13 Jan Often added value

Assignment 1: External Environment Analysis

Purpose: This assignment is the first of three assignments. You 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 you with 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).

Instructions:

NOTE: All submitted work is to be your original work (only your work). You may not use any work from another student, the Internet or an online clearinghouse. You are expected to understand the Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy, and know that it is your responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources as specified in the APA Publication Manual, 6th Ed. (You are held accountable for in-text citations and an associated reference list only).

Step 1: Preparation for the Assignment

Before you begin to create the PowerPoint, read the following requirements that will help you meet the writing and APA requirements. Not reading this information will lead to a lower grade.

Use the grading rubric while completing the assignment. Refer back to the rubric to ensure you have met the requirements.

Contractions are not used in business writing, so do not use them in this assignment.

You are expected to paraphrase and NOT use direct quotes. To learn how to paraphrase, review this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html.

In completing this assignment, you are required to support reasoning or conclusions using in-text citations using page or paragraph numbers and a reference list. Note that that both in-text citation and reference list are required.

No books are allowed other than the course eBook.

Step 2: How to Set Up the PowerPoint Presentation

Create a PowerPoint Presentation. The final product will be no longer than 20 slides including the title page and reference page. You will use the note section of the PowerPoint to discuss, explain and support the reasoning and conclusions for the information presented in each slide. The expectation is that what is presented is more than a few sentences.

Step 3: External Analysis

After reading the course material in the first three weeks, you will perform an external analysis on an industry where a company from the list below operates and competes. You will select one of these companies to complete the analysis.

BYD Co. Ltd (HKSE:1211.HK]

Pacific Ethanol Rg (PEIX)

Sun Power [SPWR]

Graphene 3D Lab Inc (TVX:GGG]

Focus on factors related to the company’s industry and the environment that it and its competitors make. The factors to measure are those identified in a SWOT, five Forces, PESTEL, EFE, and CPM.

In completing the assignment, you will perform research on a selected company, its industry, and its competitors.

Step 4: Complete an External Environmental Analysis:

Use tools, concepts and information from your own research to perform an external analysis of the company’s environment. Include the following:

Company overview

Industry analysis

Competitive analysis: [Use the company’s closest competitors plus the selected company.]

Techniques Analysis: PESTEL, Five Forces, OT from SWOT, EFE, and CPM.

Trends: Discuss trends significant to the industry and company and discuss key areas of uncertainty related to trends or events that potentially could impact the company’s strategy.

Utilize the Notes section to support each slide

Step 5: Using the grading rubric, ensure all required elements are represented in the presentation.

Step 6: Proofread for organization, spelling, and grammar and completeness.

Use the spell check in MS PowerPoint as a first measure;

Read through the PowerPoint aloud;

Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the presentation.

Step 7: Submit the presentation in the Assignment Folder (The assignment submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor. It is incumbent upon the student to verify the assignment is the correct submission. No exceptions will be considered by the instructor.)

Assignment 2: Internal Environmental Analysis/Strategy Analysis and Strategy Selection (Week 6)

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.

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. Students will then 1) assess long-term objectives, 2) identify and evaluate alternative strategies and 3) recommend strategies for a company to pursue.

Instructions:

In completing the report, students will use the chapters in the eBook as a guide and perform research on the company from Assignment 1, answer the required elements below in narrative form following the steps.

NOTE: All submitted work is to be your original work (and only yours). You may not use any work from another student, the Internet or an online clearinghouse. You are expected to understand the Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy, and know that it is your responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources as specified in the APA Publication Manual, 6th Ed. (Students are held accountable for in-text citations and an associated reference list only).

Step 1: Preparation for the Assignment

Before you begin writing the report, you will read the following requirements that will help you meet the writing and APA requirements.

Read the grading rubric for the assignment. Use the grading rubric while writing the report to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.

In writing this assignment, you will read and following:

Third person writing is required. Third person means 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.

Contractions are not used in business writing, so you are NOT to use contraction in writing this assignment.

You are expected to paraphrase and are NOT to use direct quotes. You are expected to paraphrase, which can be learned by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html.

You are responsible for APA only for in-text citations and a reference list. Cite the page or paragraph number.

In writing the analysis, writing 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

In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations with page or paragraph number and a reference list. If information is taken from a source document, it has to be cited and referenced with a page or paragraph number. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa. No books other than course eBook. View the sample APA paper under Week 4 content and How to Cite and Reference, also under Week 4 content. There are also resources located under Course Content>>Student Toolbox.

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

Read all course material for weeks 1 through 6 and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive internal environmental analysis, strategy analysis and selection.

Jot down key facts about the company. Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper.

Step 2: How to Set Up the Plan

Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product cannot be longer than 16 pages in length, which includes all tables and matrices but excludes the title page and reference page. Those items identified in the technical analysis should appear under the appropriate heading in the paper. Do no use an Appendix.

Review assignment grading rubric and periodically throughout completing the report, review.

Follow the following format using these topics as headings:

Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;

Company Background/Information

Internal Environmental Analysis

Strategic Analysis & Strategy Selection

Reference page

Under the appropriate heading, include the following:

Background analysis including vision and mission statements and objectives

Internal Environmental Analysis

Corporate Level Strategy

Business Unit Level Strategy

Functional Level Strategy

Explain how these strategies align with the company’s vision and mission statements;

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.

Financial analysis for the last reported fiscal year:

Use the company’s income statement and balance sheet to calculate key, but no less than 10 key financial ratios to the business. There must be a mix of the different ratios so that the ratios do not all come from the same category. Show the calculations.

Using Excel or a Word table, record key financial ratios in the first column;

Research the industry average financial ratios for the same ratios above and record in a second column. If you cannot find an industry average, then select another ratio; [Ratios presented should not all come from the same category]

In the third column, indicate whether the financial ratio is a strength, a weakness or a neutral factor.

Explain the results and compare and contrast the company financials to the industry.

Technique Analysis: develop and explain an IFE, BCG matrix, Grand Strategy Matrix, and QSPM. The expectation is not to copy from the Internet but to develop one’s own. The various tools are to appear in the appropriate area of the paper and not in one section of the paper.

Strategy Analysis:

Identify and explain company strengths and weaknesses. Discuss success factors and what the company must do to perform successfully in the industry? 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

Generate a minimum of three possible alternative strategies for the company;

Identify and discuss cultural factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies;

Prioritize and explain the selection of alternative strategies

Recommend the best one or two strategies among the alternative strategies and explain why these strategies are the best;

Step 3: 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 4: 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 5: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.

Step 6: 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 7: Submit the report in the Assignment Folder (The assignment submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor. It is incumbent upon the student to verify the assignment is the correct submission. No exceptions will be considered by the instructor.)

Assignment 3: Strategic Plan (Group Assignment) (Week 8)

Phase 1: Assignment Instructions:

NOTE: All submitted work is to be your original work. You may not use any work from another student, the Internet or an online clearinghouse. You are expected to understand the Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy, and know that it is your responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources as specified in the APA Publication Manual, 6th Ed. (Students are held accountable for in-text citations and an associated reference list only).

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.

This assignment is a group project. You will be placed into groups consisting of no more than four students each. Groups will be assigned early, and the expectation is that the groups will work on the various parts of the assignment as relevant content is covered throughout the course. The group will act as a self-directed team, and will therefore determine its own leadership, timetable, task list, guidelines for communication, goals, and so forth. As an individual, you are expected to participate fully in the project.

You will actively participate in completing the assignment and group members will receive the same group grade. However, free-riders who contribute little will receive a different grade than the group grade at the discretion of the instructor. If you fail to contribute to the project, a zero for the assignment will be assigned.

Throughout the course, you have learned about the strategic management and have practiced the various stages through the completion of assignments and learning activities. In phase 1 of this final project, you will work in a group to create a strategic plan and present the plan in a professional manner. The plan requires a paper submitted to the Assignment Folder.

You will perform a strategic plan on a company, from the list provided below. However, instructors may elect to assign a company on the list or of his or her choosing or one of their own as long as previous companies provided in the course are not used. Starbucks, Walmart, Amazon and Apple may not be used.

ABB LTD (NYSE: ABB)

Intervac, Inc. (IVAC)

Progressive Gaming International (PGIC)

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN)

Patrick Industries, Inc. (PATK)

The Chemours (CC)

Duke Energy Corp (DUK)

Altra Industrial Motion Corp (AIMC)

In completing the assignment, you will perform research on the company provided, answer the questions below in narrative form and follow the steps provided below.

Step 1: Preparation for the Assignment

In writing this assignment, you will read and do the following:

Read the grading rubric for the assignment. Use the grading rubric while writing the plan to ensure all requirements are met.

Third person writing is required. Third person means 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.

Contractions are not used in business writing, so you are NOT to use contraction in writing this assignment.

You are expected to paraphrase and are NOT use direct quotes. You are expected to paraphrase, which can be learned by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html.

You are responsible for APA only for in-text citations and a reference list. Cite the page or paragraph number.

You may use the resources from the course and from your research. You may not use books and page and paragraph numbers must be used.

Read all course material and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive strategic plan.

Step 2: How to Set Up the Plan

Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product will be no more than 20 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page. Write clearly and concisely.

Follow this format for the comprehensive strategic plan:

Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;

introduction

vision and mission

background organization

industry analysis

competitive analysis

financial analysis – not copied data from internet

technique analysis – IFE, EFE, CPM, BCG matrix, Grand Strategy Matrix, and QSPM

alternative strategy generation

SWOT analysis

strategy and prioritization selection

action plan for implementation

evaluative plan

Reference page

Step 3: Create an introductory

Step 4: Develop the plan:

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 5: Identify strategy recommendations using 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)

Review this resource to differentiate between strategic planning and operational planning: strategy versus tactics

Step 6: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.

Step 7: 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 8: Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder (The assignment submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor. It is incumbent upon the student to verify the assignment is the correct submission. No exceptions will be considered by the instructor.)

Assignment 3 Phase 2 Peer Assessment

This semester you worked with other students on preparing and presenting a comprehensive case analysis. Please rate your team members on the relative contributions made by each person in preparing Phase 1. Your ratings are confidential and anonymous. Be honest on this assessment. The faculty member does not have input into the evaluation. Failure to submit the peer evaluation will result in a zero for the student.

The form for this exercise will be posted in the classroom as an excel document. You will submit the completed form in your Assignment Folder. The grade for the Peer Assessment derives from the members of the group and not the faculty member.

Look for the form that can be downloaded under Week 8.

Using the downloaded form, list all the members of your group excluding yourself. Then grade the performance of each group member using scale provided:

Enter your name :

Enter your team members’ names in the spaces provided below, one name at the top of each column

Team Members

Input Name

Input Name

Input Name

Input Name

Input Name

Ratings (Rate each factor below on a 1-3 scale)

Present and on time for all online meetings

Demonstrated a spirit of team work and cooperation

Contributed useful ideas

QUANTITY of work performed

QUALITY of work performed

Met all commitments to the team

TOTAL SCORE

#DIV/0!

#DIV/0!

#DIV/0!

#DIV/0!

#DIV/0!

Scale

3

Consistently and frequently added a high level of value

2.4

Often added value

1.8

A marginal performer who did not consistently participate or add value

1.2

A poor performer who rarely added value

0.6

Did not participate