755: Strategic Planning and Implementation

Textbook Information:

Title: Essentials of Strategic Mangement

Author: Gamble, Thompson, Peteraf

Edition: 3rd – 2012

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

ISBN: 9780078029288

BUS755_W3DQ1 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reviewing Chapter 2, answer the following:

a.  What was the result of failed Corporate Governance at government sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

b.  Why did governance fail?

BUS755_W3DQ2 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reviewing Chapter 3, answer the following:

In what way were Avon’s efforts to gain information about their largest rival unethical?

BUS755_W3DQ3 (0.5 single spaced page)

Using your textbook, LIRN-based research, and the Internet, apply the learning outcomes for the week/course and lecture concepts to one of the following scenarios:

·As applied to your current professional career as Financial Economic Expert/Analyst

·As applied to enhancing, improving, or advancing your current professional career as Financial Economic Expert/Analyst

·As applied to a management, leadership, or any decision-making position

·As applied to a current or future entrepreneurial endeavor

OR

·Using your textbook, LIRN-based research, and the Internet, apply the learning outcomes for the week/course and lecture concepts to a business organization that exhibits and demonstrates these concepts. You should develop a summary of the organizations strategy and how they use these concepts to compete.

This is a learning and application exercise designed to give you an opportunity to apply concepts learned in a pragmatic and meaningful way that will enable you to gain valuable and relevant knowledge in an effort to augment your skill set and enhance your professional careers.

BUS755_W4 DQ 1 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reviewing Chapter 4, answer the following:

a.  What are the total costs associated with production and packaging of a pound of Fair-Trade Organic Coffee?

b.  Why is having this knowledge important to such a company?

BUS755_W4DQ2 (0.5 single spaced page)

Select a company, describe the company, and evaluate a company’s competitive strengths compared to its rivals.

BUS755_W4CLA1  (3 single spaced page)

Redbox has enjoyed explosive success in deploying movie rental kiosks, but will its success be

sustainable? In this CLA, you will evaluate the pros and cons of Redbox’s strategy, do a SWOT

analysis, identify the strategic issues that Redbox management needs to address, and propose action recommendations. To prepare you for this CLA, read the Redbox Case on page 277-284 in Chapter 5. Then, review thefollowing:

· A 2:18 minute YouTube video that discusses how Redbox is gaining on Netflix and

Redbox’s competitive advantage. The video, with a date of May 29, 2010, can be accessed at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdOtUKsEbH0.

· A 3:40 minute YouTube video, with a date of September 3, 2010, can be accessed at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvNplvEAumo&feature= channel.

Your assignment: Redbox has employed you as a consultant to assess the company’s overall

situation, identify the strategic issues that management needs to address, and recommend a set of

actions to improve the company’s future prospects. Please prepare a 4-page report to Redbox

management that includes (1) a complete SWOT analysis (as described in Chapter 4), (2) a complete list of the strategic issues/problems that management needs to address, and (8) a set of action recommendations to resolve the issues problems that you identify. Your report should contain detailed and convincing reasons in support of each one of your recommendations. It is imperative that the support offered for each of your recommendation be based on analysis-based conclusions.

After you have completed the assignment above, answer the following three questions as part of

your report:

1. What does a SWOT analysis reveal about the attractiveness of Redbox’s situation and future

prospects?

2. What strategic issues and problems does Redbox management need to address for the company

to be more financially and competitively successful in the years ahead?

3. What actions do you recommend that Redbox management take to deal with each of these

issues/problems? Your recommended actions must be supported with convincing, analysis-based

arguments.

Please develop and prepare a single spaced 3-page APA 6^th edition formatted paper.

BUS755_W5DQ2 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reviewing Chapter 5, answer the following: Which parts of the value chain does Wal-Mart target in order to achieve a low-cost advantage over its rivals? 

BUS755_W5DQ3 (0.5 single spaced page)

Review “Vizio’s Focused Low-Cost Strategy” in Chapter 5. Then answer the following: Discuss the advantages this organization achieves from its focused low-cost provider strategy.

BUS755_W5DQ3CLA PREP (0.5 single spaced page)

1.  Welcome to week 5 of your course. This discussion question will help you prepare for your CLA2 paper and final CLA2 PPP. Read the CLA2 assignment listed in week 8 of the course. Then, please provide an outline that itemizes the concepts that you will include in your CLA2 paper and final PPP. Please be sure to include concepts learned in the course and any information from your CLA1 paper if applicable. Provide some brief details for each item that is outlined. Please keep in mind that you should have placeholders for material not yet covered in lecture from week’s 6 and 7.

BUS755_W6DQ1 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reviewing Chapter 6, discuss the following: Discuss the basis for Amazon.com’s competitive advantage and how they leveraged first-mover advantages. 

BUS755_W6DQ2 (0.5 single spaced page)

Assume you are in charge of developing the strategy for a multinational company selling products in some 50 countries around the world. One of the issues you face is whether to employ a multidomestic, a transnational, or a global strategy.

a. If your company’s product is mobile phones, do you think it would make better strategic sense to employ a multidomestic strategy, a transnational strategy, or a global strategy? Why?

b. If your company’s product is dry soup mixes and canned soups, would a multidomestic strategy seem to be more advisable than a transnational or global strategy? Why?

c. If your company’s product is large home appliances such as washing machines, ranges, ovens, and refrigerators, would it seem to make more sense to pursue a multidomestic strategy or a transnational strategy or a global strategy? Why?

BUS755_W6PA2 (3 single spaced page)

Professional Assignment 2 – CLO4

Please prepare a 3 page report that analyzes the search engine industry and Google’s competitive position in the industry. Your report should include a Five Forces analysis, list of industry driving forces and key success factors, a SWOT analysis and financial analysis for Google’s performance between 2001 and 2009. Also, please recommend strategies necessary to allow Google to strengthen its lead in the search industry and to make a success of its smartphone business, cloud computing, entry into emerging markets, and other recent ventures. You should also provide a recommendation concerning any potential ethical lapses at the company. Your recommendations should be specific and supported with facts from your analysis. (You should utilize the financial ratios presented in the Appendix of the text as a guide in doing your financial analysis of the company.) *Please refer to the Grading Criteria for Professional Assignments on page 20 of the syllabus for specific guidelines and expectations.

Prepare a 3 page document with your answers and thoughts in APA format.

BUS755_W7DQ1 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reading Chapter 8, discuss the following: Discuss How VF Corporation’s restructuring was so successful, both in terms of people and profit. How will VF measure up to other apparel firms in these current economic times?

BUS755_W7DQ2 (0.5 single spaced page)

After reading Chapter 9, discuss the following: Do Apple’s actions indicate that their position on business ethics is aligned with the principle of ethical universalism? 

BUS755_W8DQ1 (0.5 single spaced page)

Welcome to the last week of your course. In this discussion question you have the opportunity to be creative and to relate what you have learned to your professional lives. Please explore and critically think about some of the learning objectives and concepts presented in this course. Please effectively communicate how you would lead an organization (or a group of people within the organization) by applying the knowledge you have learned ethically and responsibly. Your discussion should also include innovative thinking, and information-technology aspects (such as the Internet, social-media, computers, etc.) that may assist you in decision-making. You may frame your discussion around any functional component of business, and in any context; problem-solving, management, leadership, organizational behavior, etc.

BUS755_W8CLA2 (5+ single spaced page)

Summary:

Review the following 4:17 minute YouTube video on Southwest entitled “A Day in the Life of Culture Committee” of Southwest’s culture and the role of the culture in promoting good strategy execution. The link to the video is http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v= V7P0T9IbYKU.

Review the Southwest Case (Case 13) beginning on page 401.

Then, answer the following prompts: What grade would you give Southwest management for the job it has done over the years in implementing and executing Southwest’s strategy? Please prepare a 1.5 single spaced page report detailing and fully supporting your evaluation. Your report must absolutely reflect command of and use of the material covered in Chapter 10. What 3-4 policies, procedures, and operating practices have been the most important in accounting for the success that Southwest has enjoyed in executing its low-cost, low fare strategy?

Prepare a 1.5 single spaced page report that identifies the factors you deem to be pivotal and that presents convincing and forceful support for why they have mattered so much? Southwest CEO Gary Kelly has asked you to advise him on what policies, procedures, and operating practices at Southwest are working particularly well and what changes might be needed to improve Southwest’s performance in 2010-2011 and beyond.

In addition, he want you to present him with 3-5 recommendations on what he should do to make a success of the AirTran acquisition. Please present Mr. Kelly with a 1.5 single spaced page report detailing the things that Southwest does right, the problems that you see and the areas where it needs to improve, and your recommendations to improve Southwest’s performance prospects and to Southwest’s acquisition of AirTran a genuine success. It is imperative that your report demonstrate command of the material in Chapter 10 and that each of your action recommendations be supported with reasoned arguments and factual evidence.

Does the AirTran acquisition make good strategic sense for Southwest? What strategic issues and problems do Gary Kelly and Southwest executives need to address as they proceed to close the deal with AirTran and contemplate how best to integrate AirTran’s operations and AirTran’s employees into Southwest? What recommendations would to Gary Kelly and Southwest executives as the company heads into 2011? Your CLA submission should be 5+ single spaced pages in length.

Your CLA2 submission (cumulative report) should be single spaced APA 6^th ed. Format 5+ pages in length. The CLA assignments encompass the learning objectives for this course and are designed to increase your comprehension and augment your ability to apply concepts learned in your professional careers.

CLA2 Comprehensive Learning Assessment (CLA 2) Presentation

In addition to your CLA2 report, please prepare a professional PowerPoint presentation summarizing your findings for CLA2. The presentation will consist of your major findings, analysis, and recommendations in a concise presentation of 15 slides (minimum). You should use content from your report as material for your PowerPoint presentation. Students will present their PowerPoint during the last week of class in either the On-Campus Class Session or the online Virtual Class Session, as determined by the professor. Presentations should not exceed 15 minutes