Graded Homework

This analysis exercise is about applying those screens to a real situation that is familiar to you.

1. Step one is to provide an external analysis of your organization’s operating environment. Consider that environment to be the state in which it operates. (For this you can use the profile indicators on p. 14 of Mann’s paper as guides to comprehensiveness, as well as the forces described in Chapter 2.) From that, you should be able to determine opportunities and threats facing the organization.
3. Step two is to provide an internal assessment of your organization. In this, your end product will be an understanding of your organization’s strengths and weaknesses in addressing the opportunities and threats in the environment. (For this you can use the Organizational profile indicators on p. 16 of Mann’s paper and the VRIO assessment categories from Chapter 3 of the textbook.).

The paper should be 4-6 pages, 12-point type, double space. The intent of this analysis is to see that you are able to apply the concepts and methods we have studied so far.

Here is a possible outline of the paper:

1. Name of the organization and state in which it operates. (1 or 2 sentences).
2. A. Economic characteristics of the state (major industry, intensity of rivalry, poverty level, resources available to your firm, etc.)
3. B. Political characteristics of the state (red or blue, stability, etc.)
4. Cultural characteristics of the state (state school system, major values, celebrations etc.)
5. Opportunities for your organization and/or threats this environment poses (This section should be no more than 2 pages)

• Operational Characteristics of the organization (what does it do? How does it do it and who are its customers?)

1. Organizational characteristics of the organization (Top-down or participative? Unionized? Silos or team-based?
2. C. Corporate Culture characteristics: (How are people trained? What values really guide the firm? How do people relate to each other and to customers?)
3. Strengths and weaknesses of the organization to operate effectively in its environment (This section should be no more than 2 pages)

This is not intended to be an exhaustive analysis, as you can see from the page limits. It is to give you a chance to practice using the methods presented in the course so far in analyzing a familiar situation.