Term Group Project

The focus of the term project is for students to locate relevant information on a specific, publicly traded company and analyze it. All the aspects of the project are focused on a current situation of the specific company and the market it operates in. As a group you will discuss the and articulate the current standing of the company, its competitors and the dynamic market conditions affecting the operation. As a team, with one voice, students will propose the best corporate strategy for the company based on a consensus.

Each student is responsible for the section which corresponds with their order in the signup for the group. If you are the first person listed you will do all the items #1 in each section and if you are the second person listed then you would do the #2 item in each section and so forth.

Where “ALL:” is noted those are discussion topics for the group to work on as a whole, in class.

Written component:  Your project is due at midnight on Friday of week 9.  No partial projects will be accepted.  Remember that 25 points a day are deducted for lateness.

Use as a guide to writing the applicable sections your SWOT from the first presentation.

Section 1:  Company Status Update

Include

1. History, & Company structure
2. Financial analysis,
3. Marketing analysis and
4. Future outlook for the company.

The update should be done in the form of introductory paragraph which should read with continuance and flow. Make the separation with bold headings. History bla bla bla alibaba bla. Company structure board of bla bla bla etc.

Section 2:  Mission Statement Analysis

This section includes the following parts:

1. An analysis of which of the components of a vision statement you believe should be included in your company’s mission statement
2. A copy of the company’s current mission statement; identify the stakeholders.
3. An analysis of which of the parts of a mission statement are internal and which are external.
4. A critique of the current mission statement, how does it fit today’s business environment

ALL:   Your proposed new and improved mission statement.

Most important stakeholder and why?

Section 3:  Input Stage of Strategy Formulation SWOT Analysis & Competitive Profile.

1. Strengths
2. Weaknesses
3. Opportunities
4. Threats

ALL:   Competitive Profile

Cash position

Section 4:  Matching Stage of Strategy Formulation; Develop and analyze the SWOT Matrix, using worksheet on Ulearn under the “Resources” tab.

1. Identify and evaluate the Threats and place in descending order
2. Identify and evaluate the Opportunities and place in descending order
3. Identify and evaluate the Strengths and place in descending order
4. Identify and evaluate the Weaknesses and place in descending order

ALL:   Create a list of the most important TOWS to focus on at least two for each category.

Section 5:  Decision Stage of Strategy Formulation (Continue with information from Section 4)

Based on your strategy analysis in section 4, determine two appropriate strategies for your company to pursue.  Determine the most attractive strategy as your recommendation.

All group members participate with their assigned section.

Week 5. Presentation: ALL must participate. Present your research thus far and propose an appropriate strategy for your company. The strategy should be based on the internal and external assessment and align with the SWOT analysis.

NOTE: Be prepared to answer questions on your strategy from the audience (just like at management strategy meeting). Asking and articulating a question will be part of everyone’s final grade.      

Section 6:  Strategy Implementation Plan

Determine a plan for implementing your strategy dealing with the issues discussed in chapters 7 and 8 of your text.  These issues should include the following subheadings:

1. Management
2. Marketing,
3. Finance/accounting
4. R&D & MIS.

ALL: Consumer preferences

All participate and contribute to a discussion of your implementation based on quarters for the next two years. How would you foresee the benefits or consequences of each strategy include your expectations in the discussion?

Section 7:  Strategy Evaluation Plan

Develop a plan for evaluating your strategy including time frame and methods you will use to measure the success of your strategy.

1. Are the internal strengths still strengths? How so?
2. Are the company’s weaknesses still applicable, if yes how so if no what has changed? What potential weakness may arise in the coming fiscal year?
3. What is the most palpable opportunity for the organization, how can it take advantage of that opportunity?
4. Threats are dynamic and changing, identify a potential future treat to the company and how should it respond?

ALL:   What potential growth strategy should the company employ, who might be a potential competitor to be over taken and how would it shift the core competencies?

Based on the current standing of the company and future outlook what contingency-plan recommendations would you as a member of the management team have to offer?

Final Presentation:  You will make a formal presentation to the class during weeks 9 and 10 of the term.  Please conduct this presentation as if you were holding a meeting of your stockholders in order to explain your strategic management process and your plans for your company.  Your presentation should be approximately 13-15 minutes in length and include PowerPoint. You do not need to provide copies of your presentation to your classmates.