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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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?