how organizations develop and manage strategies to establish, safeguard and sustain its position in a competitive market.
Phase 1: Assignment Instructions:
Throughout the course, students have learned about the strategic management plan and have practiced the various stages through the completion of assignments and learning activities. In phase 1 of this final project, student will work in a group to create a strategic plan and present the plan in a professional manner.
Students will perform a strategic plan on a company, from the list provided below. Instructors may elect to assign a company on the list or of his or her choosing. Starbucks, Walmart, Amazon and Apple may not be used.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHICH COMPANY YOU SELECTED BELOW SO THAT I CAN INFORM MY TEAM RIGHT AWAY
• Nissan Motors
• Kraft Heinz
• REI
• Arm Holdings
• Progressive Insurance
• Whole Foods
• Alexion Pharmaceuticals
• Under Armour
• Tesla Motors
• Monster Beverage
In completing the assignment, students will perform research on the company provided, answer the questions below in narrative form and will follow the steps provided below:
Step 1: Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product will be no more than 15 pages in length excluding the title page, exhibits and reference page.
Step 2: Review assignment grading rubric.
Step 3: Follow this format:
• Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
• Introduction;
• Comprehensive Written Analysis:
Step 4: In writing the analysis, the writing is in the third person. What this means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
Step 5: In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa. View the sample APA paper under Week 4 content and How to Cite and Reference, also under Week 4 content.
Step 6: In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes unless citing the mission statement of a company. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Step 7: Read all course material for weeks 1 and 2 and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive strategic plan.
Step 8: Jot down or highlight key facts from the scenario. Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper.
Step 9: In the paper, the comprehensive strategic plan will include:
• vision and mission
• background organization
• industry analysis
• competitive analysis
• financial analysis
• technique analysis
• alternative strategy generation
• SWOT analysis
• strategy and prioritization selection
• action plan for implementation
• evaluative plan
In developing the plan, students will:
• Identify strategies;
• Discuss strategies used at corporate, business and function levels using the concepts learned in the course;
• Recommend specific strategies and long-term objectives;
• Recommend procedures for strategy review and evaluation;
• Use frameworks and tools discussed throughout the course.
Step 10: Identify strategy recommendations in the following format for the formulation of strategies. View Strategy Content Guidelines.
• Goal (The desired outcomes to be achieved)
• Objective (Measurable milestone toward accomplishing the Goal)
• Strategy (The approach used to achieve the Goal)
• Tactic (A specific activity undertaken to implement the Strategy)
Step 11: Create an introductory paragraph. The Introduction should clearly and concisely convey the main points of the assignment requirements. Review the following website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 12: Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s) of the essay. Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the essay is complete. The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.
Step 13: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.
Step 14: Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
• Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
• Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
• Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 15: Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder.
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