Module 1 discussion
Evaluate three mission statements by completing Learning
Exercise 2B of your text. Using the “Characteristics of a Mission
Statement” identified in the table, identify (1) what you believe is the
best of the three mission statements and (2) the one you find most inspiring
and why. Post your response to the Discussion Board no later than Thursday
11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 2 discussion
Prepare EFE and CPM matrixes for Hershey Company. Use Mars
and Nestle for competitors in the CPM.
Using the EFE and CPM
data, as well as your own analysis, describe how Hershey is responding to its
external environment, including its direct competitors. Make sure to use
important details of from your EFE and CPM results and your critical
reflections to draw conclusions. Post your analysis and conclusions in
narrative form no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Find at least two students whose conclusions bring new
levels of understanding to your view on Hershey’s external responsiveness or
conclusions where you might disagree. Post a response to two students including
an explanation of the value of their contribution to your understanding or
where you would “respectfully” disagree no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 3 discussion
Prepare IFE and Financial Ratios for Hershey’s Company. For
the Financial Ratios make sure to use the revenue statement and balance sheet
in the exercise portion of the chapter.
Using the IFE and Financial Ratios, as well as your own
analysis, describe how Hershey is performing internally. Make sure to use
important details from your IFE and Financial Ratio results and your critical
reflections to draw conclusions. Post your analysis and conclusions in
narrative form no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT. Make sure to include
key data from your exercises.
Find at least two students whose conclusions bring new
levels of understanding to your view on Hershey’s internal performance or
conclusions where you might disagree. Post a response to two students including
an explanation of the value of their contribution to your understanding or
where you would “respectfully” disagree no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 4 discussion
Complete the Strategies in Action; Assurance of Learning
Exercise E of your text.
Post your results no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Review your classmates’ answers and find two answers that
differ from yours on any of the company examples. Post a response to those
classmates as to why their or your answer is more accurate or may need to be reconsidered
no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
Module 5 discussion
You will begin by creating a SWOT and a BCG matrix. For the
SWOT, follow Steps 1-2 of the Learning Exercise in your text. Then, prepare a
SWOT Matrix for Hershey’s Company. For the BCG, use the information in the
Learning Exercise in your text to prepare a BCG matrix for Hershey locating
each division where you believe it represents its position relative to market
share and growth.
When complete with
both exercises, write a short narrative (one page or less, double space) of
your key conclusions from (1) your SWOT analysis of Hershey, (2) your BCG work
on Hershey. In addition, include your conclusions on the Hershey’s Company as a
result of its position in the BCG and the results of SWOT. Make clear
recommendations for Hershey’s Company based on integrating the work from the
above models.
Post your analysis and conclusions in narrative form to the
Discussion Board no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Review your classmates’ posts and find two whose conclusions
bring new levels of understanding to your view on Hershey’s external
responsiveness, or conclusions where you might disagree. Post a response to
those classmates including an explanation of the value of their contribution to
your understanding or where you would “respectfully” disagree no later than
Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 6 discussion
Complete the Assurance of Learning Exercise of your text;
“Ethics of Spying on Competitors.”
When complete, select the one ethical choice/example (from
the list) that you struggled with in terms of determining whether it is ethical
or not. Write a short narrative stating which scenario was the most difficult
to decide, how you made you final decision.
Post your narrative to the Discussion Board no later than
Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Review your classmates’ answers and find two with which you
do not agree. Explain how these classmates might revisit their ethical
determination based on your perspective no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Monitor their responses to see if (a) they changed your mind or (b) you still
respectfully disagree
Module 7 discussion
Complete the Assurance of Learning Exercise A Steps 1-3 of
your text. Create a product positioning map only for the “Hershey’s
company. Using information from the case, the PPM, and your research, write a
brief narrative to state your strategic recommendations for Hersey relative to
the competitors in this segment of Hershey’s business. Post your narrative to
the Discussion Board no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Examine fellow student’s posts and find two that added to
your insight on Hershey’s position or included conclusions you may not agree
with. Respond to those posts no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 8 discussion
Complete the executive overview for your case. This should
be limited to no more than two single-spaced pages. Post to the Discussion
Board no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Read your classmates’ executive overviews. Find one for
which you completely understood the challenges for that company and the
recommended strategy. Post what you saw valuable in terms of that student’s
work. For your second post, find an executive overview for which you did not
entirely understand the conclusions or strategic direction for the company. Ask
a question or make a suggestion to your classmate on how to improve his or her
overview. Post both responses no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Note to students: While Thursday and Sunday are deadlines
for this work, the earlier in the module you participate the more you have to
gain from learning from each other.
Module 3 Strategic
Management Case Project
In this module, prepare a Financial Ratio Analysis and IFE
for the company you selected for your Strategic Management Case. Prepare a
written analysis of the company’s internal capabilities and implications for
your strategic decisions to follow. Integrate this with your work from Modules
1-2 (see below) and submit to the Phase 1 Assignment box by Sunday 11:59 PM
EST/EDT. (This Assignment box may be linked to Turnitin.)
In addition to the work required for this module, the Phase
I report should include the following from Modules 1 and 2:
From Module 1
Outline for Strategic Management Case
Company history
Vision and mission statement
Strategic elements of the history
Assessment of mission and vision
From Module 2
EFE and CPM
Analysis of competitive position, opportunities, and threats
Module 6 Strategic
Management Case Project
In this module, describe the core values you would use to create
the desired culture in your organization. Evaluate your organization’s current
structure and, if needed, recommend changes to
the structure, processes, rewards, or technology. Integrate the work
from Modules 1-5; polish, edit, and improve your writing and illustrations. Be
sure to include the changes suggested from Phase 1. Turnitin.com will be used
by faculty to review student work for academic honesty.
Add this to your Strategic Management Case and submit the
Phase 2 components to the Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
(This Assignment box may be linked to Turnitin.)
(An outline of what should be included as part of the Phase
2 submission is included on the following page.)
In addition to the work required for this module, the Phase
2 report should include the following from previous modules:
(From Module 3)
Your entire Phase I report with modifications based on the
instructor’s feedback
(From Module 4)
Current strategy (including current use of technology)
Possible alternatives
(From Module 5)
SWOT matrix
BCG matrix
SPACE or other matrices
