You should be making headway on AT LEAST the first three following items:
Introduction
Identify the firm; briefly discuss its history; and describe the industry within which it competes.
Problem, Issue, or Opportunity Statement
The firm faces problems, issues,
and/or opportunities; pick one and explain its impact. State an explicit
problem, issue, or opportunity.
Internal Organizational Analysis
Provide a brief introductory paragraph or slide, to explain the purpose of an internal analysis.
Mission, Vision, & Core Values
State and evaluate the firm’s mission, vision, and values statements, by applying the 9 mission statement evaluation criteria.
Resources & Capabilities
Identify key organizational resources and capabilities, complete a VRIN analysis.
Financial Ratios
Present recent financial ratios
(i.e., at least one cash flow, liquidity, leverage, activity,
profitability, and growth) and explain the meaning of each indices.
Strength/Weakness (S/W) Opportunities and Threats (O/T)
Complete a S/W assessment, explaining the relevance of each strength and weakness identified.
Markets Served
Describe the market(s) served by the firm, including chief competitors, products, prices, etc.
PESTEL-DC Analysis
Complete a PESTEL-DC analysis>
Industry Driving Forces Analysis
First, identify and explain
significant forces (i.e., technology changes, declining or growing
markets, etc.), which influence/impact the industry
Next, describe the impact on the firm.
Industry Key Success Factors
First, know that every successful
firm, competing in a market- place, displays certain characteristics
(e.g., superior customer service, comfortable environment, convenient
locations, etc.); list and explain these.
Second, explain how the firm does or does not show these characteristics, explaining why or why not.
Porter’s Five Forces
Identify & describe each of the
five forces (supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, threat of
substitution, & threat of new entry) impacting the firm; describe
the impact on the firm.
Strategic Analysis Firm’s Current Strategic Strategies
Identify, name (using the list below), and describe the current strategies being used by the firm.
The strategies to choose from are:
Cooperative strategies (e.g. alliance, joint venture, partnership, outsourcing, licensing);
Intensive strategies (Market Penetration, Market Development, Product Development);
Integration Strategies (Vertical / Horizontal, Forward/Backward);
Diversification Strategies, Related/Unrelated;
Defensive Strategies (Retrenchment/Divestiture/Liquidation); or
Mergers/Acquisitions. Also, consider Porter’s generic strategies: cost leader, differentiation leader, or focus strategies.)
Strategic Options
Based on the internal and external
analyses, recommend some specific strategic options for the firm to
consider solving the problem, capitalize on the opportunity, or resolve
the issue identified. Pick from the strategies listed above. Give
specific examples of actions for each strategic option the firm can
deploy.
