It Is Important That Attention Be Focused On A Strategic App
It Is Important That Attention Be Focused On A Strategic Appraisal Of
It is important that attention be focused on a strategic appraisal of the company as opposed to providing lots of interesting facts over what interests you or what you find on the internet. Assessment will focus on students’ abilities in applying strategic models and frameworks in a coherent manner that enables them to develop a clear strategic view of the strategic position being studied. You do not need to reference many academic sources in this element of the assessment, but you must reference sources of company or market information. Furthermore, you must reference sources for any theoretical background that you decide to include.
Analysis means commenting on your findings and explaining what the evidence suggests about the company. Your analysis should be supported by relevant strategic models and frameworks, such as value systems, resource/competence analysis, value chain, BCG portfolio matrix, and product/market development matrix, applied critically to the company case. The aim is to develop a well-reasoned, strategic perspective that links evidence with strategic inference rather than simply describing facts.
Presentation should include a well-laid-out document with a front page displaying important details such as title and student number. The report must be organized with clear headings and sub-headings to enhance readability. Use supporting evidence from current news, media, or company reports and ensure sources are appropriately referenced in Harvard style. Avoid descriptive narratives; instead, focus on analysis and explanation supported by relevant sources.
The strategic position analysis must include a discussion of the company's differentiation strategy, exemplified through specific examples. Identify and evaluate the major resources and competencies that underpin the company's strategic positioning, employing models like the resource/competence framework. Critically examine the activities that create value within the company, utilizing the value chain analysis to explore linkages and external value-creating activities.
Use the BCG portfolio matrix to evaluate the company's different SBUs or product ranges critically. Apply the product/market growth matrix to identify potential future development areas, analyzing challenges and opportunities for each strategic option.
Conclude by synthesizing your key findings and offering strategic recommendations based on your analysis. The conclusion should also comment on the sustainability of the company’s strategic position, ensuring that the analysis is cohesive and does not introduce new evidence.
Throughout the report, integrate models dynamically with the evidence, placing relevant examples directly onto the frameworks rather than merely listing generic points. Be concise and selective with examples, emphasizing those that best illustrate the key drivers of strategic success. All facts and figures must be supported with credible sources, clearly cited in Harvard style.
Remember that the purpose of the report is to provide a coherent, evidence-based strategic appraisal of the company, avoiding description for its own sake. Focus on demonstrating your ability to interpret evidence through strategic frameworks and to articulate strategic insights clearly and convincingly.