In This Assignment, Students Integrate All The Pieces Of Wor

In This Assignment Students Integrate All The Pieces Of Work They Have

In this assignment students integrate all the pieces of work they have drafted and formally turn it into the capstone strategic audit. In previous assignments, you performed multiple, specified analyses of your company (or any company of your choosing). Those individual analyses provide the needed research to successfully complete the following LASA: Directions: Using the tools and framework learned in class and throughout the program, prepare a 15-page strategy audit of your company with a companion presentation. The strategy audit is a comprehensive analysis of the company’s business strategy and operating performance, and culminates in a series of recommendations for improving your company’s performance based on the findings and conclusions of your analysis.

A strategy audit involves assessing the actual direction of a business and comparing that course to the direction required to succeed in a changing environment. A company's actual direction is the sum of what it does and does not do, how well the organization is internally aligned to support the strategy, and how viable the strategy is when compared to the external market, competitors, and financial realities. These two categories, the internal assessment and the external or environmental assessment, make up the major elements of a strategy audit. In your strategy audit: Provide a high-level analysis of the company’s business strategy and operating performance. Be sure to complete the following: Analysis of the company value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage External environmental scan/five forces analysis Internal environmental scan/organizational assessment SWOT Analysis Balanced scorecard/strategy scorecard Recommend specific tactics for improving your company’s strategic alignment and operating performance.

Recommendations can include but are not limited to tactics in marketing, branding, alliances, mergers/acquisitions, integration, product development, diversification or divestiture and globalization (if you recommend your company go global, you must include a supply chain analysis and an analysis of your firm’s global capabilities). Explain how the recommendations will help the company achieve its strategy and vision. You are to write this report as though you are a consultant to your company, and are addressing the executive officers of this company. You will collect and analyze a large amount of data in producing your report, but your final product will be condensed and focus on presenting your analysis findings and conclusions.

Your report should consist of the following sections in the given order. Executive Summary (1 page): A concise and insightful summary of the significant findings of your analysis and the recommendations you have for your executive team. Strategic Issues and Recommendations (5 pages): Identify 5–7 most important strategic issues facing your business unit. Strategic issues arise from a mismatch between internal capabilities and external trends such that important opportunities are not being pursued or significant external threats are not being addressed under the current strategy. The strategic issues list should integrate your SWOT analysis, your Five Forces analysis, and the organizational assessment and external environmental scan completed earlier during the course.

These detailed analyses are the foundation for your final set of findings and recommendations presented to the executive team. In developing your recommendations for addressing each strategic issue, consider misalignments that might be apparent in different operating areas: Product Portfolio: Are there changes to the target market segment, value proposition, or positioning of the product or service line needed? Structure: Are the organizational roles and responsibilities, decision-making authority, skill requirements, and work assignments properly configured and aligned to support the strategy? Organizational Culture or Behavior: Does the organizational culture inspire behaviors that support the strategy? Are the mission, vision, and values clearly articulated and aligned with the strategy? What new behaviors are needed? Value Chain Activities: Does the organization value chain fully align with the strategy? Are their activities that should be added, eliminated, or modified significantly? Performance Measures: Do the organization’s performance measures focus on the key drivers of strategic success? Is there a strategy scorecard that ties the main elements of the strategy to specific operating capabilities, including goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) that give an indication of incremental or predictive progress toward reaching strategic goals? Your recommendations should fall into these general categories, but be specific in terms of scope and expected impact. These sections are completed earlier in the course, and should appear as appendices: SWOT Analysis (2 pages—completed in Module 6): SWOT matrix illustrating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Balanced Scorecard / Strategy Scorecard (4 pages—completed in Module 6): Develop a Balanced Scorecard for your business unit that reflects the key drivers for your business strategy. Organizational Assessment (3 pages—completed in Module 5) External Environmental Scan and Five Forces Analysis (3 pages—completed in Module 3) Market Position Analysis (3 pages—completed in Module 2) Write your report in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M7_A2.doc. Finalize the companion PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the audit and recommendations in a compelling manner that persuades senior management to explore and possibly implement your recommendations. The elements of the presentation should include the following: Title Agenda Summary of audit Recommendations Key measurements Risks and benefits Call to action Next steps Develop a 10-slide presentation in PowerPoint format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M7_A2.ppt. Use information from your previous assignments to support your conclusions and conduct additional research when needed. Make sure you properly reference and cite so that the location of information is clear.

Paper For Above instruction

The task of integrating previous analyses into a cohesive strategic audit represents a critical step in strategic management. The comprehensive report, complemented by a succinct presentation, serves as an essential tool for organizational decision-making. This paper consolidates the key components necessary for a strategic audit, including internal and external assessments, strategic issues identification, and actionable recommendations, all tailored to inform executive leadership effectively.

Introduction

The purpose of a strategic audit is to evaluate an organization’s current position and future potential. It systematically reviews the company's strategic choices, operational performance, and external environment to ensure alignment with long-term objectives. By examining internal capabilities and external market dynamics, the audit provides a foundation for strategic decision-making aimed at sustainable competitive advantage.

High-Level Analysis of Business Strategy and Operating Performance

Central to the audit is analyzing the company’s value proposition—what uniquely differentiates it in the marketplace. This involves evaluating market positioning and the nature of its competitive advantage. In the case of a hypothetical or real firm, such as Apple Inc., the value proposition centers on innovation and premium branding, positioning the company as a leader in technology innovation (Hitt, Ireland, & Hoskisson, 2020). Operating performance is measured through financial metrics, customer satisfaction indices, and operational efficiency indicators, demonstrating the company's ability to sustain profitability and growth.

External Environmental Scan and Five Forces Analysis

The external environment significantly influences strategic direction. Michael Porter's Five Forces framework provides insight into competitive intensity and industry attractiveness. For example, in the technology sector, the threat of new entrants is mitigated by high capital requirements and intellectual property barriers. Supplier power varies depending on the concentration of suppliers and the availability of substitute materials. Buyer power is often high, given numerous options for consumers. The threat of substitutes poses ongoing challenges, necessitating continual innovation (Porter, 2008).

Internal Environmental Scan and Organizational Assessment

Internal analyses, including SWOT, assess strengths such as brand equity, innovation capability, and operational efficiency, and weaknesses like supply chain vulnerabilities or high R&D costs. Organizational culture’s alignment with strategic objectives is critical; a flexible, innovative environment supports differentiation strategies. An organizational assessment reveals resource allocation, decision-making processes, and skill gaps that may influence strategic execution.

Strategic Issues Identification

Key strategic issues stem from mismatches between internal capacities and external market demands. For instance, a company might face challenges in adapting its product portfolio to emerging customer preferences or geopolitical shifts affecting global supply chains. Additionally, organizational rigidity may inhibit rapid responses to market changes. Other issues may include underleveraged partnerships or outdated technology infrastructure (Johnson, Scholes, & Whittington, 2017).

Recommendations for Strategic Improvement

Based on identified issues, tactical recommendations encompass several areas. For product portfolio adjustments, targeting new market segments or enhancing product differentiation can unlock growth. Restructuring organizational roles to promote agility ensures faster decision-making, aligning internal processes with strategic needs. Cultivating a culture of innovation and adaptability further supports strategic goals.

Supply chain optimization is vital if expanding globally. This involves analyzing and enhancing supply chain resilience, leveraging global capabilities, and establishing strategic alliances in key markets (Christopher, 2016). Developing a comprehensive strategy scorecard aligns performance measures with strategic objectives, tracking KPIs such as customer acquisition costs, market share growth, and operational efficiencies.

Conclusion

The integration of analytical tools into a strategic audit facilitates a robust understanding of organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Effective recommendations—ranging from product diversification to supply chain improvements—are essential for aligning organizational activities with strategic goals. As a consultant, presenting these insights to executive leadership ensures informed decision-making that drives sustainable competitive advantages in dynamic markets.

References

• Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics & supply chain management (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
• Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2020). Strategic management: Concepts and cases: Competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning.
• Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2017). Exploring corporate strategy (10th ed.). Pearson.
• Porter, M. E. (2008). The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Harvard Business Review, 86(1), 78–93.
• Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2020). Strategic management: Concepts and cases: Competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning.