Module 4 – Case
ECONOMICS OF ORGANIZATION AND
STRATEGY
Assignment Overview
Apple and Samsung are often
mentioned together, as they are both world leading producers of smartphones.
However, they are much different companies in a variety of ways. Carefully
review the background readings concerning diversification and vertical integration.
Then do some extensive research on Samsung and Apple concerning their
diversification and vertical integration strategies.
Case Assignment
When you have finished your
research, write a four- to five-page paper answering the following questions. Make
sure to cite both the required background readings as well as articles on
Samsung and Apple:
1.
1. To what extent does Apple
engage in related diversification? To what extent do they engage in unrelated
diversification?
2. To what extent does Samsung
engage in related diversification? To what extent do they engage in unrelated
diversification?
3. To what extent does Apple
engage in backward (upstream) vertical integration? To what extent do they
engage in forward (downstream) vertical integration?
4. To what extent does Samsung
engage in backward (upstream) vertical integration? To what extent do they
engage in forward (downstream) vertical integration?
5. Overall what major differences
or similarities do you find between Samsung and Apple’s diversification and
vertical integration strategies?
Module 4 – SLP
ECONOMICS OF ORGANIZATION AND
STRATEGY
For this final SLP, imagine that
your business has become successful and you are now considering expanding the
scope of your company. Carefully review all of the required background
materials, and then write a three-page paper answering the following questions.
Make sure to cite at least one of the required readings for each of your
answers:
1. If you were to engage in
horizontal integration, which of your direct competitors would you decide to
acquire? Overall, do you think horizontal integration is the best long-run plan
for your business if it is successful?
2. Do you think your business
should vertically integrate over time? Should you engage in backwards vertical
integration, forward vertical integration, both, neither? Explain your
reasoning.
3. How about
diversification/conglomerate strategy? Any advantage to diversifying your
business? Discuss unrelated diversification and related diversification and
whether or not these strategies might be good for your business. Explain your
reasoning.
SLP Assignment Expectations
· Answer the assignment questions
directly.
· Stay focused on the precise
assignment questions. Do not go off on tangents or devote a lot of space to
summarizing general background materials.
· Make sure to use reliable and
credible sources as your references. Articles published in established
newspapers or business journals/magazines are preferred. If you find articles
on the Internet, make sure they are from a credible source.
· Reference your sources of
information with both a bibliography and in-text citations. See the Student
Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper, including pages 11- 14 on
in-text citations. Another resource is the “Writing Style Guide,” which is
found under “My Resources” in the TLC Portal.
Discussion Question
Mergers
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Description
One of the hottest topics in the
business press are rumors of major corporations merging together. Just as the
entertainment press likes to report on rumors of celebrities who are dating,
the business press likes to speculate about “corporate match-making”. For
example, Whole Foods was subject to rumors about several potential suitors
including supermarket giants such as Kroger, Albertson’s, and Walmart. But the
world was somewhat surprised when a merger deal with Amazon was announced, as
this seems like a bit of an “odd couple”.
Go to Google news or other news
search engines and see what the latest merger rumors are. Pick one of the
merger rumors that seems the most unusual to you – one that makes you wonder
why these two companies think they are a good match for each other. Share the
link to the article with your classmates, and discuss the following issues:
1. Is this merger horizontal?
Vertical? Conglomerate (unrelated diversification)?
2. Why do you think these
companies would or would not make a good match?
3. Do you think this merger will
actually go through? Or won’t get beyond the gossip stage?a
