columbia Southern MBA 5101 full course

Unit II Assignment

SWOT Analysis

Based on your unit reading, create a SWOT analysis for the company you chose to research. Your analysis should be between one to two pages and identify the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Use Microsoft Word and create four sections to your paper using the SWOT categories as your headings. Each category should have approximately 200-300 words describing the issues that fall under that area. The opportunities and threats should have at least ten items identified for each. Format your SWOT Analysis using APA Style. Use your own words, and include citations and references as needed to avoid plagiarism.

Unit III Assignment

PowerPoint Presentation

Review both Milton Friedman's “Traditional View of Business Responsibility” (p. 72) and Archie Carroll's “Four Responsibilities of Business” (p. 72-73) in the textbook, and develop an understanding of their ethical principles. You are also welcome and encouraged to research them using outside sources. You are to compare the two theories and create a PowerPoint presentation on your comparative study. Your PowerPoint presentation should include the following elements:

? Slide 1: Title page

? Slides 2-3: A summary of Milton Friedman's main points

? Slides 4-5: A summary of Archie Carroll's main points

? Slide 6: Which principles would you like implemented at your current place of work (or where you wish to work in the future), and why?

? Slides 7-8: Provide two detailed examples of organizations where you believe that Friedman's theories are applied.

? Slides 9-10: Provide two detailed examples of organizations where you believe that Carroll's theories are applied.

? Slide 11: List of sources using APA guidelines

Unit IV Assignment

Using the information gathered from your SWOT analysis conducted in Unit II, create an EFAS table for the company you researched. Use Microsoft word to create your table. It should have five columns. The first column heading should be entitled External Factors, the second column should be titled Weight, the third column should be titled Rating, the fourth column should be titled Weighted Score, and the fifth column should be titled Comments. (Refer to pages 126-127 in your textbook for an example.)

1. In the External Factors column, list at least six opportunities you saw in the company you researched. Underneath the opportunities, list at least six threats you saw in the company you researched.

2. In the Weight column, assign an importance factor to each of these issues from 0.0-1.0 (1.0 is most important; 0.0 is least important). These ratings are based on the probable impact on a particular company’s current strategic position. The higher the weight, the more important the factor to the current and future success of the company.

You may not be privy to the exact information for this company, so in some cases you will need to use your best judgment. (You will justify your weighting in column five.) MBA 5101, Strategic Management and Business Policy 3

3. In the Rating column assign a rating factor from 5.0-1.0 (5.0 is Outstanding; 1.0 is poor). These ratings are based on the company’s response to that particular factor. It is a judgment call on how the company is currently dealing with each specific factor. Once again, you may need to make an estimate in this area if you are not privy to all of the information. (You will justify your weighting in column five.)

4. In the Weighted Score column, multiply the weight from column 2 by the rating in column 3 to get the factor’s weighted score.

5. In the Comments column explain why a particular factor was selected and how its weight and rating were estimated.

6. At the bottom of column 4 add the weighted scores for the external factors. Is the company doing better or worse than others in the same industry? Complete this answer underneath your table.

Format your assignment using APA Style. Use your own words, and include citations and references as needed to avoid plagiarism.

Unit VII Assignment

PowerPoint Presentation

Review the portion of Web Chapter A concerning new product innovation. You can access Web Chapter A at this web address: http://www.pearsonhighered.com/wheelen/cases.html. Then select a new product that you have been introduced to in the past 12 months. You are also welcome and encouraged to research this new product using outside sources. You are to create a PowerPoint presentation about the marketing strategy for this relatively new product. Your PowerPoint presentation should include the following elements:

? Slide 1: Title page

? Slide 2: Description of the new product

? Slide 3: Explain which category of innovation is emphasized.

? Slide 4: List what differentiates the product from the competition.

? Slide 5: Describe the product's target market and its demographics.

? Slide 6: Describe the market size and potential product demand.

? Slide 7: Explain in which stage of the product life cycle is the product.

? Slide 8: Predict product demand in five years.

? Slide 9: List of sources using APA guidelines

Unit VIII Case Study

Read the Internet Mini Case #6 on Williams-Sonoma, and answer the written response questions in order to complete this assignment. Internet Mini Case #6 on Williams-Sonoma can be found on the Pearson Higher Education web site at this address: http://www.pearsonhighered.com/wheelen/cases.html . A PDF file containing Mini Case #6 can be found in Unit VIII.

There are four written response questions below worth 25 points each. Your answers should include information from your course materials and/or from outside research but should be primarily in your own words. If you paraphrase or quote words or ideas from your course textbook or other resources, you should cite your sources using APA guidelines. Each of your responses to each of the four questions should be spell and grammar checked and should be 200-300 words in length to be considered a “complete” answer to a written response question. Please contact your instructor if you have any questions.

1. If the Williams-Sonoma continues with its present strategies and objectives, where will it be in five years?

2. If you were the CEO of William-Sonoma, what strategies would you recommend, and why?

3. Describe the competitive strategies used by each of Williams-Sonoma's competitors. Which of these strategies are the most effective? Support your answer.

4. How is Williams-Sonoma using the Internet as a distribution channel now, and how would you recommend that they use the Internet in the future?

MBA 5101 Unit I Assessment

• Unless otherwise indicated, there is a 200 word minimumresponse required.
• Credible reference materials, including your course textbook(s), may be used to complete the assessment.

Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2010). Concepts in strategic management and business policy (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall

Question 1

1.

A highly involved board does all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer

		tends to be very active.
		provides advice when necessary.
		keeps management alert.
		manage the everyday operations of the organization.

4 points

Question 2

1.

The vast majority of inside directors are from all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer

		lower-level operating employee.
		president of the corporation.
		vice-president of operational units.
		chief executive officer.

4 points

Question 3

1.

The organization's corporate mission statement:

Answer

		should have a different mission statement for each subsidiary division.
		should be less formally stated to allow for growth.
		should set the organization apart from its competitors.
		should state what the organization would like to become.

4 points

Question 4

1.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was designed to protect:

Answer

		retired workers from losing their pensions.
		CEO's from losing their golden parachutes.
		CEO salary increases.
		shareholders from the excesses and failed oversight of firms.

4 points

Question 5

1.

Which theory proposes that once an organization is successfully established in a particular environmental niche, it is unable to adapt to changing conditions?

Answer

		population ecology
		institution
		citizenship
		strategic choice

4 points

Question 6

1.

A budget is a statement of a corporation's programs in dollar terms. Which is NOT true of the budgetary function?

Answer

		It is used in planning and control.
		It serves as a detailed plan of strategy in action.
		Only one budget is necessary to capture all programs.
		It details the impact on the firm's future financial situation.

4 points

Question 7

1.

All of the following criteria reflect survey findings of the characteristics of a good director EXCEPT:

Answer

		willing to challenge management when necessary.
		expertise on global business issues.
		understands the firm's key technologies and processes.
		willing to always agree with executive decisions.

4 points

Question 8

1.

The Strategic Management Model presents the following process of strategy formulation:

Answer

		Objectives -- Policies -- Strategies -- Mission.
		Mission -- Policies -- Strategies -- Objectives.
		Policies -- Mission -- Strategies -- Objectives.
		Mission -- Objectives -- Strategies -- Policies.

4 points

Question 9

1.

The function of a nominating committee is to:

Answer

		find board members who have compatible viewpoints with management.
		find outside board members for election by the stockholders.
		search for internal employees who would provide valuable insight into the working operations of the corporation.
		search for candidates who could bring prestige to the board.

4 points

Question 10

1.

Strategic planning in a multidivisional corporation:

Answer

		should be informal to allow complete understanding by the many participants.
		should be instigated only from the main corporate office.
		should be accomplished quickly to decrease the likelihood of it becoming outdated.
		should be a formalized and sophisticated system.

4 points

Question 11

1.

What is a strategic decision and what are its three characteristics? Please include an example of a strategic decision from your place of work that supports your response.

Answer

30 points

Question 12

1.

What are the responsibilities of the board of directors? Please provide an example of a board of directors that did not meet its responsibilities.

Answer

Question 1

1. Pick a company or organization, preferably the organization or company for which you work. (If you choose to write about a company other than your employer, please make sure it is one that has easily accessible information.) In your opinion, how well is the company or organization’s present strategy working? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the organization? Please include at least two points per each SWOT category. How strong, if applicable, is the company’s competitive position? What strategic issues does this organization/company face in the next year? Next five years?Answer

Question 2

1. Pick a company or organization, preferably the organization or company for which you work. (If you choose to write about a company other than your employer, please make sure it is one that has easily accessible information.) What is the organization? What is its primary business or services? Tell us about the industry and its competition. What is the organizational mission or purpose of the organization that you selected? How would you characterize the organizational culture? What are the primary strategic objectives or long range plans for the organization?Answer

Question 1

1.

Which of the following is NOT descriptive of the "threat of new entrants?"

Answer

		Depending on the presence of entry barriers
		Having a desire to gain market share
		Depending on the reaction of existing competitors
		Not impacting industry attractiveness

4 points

Question 2

1.

What are the key environmental trends that are judged to have a medium to high probability of occurrence and a medium to high probability of impact on the corporation?

Answer

		External strategic factors
		Scenarios
		Industry forces
		Strategic issues

4 points

Question 3

1.

Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning a corporate reputation?

Answer

		It is a widely held perception of a company by the general public.
		A good corporate reputation can be a strategic resource.
		There is a positive relationship between corporate reputation and financial performance.
		All of the above

4 points

Question 4

1.

Which of the following terms describes an industry dominated by a few large firms, all of which struggle with product differentiation?

Answer

		Multidomestic
		Consolidated
		Global
		Indigenous

4 points

Question 5

1.

When the value chains of two separate products or services share activities, such as the same marketing channels, in order to reduce costs, this is an example of:

Answer

		economies of scope.
		economies of scale.
		economies of integration.
		economies of learning.

4 points

Question 6

1.

What is the particular combination of product, place, promotion, and price?

Answer

		Marketing position
		Product life cycle
		Market segmentation
		Marketing mix

4 points

Question 7

1.

Which of the following terms refers to a formal program of gathering information on a company's competitors?

Answer

		Statistical modeling
		Competitive intelligence
		Competitive strategy
		Quantitative forecasting

4 points

Question 8

1.

Which of the following is NOT a technological breakthrough already having a significant impact on many industries?

Answer

		Growing health consciousness
		Alternative energy sources
		Genetically altered organisms
		Smart and mobile robots

4 points

Question 9

1.

What is trend extrapolation?

Answer

		The process of converting intuition and hunches into reality
		The extension of present trends into the future
		The process of asking some authorities in the area to make an "informed guess" about the future.
		The attempt to conceptualize alternative futures

4 points

Question 10

1.

Which business model is used by IBM to make money not by selling IBM products but by selling its expertise to improve their customers operations?

Answer

		Profit pyramid model
		Advertising model
		Customer solutions model
		Efficiency model

4 points

Question 11

1.

List and explain four current sociocultural trends in the U.S. that are transforming North America and the world.

Answer

30 points

Question 12

1.

In what ways may a corporation’s structure and culture be internal strengths or weaknesses? Look at your organization, and analyze its structural and cultural strengths and weaknesses. How can the weaknesses be improved?

Question 1

1. Which strategy has been used successfully by Yum! Brands to establish KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants across the globe?Answer

		Joint venture
		Licensing arrangement
		Strategic alliance
		Marketing strategy

4 points

Question 2

1. What is the technique that illustrates how management can match the external opportunities and threats with its strengths and weaknesses to yield four sets of strategic alternatives?Answer

		IFAS Table
		EFAS Table
		SFAS Table
		TOWS Matrix

4 points

Question 3

1. The key to outsourcing is to purchase from the outside only those activities that:Answer

		are not key to the company's distinctive competence.
		are very expensive.
		provide the company competitive advantage.
		are provided by an important supplier.

4 points

Question 4

1. Wal-Mart, McDonald's, and Alamo are all examples of companies following which of Porter's competitive strategies?Answer

		Differentiation
		Cost leadership
		Differentiation focus
		Competitive advantage

4 points

Question 5

1. What is a corporate strategy that cuts across divisional boundaries to build synergy across business units to improve the competitive position of one or more business units?Answer

		Vertical strategy
		Horizontal strategy
		Hierarchical strategy
		Portfolio strategy

4 points

Question 6

1. When a firm internally makes 100% of its key supplies and completely controls its distributors, this is known as:Answer

		full integration.
		vertical integration.
		mass integration.
		economical integration.

4 points

Question 7

1. Which type of pricing attempts to hasten market development and offers the pioneer the opportunity to utilize the experience curve to gain market share and dominate the industry?Answer

		Demand pricing
		Competitive pricing
		Skim pricing
		Penetration pricing

4 points

Question 8

1. Which of the following BEST describes a popular financial strategy in which a company is acquired in a transaction financed largely by debt · eventually paid off with money generated from the acquired company's operations or by sale of its assets?Answer

		Illegal in most countries
		A good way to build a core competency
		An application of the capital asset pricing model
		The leveraged buyout

4 points

Question 9

1. In which type of industry will the focus strategies likely predominate when many small and medium sized local companies compete for relatively small shares of the total market?Answer

		United industry
		Fragmented industry
		Consolidated industry
		Isolated industry

4 points

Question 10

1. When a company determines how and where a product or service is to be manufactured, the level of vertical integration in the production process, the deployment of physical resources, and relationships with suppliers, the company is developing its __________ strategy.Answer

		marketing
		R&D
		operations
		financial

Question 11

1. Question 12

1. What are the tradeoffs (pros and cons) between an internal and an external growth strategy? Which approach is best as an international strategy? Why?

Question 1

1. Which of the following describes the point when the drive of the entrepreneur is no longer enough to keep the Stage I company from floundering?Answer

		Crisis of autonomy
		Crisis of confidence
		Crisis of clarity
		Crisis of leadership

4 points

Question 2

1. For each $1 spent on training, Motorola estimates it receives __________ in productivity gains within three years.Answer

		$15
		$20
		$25
		$30

4 points

Question 3

1. What is the percentage of U.S.-based expatriate managers who fail to adjust to a host country's social and business environment?Answer

		6% or less
		Approximately 35%
		Between 50% and 75%
		Approximately 80%

4 points

Question 4

1. All of the following are changing structural characteristics found in the modern organization design EXCEPT:Answer

		horizontal communication.
		autonomous work teams.
		extensive training.
		centralized top-down decision making.

4 points

Question 5

1. Successful defender firms tend to be headed by CEOs with backgrounds in the areas of:Answer

		research/engineering and general management.
		accounting/finance, manufacturing/production, and general management.
		marketing/sales.
		human resources and strategy.

4 points

Question 6

1. According to Hofstede's cultural dimensions, which country scored the highest on individualism?Answer

		Hong Kong
		Germany
		Pakistan
		United States

4 points

Question 7

1. Research suggests that boards of directors tend to look outside the firm for the next CEO under which of the following circumstances?Answer

		When the company is prosperous
		When the company is having temporary difficulty
		When the company is in trouble
		When the company needs to follow a stability strategy

4 points

Question 8

1. Which type of chief executive officer who is highly knowledgeable in other industries and can manage diverse product lines would be appropriate for a corporation following a diversification strategy?Answer

		Professional liquidator
		Dynamic industry expert
		Turnaround specialist
		Analytical portfolio manager

4 points

Question 9

1. Strategic goals can be accomplished through defining an action plan. Which of the following is NOT one of the components that make up an action plan?Answer

		Stating what action is going to be taken
		Who will perform the action
		During what time frame the action will be done
		Where the action will be done

4 points

Question 10

1. According to the text, what is the "key" to effective management of change in culture?Answer

		Planning
		Operationalization
		Evaluation
		Communication

4 points

Question 11

1. What is executive succession? Discuss the hiring of insiders versus outsiders, and provide examples of each

2. Question 12

1. The textbook points out the importance of assessing the strategy-culture compatibility when
implementing a new strategy. Do you feel that culture follows strategy, or does strategy follow culture? Justify your answer.