Week 1 discussion
DQ1
Pick a publicly traded company. Describe its competitive
advantage using the resource-based model of above average returns.
DQ2
What are vision and mission statements? What is their value
for the strategic management process? Select an example of strong
Vision/Mission (cite your source). What are its positive characteristics?
Week 2 discussion
DQ1
Compare Google with Facebook. In terms of the five forces of
competition, do you feel these companies view one another as competitors? Why
or why not?
DQ2
Describe the elements of an organization’s external
environment. Why is it important to understand the external environment?
Week 3 discussion
DQ1
Why is it important to conduct a SWOT analysis? What are the
weaknesses of a SWOT analysis? Why is that so?
DQ2
Why is sustainable competitive advantage a critical
strategy-making consideration?
Week 4 discussion
DQ1
How can you determine a core competency?
DQ2
What is the relationship between capabilities and core
competencies?
Week 5 discussion
DQ1
What are the different levels of diversification firms can
pursue by using different corporate level strategies and what are the
advantages to diversifying their operations?
DQ2
What do you think are the criteria a firm should use to
evaluate targets for acquisition and how should a company plan and undertake
its merger acquisition strategic initiatives?
Week 6 discussion
DQ1
An international strategy can take many forms. Explain what
a global strategy is and how is it different from a multi-domestic strategy.
What are the traditional and emerging reasons/motives that firms expand
internationally?
DQ2
What are some of the special features of competing in
foreign markets?
Week 7 discussion
DQ1
Discuss the role of organizational controls and explain
their importance.
DQ2
Why is it necessary to regularly evaluate business strategy?
Week 8 discussion
DQ1
What are the most effective leadership styles? Why are they
effective? In your opinion, what are the least effective leadership styles?
Explain.
DQ2
Why are innovation and entrepreneurial spirit important to
market entry or market expansion? Give examples.
Week 1 assignment
CLC – Overview of the Capstone Project
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Draft an overview of your project (approximately 500-750
words). Refer to chapter 1 in the textbook for additional information. Include
the following in your draft:
1. Briefly
describe the context and your organization.
2. Articulate
the vision, mission, and strategy of your organization (or business unit or
division).
3. Describe
the nature of the business opportunity.
Week 2 assignment
CLC – Environmental Analysis and Industry
Analysis
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Using the Segments of the General Environment, write the
environmental analysis for your organization (approximately 500-750 words).
Refer to chapters 2 and 8 in the textbook for additional information. Include
the following in your draft:
1. Incorporate
theFive Forces of Competition to help write the industry analysis for your
organization (page 51).
2. Describe
your sources of competitive advantage.
3. Using the
International Entry Modes (Figure 8.5), describe which mode(s) of entry you
would use to expand globally and why you selected it (even if expansion is
hypothetical at this time). Select one country, such as Canada, and discuss
relevant cultural, political, and economic factors, and any language barriers
that could impact your entry.
4. Identify
the outlook, forecast, or trends for the type of organization you have
selected. Use the Scan, Monitor, Forecast and Assess model in chapter 2 to
complete this section.
Week 3 assignment
CLC – Marketing Plan
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Write the Marketing Plan for your organization
(approximately 750-1,000 words). Your plan should:
1. Describe
the target market.
2. Identify
the size of your potential target market.
3. Include a
SWOT analysis (use a two by two table in Word).
4. Describe
the 4Ps of marketing in your organization (product/positioning, pricing,
promotion, and placement).If you have a service organization in addition you
may consider describing the 4Is (intangibility, inconsistency, inseperabilty,
and inventory).
Week 4 assignment
CLC – Organizational Plan and Operational Plan
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Organizational Plan
Write theOrganizational Plan for your organization
(approximately 750-1,000 words). Refer to chapters 4 and 6 in the textbook for
additional information.
1. Describe
who will comprise your management team and what talents or skills each of the
team members will bring to the organization. Include a simple organizational
chart.
2. Outline a
McKinsey 7-S Assessment/Model (strategy, structure, systems, shared values,
style, staff, skills) as it applies to your business. Review the McKinsey 7-S
Resources in the topic materials for additional information on completing this
section.
3. Describe
your business-level strategy (chapter 4 – cost leadership or differentiated)
and explain how it fits with the corporate-level strategy (chapter 6 – low,
medium, or high differentiation plus value creating, value neutral, or value
reducing) for your organization.
Operational Plan
Write the Operational Plan for your organization (500-750 words).
Refer to chapter 3 and pages 88, 113, and 116 in the textbook for additional
information. Address the following in the plan:
1. Describe
the supply chain for your prospective organization. Where does your
organization bring value in this supply chain?
2. Indentify
your main partners and suppliers. What are their locations? What is your
contingency plan?
3. Explain
how you will optimize operational effectiveness in your organization.
4. Consider
your operational plan from a value chain perspective and identify and discuss
the primary and support activities (financial, human resources, and information
systems management).
Week 5 assignment
CLC – Financial Plan
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Write the Financial Plan for your organization (500-750
words). Create the accompanying spreadsheet(s) and address the following in
your plan:
1. Using
Excel,create a three-year Pro Forma income statement for your organization (or
product/service). Review the resources in the topic materials for additional
information.
2. Calculate
your financial break-even point. BEP= Fixed Costs/ (unit price – variable unit
costs)
3. Identify
possible sources for investment capital if required (friends, family, banks,
USSBA, etc.).
4. Explain
how you will use financial information to help you craft your business
strategy.
5. Identify
the key financial ratiosyou will use to measure the performance of your
organization to determine success.
Week 6 assignment
CLC – Milestones Schedule and Critical Risks
Assessment
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Create the Milestones Schedule and Critical Risks Assessment
for your organization (500-750 words). Review chapter 9 in the textbook for
additional information.
1. Describe
the preferred timing and objectives for your business plan. Create a visual
that includes critical decisions and dates in any of the following formats:
Excel spreadsheet, Gantt chart, network diagram, or task list. Refer to the
resources on charting and diagramming project progress in the topic materials
for additional information on creating your Milestone Schedule.
2. Create
contingency plans to address major problems or setbacks as they occur.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines
found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An
abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric
prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for
successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.
Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Week 7 assignment
CLC – Strategic Leadership and
Entrepreneurship
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Write the Strategic Leadership and Entrepreneurship section
for your Capstone(500-750 words). Refer to chapter 12 in the textbook for
additional information. Be sure to address the following questions:
1. What is the
leader’s sphere of influence in your organization? Based on this, what impact
can the leader have on the implementation of your business plan?
2. What
potential leadership bias could impact the development or progress of your
organization’s development?
3. What
hurdles do you anticipate?
4. What
leadership style(s) will a leader in your organization have to demonstrate? How
could you incorporate Servant Leadership?
5. What are
potential leadership strengths and weaknesses as they relate to your business?
6. How can
the leadership in your organization impact and influence others and deliver the
results you expect?
Week 7 assignment
Benchmark Assignment
– Executive Summary
As your team has worked through the business plan, it is
important for leaders to develop their vision for the future of their
organization. Individually develop an Executive Summary (a minimum of 500
words) for your team’s strategic business plan. Describe each section of the
plan in a few sentences so the reader better understands an overview of your
business plan. Include suggestions for strategic management within your
organization that considers both internal and external factors to support the
growth of your organization. Prior to completing the Final Strategic Business
Plan, share your vision with the members of your team and integrate appropriate
strategic management decisions in your final business plan.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in
the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not
required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric
prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for
successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.
Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Week 8 assignment
CLC – Final Strategic
Business Plan
This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.
Integrate the components developed in each Topic into a
finalized strategic business plan. Incorporate any feedback from your
instructor into the final document as well. The document should include
appropriate headings for each section. Review the “Capstone Project
Template” in the Course Materials for a formatting sample. You should cite
and reference 7-10 secondary sources in your final draft. Your final document
should be between 4,250-5,250 words. While it is important to be aware of your
number count, it is also necessary to articulate your business plan to the
appropriate audience with as much information as required to represent your
business.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines
found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An
abstract is/is not required.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.
Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Week 8 assignment
Benchmark Assignment
– Capstone Presentation
Create a visually engaging, professionally designed
PowerPoint presentation (10-15 slides) to deliver the findings of your Capstone
project. Your presentation will be evaluated based on the following:
Organization
Content
Delivery
Professional appeal
Slide design
Effective communication skills
Include a reference slide with a minimum of six reputable
sources (e.g., trade magazines, academic journals, professional/government
websites) you consulted to locate information for your presentation (these may
be resources utilized for your Capstone). Include speaking notes for each
slide. Students may take the notes from your Capstone project. Students will be
individually graded based on the provided rubric and are required to
effectively communicate their group’s business plan in their PowerPoint presentation.
While APA format is not required for the body of this
assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources
should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the
APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric
prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for
successful completion.
You are not required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.
