Traditional Strategy Analysis

Traditional Strategy Analysis

For this assignment, much of the information will be collected through the BCG and Value Chain strategic analyses as described by Dr. Craddock and linked in the Resources page.

In Business Strategy, there are certain theories and analytical practices that have informed the discipline. These traditional strategic analyses are recognized by managers in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and other functional areas within an enterprise. Toward that end, you will demonstrate your ability to apply these traditional analyses to the business that you selected for your Real-world Business Analysis. These analyses consist of three parts: an overview of the business, a BCG Analysis, and a Value Chain Analysis (use these section titles to separate the various analyses).

Overview of the Business

Begin by researching and compiling the answers to the following questions, in as much depth as you can, for your chosen business:

• What can you discern about the business in terms of its name, purpose, focus, and major activities?
• What are the divisional areas and departments that comprise your chosen business?
• What is its mission statement?
• How are its operating strategies aligned with its mission statement?
• How might you determine its current and potential market position?
• What resources does it have, or do you expect it to have, internally within its organization?
• What resources does it need to outsource or acquire?
• What data, analyses, models, and other measurements will inform you as you profile its current or potential business, from a strategic perspective?
• What are its business strategies as far as you can tell?

BCG, Value Chain, and Your Business Strategy
Your submission for this week's assignment will consist of three separate elements:

• A narrative overview of the business based upon the questions above
• A BCG analysis, based upon the items available to you in the Learning Resources
• A Value Chain analysis, based upon the items available to you in the Learning Resources

Once you have completed your introduction, begin the BCG analysis as described by Dr. Craddock. To complete this analysis, profile the competitors in your chosen enterprise's industry and determine which category best describes them. How would you describe the business-would it fit the same category or a different one? If your business would benefit by employing a different BCG profile type, and thereby occupying an uncontested space, you will need to strategize. Write a summary that applies the BCG analysis to the existing industry and to your chosen business.

It may help you to think strategically about the implementation of your business strategy. In order to execute this implementation, you must first identify the component aspects of your business, specifically in terms of its organization and structure. You may wish to create a descriptive chart or a table of activities that comprise the undertakings and activities of your organization. Which of these are outsourced? Which are carried out or produced in-house?

Finally, create a Value Chain as instructed by Dr. Craddock. Write a summary that compares the undertakings and activities to your Value Chain items. Note the strengths and shortcomings of the existing or planned elements of the Value Chain.

Please use the following webs for this assignment

Web Resource

NetMBA.com. (2007). The BCG Growth-Share Matrix. Retrieved from http://www.netmba.com/strategy/matrix/bcg

The Web site delineates the four categories in what is essentially a two-by-two matrix: dogs, question marks, stars, and cash cows.

Web Resource

NetMBA.com. (2007). The Value Chain. Retrieved from http://www.netmba.com/strategy/value-chain/

Visit this Web site for a model of the chain, as well as the application and theory that underscore its utility for strategic analysis. Pay particular attention to the role of technology.

Web Resource

Value Based Management.net. (2008). Michael Porter Value Chain Model Framework. Retrieved fromhttp://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_porter_value_chain.html

Visit this Web site for specific definitions of the components that comprise the Value Chain, such as logistics, operations, service, procurement, and technology.