Integrative Case Analysis - Applying Porter’s Value Chain

INTEGRATIVE CASE ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

Description: The grade on the assignment will count 5% of your final course grade. You can only use information from the case; there is no need to do extra research on the Internet. The assignment is an integrative case analysis using information from the Harvard Business Cases “ The Marvel Way: Restoring a Blue Ocean” and “ LEGO”. You will need to answer all of the four questions.

Word limit: See below per question (no page limit, but you need follow word limit)

Grading weight: Total 100%, see below % per question

Deadline: See Canvas

Format: Use a WORD document to submit to Canvas (no pdf, or may result in point deduction),

Other: Single space.

1. Applying Porter’s Value Chain Analysis and case information

1a. Identify and describe the internal value-chain activities of Marvel. (30%) Max 500 words[footnoteRef:1] [1: Activities include strategic choices that firms chose to do and not to do]

1b. Explain how Marvel’s activities fit with one another (that is, how activities relate to one another) and hence enhance its competitive advantage over its competitors? (20%) Max 300 words

2. Applying the Resource-Based View (i.e., VRIN analysis) and case information, discuss what are the sources of Marvel’s inimitability – how the sources make competitors difficult to imitate or copy its success? (30%) Max 500 words

3. Compare and contrast the cases of Marvel vs. LEGO, what commonalities and differences do you find, in terms of how the company was strategically transformed? (20%) Max 300 words