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The individual written case analysis should be 750-850 words using bullet points. Please follow the rubric provided in the syllabus – an example of one of the solved cases is posted online for you to mimic.
1. Strategic profile (15%): In this section you should describe the problems that the firm faces and what adverse
effects they have had or could have on the firm. As support for your arguments, use major performance indicators
that are important in that industry; for example, discuss trends in revenues, profitability, financial ratios, or stock
price. In this section, you should also examine whether the firm has competitive advantage or not.
2. Situation analysis (35%): This section should analyze why the firm is facing the problems. The root causes of the problems have the potential to fundamentally affect the company’s competitive position, its strategy, its operations, and its prospects. There may be multiple causes and they may be internal and/or external. To identify the root causes of the problems one needs to examine the firm’s competitive positioning. The firm’s competitive positioning is
arrived at after an analysis of the firm’s external environment (industry analysis, competitor analysis, industry
evolution, and competitive dynamics), the firm’s resources and capabilities (internal analysis, value chain analysis),
the firm’s business and corporate strategies and its outcome. Hence, the root causes of the problems would not be identified unless certain analyses have been conducted.
In this section you should examine the seven segment of
the general environment (ch-2) with the intention to evaluate these trends to be able to predict the segments that
you expect to have the most significant influence on the firm over the next several years; also explain your
reasoning for your predictions. Subsequently, conduct industry analysis (Porter’s 5 forces) in which the firm
competes. After evaluating the 5-forces relative to your firm you should identify the attractiveness of this industry
in which your firm is competing. Next, analyze each of the primary competitors. This analysis is useful in
formulating an appropriate strategy and in predicting competitors’ probable response. This analysis should help you identify the opportunities and threats faced by the firm. Next, conduct internal analysis of the firm in identifying its strengths and weaknesses using the value-chain approach (ch-3).
3. Strategy formulation (25%): In this section you should offer alternative strategies (see ch 4 for business level
strategy alternatives and ch 6 for corporate level strategy alternatives). Each alternative should be evaluated on
the firm’s strengths and weaknesses and feasibility should be demonstrated; also you should show how each
alternative takes advantage of the environmental opportunities and/or provide buffer against the threats faced by
the firm. In simple words, you should conduct SWOT analysis for each alternative.
4. Strategic action and implementation plan (25%): Based on the analysis in the above section, now you can make a suggestion of which alternative (Strategy) will work the best for the company to address the situations stated in
your first section. Next, you have to come up with an implementation plan. Issues you might consider include the
structural changes necessary to implement the new strategy. In addition, leadership changes and new controls or
incentives may be necessary to implement strategic action. Remember, a strategy is only as good as the firm’s
ability to implement it.
A good case analysis is well-balanced between different sections and provides logical
consistency, thoroughness, clarity of purpose, feasible recommendations, and implementation plan.