Assessing Strategy

To start this assignment, choose an organization from the list provided by your instructor.

• Visit the MERGENT library database to conduct research on your chosen organization. Become very familiar with this library database. You will need it.
  • Analyze the details, latest annual report, latest news, review competitor information, etc. about your chosen organization.
  • You may also want to visit the website of your chosen organization for more information and observation.

Scenario:

You are the director of strategy and business intelligence for your chosen organization. You are conducting an evaluation of your chosen organization for an upcoming annual report. Your goal is to demonstrate skill and expertise in the evaluation of the strategic success of your organization. You will be submitting this report to C-level executives for review. Use the following criteria to evaluate your chosen organization to determine how successful its strategy is in achieving competitive advantage over its competitors.

Assignment Requirements: In this assignment, you will assess the strategy of your chosen organization. Address each of the following inquiries in your deliverable:

Strategy Principles and Concepts Overview

1. Assess the purpose and benefits of a strategy.
   1. Break down and explain the components of a strategy.
   2. Examine how strategy is used by organizations to build competitive advantage.
   3. Explain the three levels of strategy.
   4. Examine how policy relates to the strategy of an organization.

Organizational Overview

1. Provide detailed background information about your chosen organization.
   1. Include its name, industry sector in which the organization operates, its products, and target market. Elaborate and use research.
   2. Evaluate the brand of your chosen organization.
   3. Identify and explain the industry and sector in which your chosen organization operates.
   4. Assess the business model of your chosen organization.
   5. Assess the design of your chosen organization.
   6. Identify and explain the product offering of your chosen organization.
   7. Identify and explain the target market of your chosen organization.

Assessing Strategy

1. Assess the strategy of your chosen organization.
   1. Assess the value proposition of your chosen organization.
   2. Assess the competitive advantages of your chosen organization.
   3. Assess the mission, vision, and values of your chosen organization.
   4. Assess the objectives of your chosen organization.

Conclusive Remarks

1. Draw overall conclusions and make recommendations based on the evaluation of your chosen organization.
   1. Summarize the process of evaluating an organization’s strategy.
   2. Identify and explain three major areas of concern or interest based on the findings of your strategy evaluation.
   3. Provide recommendations or solutions to address the three areas of concern or interest that you identified. Provide reasoning.

APA Style

• Correctly apply APA style to in-text citations.
• Correctly apply APA style to references.

Writing Conventions

• Use a minimum of three peer-reviewed, academic research resources (including MindTools and Library materials) to substantiate your critical thinking and to provide viable reasoning for your perspectives.
• Use headings to segment the topics in your writing in order to create a flow of ideas for your reader.
• Use diagrams, images, and charts to give context to your writing.
• Use reasoning skills to support your statements, thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
• Write in third person to develop your business report.
• Your paper must have a highly developed viewpoint and purpose, be in Standard English, and demonstrate superior organization.
• Communication should be highly ordered, logical and unified. Your paper must also have exceptional content, organization, style, and mechanics.

You are the professional and will need to determine how many words and pages your strategic analysis report should be to meet the requirements of this assignment. You are capable of doing professional research and making strategic decisions at this level of your degree program. Take the initiative to be the problem solver and strategic decision-maker.

Directions for Submitting Your Assignment

• Before you submit your assignment, you should save your work on your computer in a location and with a name that you will remember.
• Make sure your assignment is in the correct file format (Microsoft® Word® .doc or .docx).
• Submit your completed document to the Unit 2 Assignment Dropbox

• This assignment will require intensive interpretation skills. Be sure to use the grading rubric as a checklist.