Project 1 (Presentation)
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Each person will create a PowerPoint presentation that strategically analyzes a publicly held company of their choice. That is, each group will select a specific company, perform a full strategic assessment of that company, and prepare a presentation that summarizes their findings and makes recommendations to management.

Deliverable Due Group Project Focal Company Unit 2 Group Project Outline Unit 4 Group Project Presentation Unit 8 See the Group Project Guidelines and Rubric for further details on this assignment. See Appendix 2 & 3.

For Project 1 (Presentation) prepare a PowerPoint presentation explicitly including the information presented below, projects are to be fully APA compliant.

Appendix 2

Introduction (Identify the firm; briefly discuss its history; and describe the industry within which it competes.)

Problem, Issue, or Opportunity Statement (The firm faces problems, issues, and/or opportunities; pick one and explain its impact. State an explicit problem, issue, or opportunity.)

Internal Organizational Analysis (Provide a brief introductory paragraph or slide, to explain the purpose of an internal analysis.)

Mission, Vision, & Core Values (State and evaluate the firm’s mission, vision, and values statements, by applying the 9 mission statement evaluation criteria.)

Resources & Capabilities (Identify key organizational resources and capabilities, complete a VRIN analysis.)

Financial Ratios (Present recent financial ratios (i.e., at least one cash flow, liquidity, leverage, activity, profitability, and growth) and explain the meaning of each indices.)

Strength/Weakness (S/W) (Complete a S/W assessment, explaining the relevance of each strength and weakness identified. Draw information from the SWOT Matrix presented in Appendix A.)

Firm’s Competitive Strengths (Each firm possess internal competitive strengths (e.g., entrepreneurial culture, experienced workforce, etc.); identify, describe, and explain those possessed by this firm.)

Internal Analysis Conclusions (After completing the internal analysis, draw specific numbered conclusions which tie together the information learned so that an internal profile of the firm is produced; present a rationale for each conclusion.)

External Organizational Analysis (Provide a brief introductory paragraph or slide to explain the purpose of an external analysis.)

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Markets Served (Describe the market(s) served by the firm, including chief competitors, products, prices, etc.)

PESTEL-DC Analysis (Complete a PESTEL-DC analysis, explaining each factor or condition’s impact on the firm. List only 2 or 3 critical factors or conditions under each element, e.g., “P,” “E,” etc. The PESTEL-DC analysis sets a general context for the external analysis.)

Industry Driving Forces Analysis (First, identify and explain significant forces (i.e., technology changes, declining or growing markets, etc.) which influence/impact the industry; next, describe the impact on the firm.)

Industry Key Success Factors (First, know that every successful firm, competing in a market place, displays certain characteristics (e.g., superior customer service, comfortable environment, convenient locations, ec.); list and explain these. Second, explain how the firm does or does not show these characteristics, explaining why or why not.)

Porter’s Five Forces (Identify & describe each of the five forces (supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, threat of substitution, & threat of new entry) impacting the firm; describe the impact on the firm.)

Opportunities/Threats (O/T) (Complete an O/T analysis, explaining the relevance of each opportunity or threat identified. Draw information from the SWOT Matrix presented in Appendix A.)

External Analysis Conclusions (After completing the external analysis, draw specific, numbered conclusions which tie together the information learned about the firm’s external business environment; present a rationale for each conclusion.)

Strategic Analysis
Firm’s Current Strategic Strategies (Identify, name (using the list below), and describe the current strategies being used by the firm. The strategies to choose from are: (a) Cooperative strategies (e.g. alliance, joint venture, partnership, outsourcing, licensing); (b) intensive strategies (Market Penetration, Market Development, Product Development); (c) Integration Strategies (Vertical / Horizontal, Forward/Backward); (d) Diversification Strategies, Related/Unrelated; (e) Defensive Strategies (Retrenchment/Divestiture/Liquidation); or (f) Mergers/Acquisitions. Also, consider Porter’s generic strategies: cost leader, differentiation leader, or focus strategies.)

Strategic Options (Based on the internal and external analyses, recommend some specific strategic options for the firm to consider to solve the problem, capitalize on the opportunity, or resolve the issue identified. Pick from the strategies listed above. Give specific examples of actions for each strategic option the firm can deploy.) Strategic Option Selection Criteria
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(Select, identify and explain explicit evaluation criteria to evaluate the suitability of each strategic option presented. First, state the criterion; next, explain it, including your rationale for selecting it. Cite relevant references, as needed. You will find several possible evaluation criteria at http://www.lostlagoon.info/Planning/18.pdf Focus on page 199 -200.)

Evaluate Each Strategic Option (Apply each evaluation criterion to each strategic option, to rule it out or adopt it as a recommendation. Explain your rationale for each decision about each strategic option, using all the evaluation criteria.)

Recommendations (First, list each recommendation (i.e., adopted strategic option). Explain how each recommendation should be implemented.)

Appendix A SWOT Matrix (Construct an actual SWOT Matrix, including the SO, ST, WO, & WT combinations. From the paired combinations, identify specific actions the firm can take to capitalize on opportunities, counter threats, and improve weaknesses, etc.)

Appendix 3
Group Project Rubric
see attachment below want to be proficient