Research Paper: Strategic Selection, Implementation and Evaluation

Company Vail Resorts
Use the following template using the headings to separate elements.  Do not use bullets in your paper as the required format is in narrative format with indented paragraph and no extra space between paragraphs.

Success:  The analysis is based on research and not opinion.  You are not making recommendations and you will not attempt to position the focal company in a better or worse light than other companies within the industry merely because you are completing an analysis on this particular company.  The analysis must be based on factual information.  Any conclusions drawn have to be based on factual information rather than leaps of faith.  To ensure success, as stated above, you are expected to use the course materials and research on the focal company's global industry and the focal company.  Opinion does not earn credit nor does using external sources when course materials can be used.  It is necessary to provide explanations (the why and how) rather than making statements.   Avoid stringing one citation after another as doing so does not show detailed explanations.

Introduction
(The Introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of the paper and will be used to describe to the reader the intent of the paper explaining the main points covered in the paper.  This intent should be understood prior to reading the remainder of the paper so the reader knows exactly what is being covered in the paper.  Write the introduction last to ensure all of the main points are covered.)

Alternative Strategy Generation
To generate a pool of strategies, you will look at the organization’s business level strategy, corporate level strategy and global strategy.   Using the information and data collected from your research, and the analytical outcomes from in the attached

(a) external factor analysis in your Project 2 and 

(b) internal factor analysis in Project 3, 

you will generate a pool of strategies.

Generate a minimum of five possible alternative strategies for the company that appropriately fits the information already presented from the research and course material to support by the course material. ?
Identify and discuss cultural and organizational factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies. Thoroughly and correctly identifies and discusses cultural and organizational factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies using the research and course material to support by the course material.

Strategy Prioritization
Prioritize strategies and explain using the course material to support the reasoning – Use the tools learned in the course.

Strategy Selection
Explain how to select the best strategy or strategies
Recommend the best one or two strategies and long-term objectives among the alternative strategies and explain why these strategies and objectives are best?
Identify strategy recommendations using the following format for the formulation of strategies.   Make sure you are thorough in your presentation.

Strategy Selection Content Guideline:

Please express as Goal, Objective, Strategy and Tactics, all described below:
Goal (A desired, attainable outcome to be achieved)
Goal Outcome Examples: Attainment of a specific sales revenue level, industry or market position, financial position, productivity level, staffing characteristics, product and branding issues, etc.
Objective (A specific, measurable performance metric or milestone to be met towards accomplishing the Goal)
Objectives Metrics & Milestones Examples: Percentage of sales revenue growth, Percentage cost reduction, Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Net working Capital, Return on Net Assets, Market Share, Web store Customer Acquisition Rate, No. of Veterans Employed, etc.
Strategy (The approach that will be used to achieve the Goal)
Strategy Approaches: Cost reduction strategy, pricing change strategy, a debt reduction strategy, a specific advertising strategy - like e-mail marketing or social media marketing to a specific target market.
Tactic (A specific activity undertaken to implement the Strategy)
Examples of Tactics: changing to a specific supplier, a specific change to brand or branding, introducing a new product or service, a specific advertising e-mail marketing or social media campaign, purchase of specific equipment, a change in inventory level or product mix.
Suggested Strategy Example
Goal #1      Attain a Gross Sales Revenue of $10.5 Million within 14 months 
    Objective 1.1    Increase Web Store Sales Revenue by 2% in current fiscal year.
    Strategy 1.1.1    Increase Brand Awareness for Product Line A using keyword marketing.
    Tactic 1.1.1.1    Purchase targeted keywords of (keyword, keyword, ...) on Google             Ad Words.
    Tactic 1.1.1.2    Purchase targeted keywords of (keyword, keyword, ...)) on Face Book.
    Strategy 1.1.2    Institute a pricing realignment across brands to compete more favorably.
    Tactic 1.1.2.1    Institute a -5% price reduction for Product Line A sold online.

Strategy Implementation
Recommend procedures for strategy implementation.?
Discuss who, what and how to implement the selected strategy or strategies at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level.

Strategy Evaluation
Use frameworks and tools discussed throughout the course.  Support the reasoning and conclusions made.

Discuss procedures for strategy review and evaluation

Discuss the appropriate evaluative measures (including who, what, when and how at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level)

Discuss a corrective action plan (including who, what, when and how) at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level.)

Conclusion
Create a concluding paragraph.  The Conclusion is intended to emphasize the purpose/significance of the analysis, emphasize the significance/consequence of findings, and indicate the wider applications that are derived from the main points of the project’s requirements.  You will draw conclusions about the findings of the external environment analysis. In a clear and concise manner, comprehensively concludes the paper by restating/ summarizing the argument. Refer to the opening statements and main points made throughout the paper. Reflect on the importance of the arguments and conclude their development.

References
(The reference page is on a separate page from the report.  The reference page is completed according to APA with each reference left-justified with hanging indentation for subsequent lines.  References are completed in alphabetical order.  Please see the module, Learn to Use APA to ensure references are in APA format.)