Presentation Of Strategy Audit Findings In This Assignment
Presentation Of Strategy Audit Findingsin This Assignment Integrate A
In this assignment, integrate all the pieces of work you have drafted and formally turn it into the capstone strategy audit. Prepare a 15-page strategy audit of your company using the tools and frameworks learned in class and throughout the program. The audit should provide a comprehensive analysis of the company's business strategy and operating performance, culminating in recommendations for improving the company's performance based on your findings.
The strategy audit involves assessing the actual direction of the business and comparing it with the direction needed to succeed in a changing environment. This includes evaluating internal alignment, external market conditions, and competitive positioning. The key elements are an internal assessment (such as organizational capabilities and SWOT analysis) and an external/environmental scan (including industry forces and market analysis).
Your report should include: an analysis of the company’s value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage; external environmental scan (Five Forces analysis); internal environmental scan (organizational assessment); SWOT analysis; balanced scorecard; and specific tactical recommendations to improve strategic alignment and performance. Recommendations may involve marketing, branding, alliances, mergers/acquisitions, product development, diversification, divestiture, or globalization (including supply chain and global capabilities analysis if applicable).
The report should be written as though you are a consultant advising executive officers, focusing on clear analysis, insights, and actionable recommendations. The final product should be concise, supported by data, and organized into sections: an executive summary, identification of strategic issues, detailed analysis supporting these issues, and corresponding strategic recommendations.
Specifically, your report must contain the following sections in order:
- Executive summary (1 page): Concise summary of key findings and recommendations.
- Strategic issues and recommendations (5 pages): Identification of 5–7 key strategic issues derived from SWOT, Five Forces, organizational assessment, and external scanning. For each issue, recommend targeted actions related to product portfolio, organizational structure, culture, value chain activities, and performance measures, including strategy scorecards.
- Supporting Appendices (already completed earlier in the course): SWOT analysis (2 pages), Balanced Scorecard (4 pages), Organizational assessment (3 pages), External environmental scan and Five Forces (3 pages), Market position analysis (3 pages).
Use your previous analyses and incorporate additional research as needed, citing sources properly using APA standards. Submit the 15-page report in Word format, using the filename format: LastnameFirstInitial_M5_A2.doc.
Part II: Companion Presentation
Develop a 10-slide PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the audit and key recommendations in a compelling, persuasive manner aimed at senior management. The presentation should include:
- Title slide
- Agenda slide
- Summary of audit findings
- Strategic and operational recommendations
- Key performance measures
- Potential risks and benefits of recommendations
- Call to action
- Next steps
Ensure the presentation is clear, engaging, and highlights the strategic issues, proposed solutions, and value-added implications to motivate management to explore and possibly implement your recommendations.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The process of conducting a comprehensive strategy audit is instrumental for organizations aiming to align their internal capabilities with external opportunities and threats. This report presents a detailed analysis of a selected company's strategic position, operational performance, and growth prospects. Drawing from previous analyses—SWOT, Five Forces, organizational assessment, environmental scan, and market position—the report highlights key strategic issues and offers targeted recommendations to enhance competitiveness and long-term success.
Strategic Analysis and Findings
Value Proposition, Market Position, and Competitive Advantage
Understanding the company's core value proposition is fundamental. It involves examining what unique benefits the company offers to its customers and how it differentiates itself from competitors. For instance, the company under review has established a reputation for high-quality products tailored to niche markets, providing a competitive edge through innovation and customer-centric strategies. Market positioning further reveals the company's relative strength in its sector, highlighting segments where it holds significant market share versus emerging or declining segments.
Competitive advantage is rooted in factors such as branding, technology, operational efficiency, or distribution networks. The company’s emphasis on R&D and customer service enhances its differentiation and barriers to entry for competitors.
External Environmental Scan and Five Forces
The external scan indicates that industry dynamics are influenced heavily by emerging technological trends, shifting consumer preferences, regulatory changes, and global economic conditions. Porter’s Five Forces analysis reveals high bargaining power of suppliers due to limited sources for critical inputs, moderate threat of new entrants owing to capital barriers, and intense competitive rivalry driven by commoditization of products.
Supplier power, rivalry, and threat of substitutes pose significant risks, but the relatively low threat of new entrants provides some protective barriers. These insights inform strategic decisions regarding supplier relationships, diversification, and innovation investments.
Internal Environmental Scan and Organizational Assessment
The internal analysis indicates a strong organizational culture centered around innovation and quality. However, areas such as decision-making agility and operational efficiency require improvement. The organizational structure has layers that slow responsiveness, and the skillsets of employees require realignment with strategic priorities.
SWOT analysis underscores strengths like innovative capabilities and brand recognition, but highlights weaknesses such as operational inefficiencies and limited international presence. Opportunities include product diversification and market expansion, while threats encompass economic downturns and increasing competition.
Balanced Scorecard and Strategic Performance Metrics
The balanced scorecard aligns strategic objectives with operational KPIs across financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth perspectives. Financial metrics such as ROI and revenue growth are complemented by customer satisfaction scores and process efficiency measures. This comprehensive framework helps monitor progress and adjust tactics accordingly.
Strategic Issues and Recommendations
Strategic Issue 1: Operational Inefficiencies
The internal assessment revealed bottlenecks in supply chain management and production processes. Recommendations include implementing lean manufacturing principles, upgrading enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and forging strategic supplier partnerships to reduce costs and improve flexibility.
Strategic Issue 2: Limited Global Reach
The international footprint is underdeveloped, constraining growth opportunities. Recommendations involve establishing regional supply chains, leveraging global capabilities, and exploring strategic alliances or acquisitions in emerging markets to expand reach.
Strategic Issue 3: Product Portfolio Diversification
The company's current product mix lacks diversification into high-growth segments. Recommending R&D investments in adjacent markets and diversification strategies can capitalize on emerging trends and reduce dependence on core offerings.
Strategic Issue 4: Organizational Agility
Hierarchical structures inhibit rapid decision-making. Reorganizing into more agile units, empowering cross-functional teams, and fostering a culture of innovation will enhance responsiveness to external changes.
Strategic Issue 5: Performance Measurement
Current KPIs do not fully capture strategic priorities. Developing comprehensive strategy scorecards with clear objectives, KPIs, and accountability will align operations with strategic goals.
Conclusion and Final Recommendations
Aligning internal capabilities with external opportunities is critical. Implementing lean processes, expanding globally, diversifying product offerings, fostering agility, and refining performance metrics will position the company for sustained success. Continuous monitoring using balanced scorecards ensures strategic alignment and timely adjustments.
References
- Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Marketing Management (15th ed.). Pearson.
- Porter, M. E. (2008). The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Harvard Business Review, 86(1), 78-93.
- Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (1996). The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action. Harvard Business School Press.
- Grant, R. M. (2019). Contemporary Strategy Analysis (10th ed.). Wiley.
- Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2017). Exploring Corporate Strategy (11th ed.). Pearson.
- Barney, J. B., & Hesterly, W. S. (2019). Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage (6th ed.). Pearson.
- Hill, C. W. L., & Jones, G. R. (2017). Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach. Cengage Learning.
- Yip, G. S. (2003). Total Global Strategy. McGraw-Hill Education.
- Prahalad, C. K., & Hamel, G. (1990). The core competence of the corporation. Harvard Business Review, 68(3), 79-91.
- Christensen, C. M. (2013). The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail. Harvard Business Review Press.