Team Project In MBA 687
Team Projectmba687what It Isthe Team Project In Mba687 Gives You The
The team project in MBA687 provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work effectively in a high-functioning team by completing a comprehensive analysis, synthesis, and presentation of a complex case study. This project aims to reflect mastery of the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the MBA program, culminating in a strategic business analysis and strategic recommendation report.
Students will be grouped into teams of up to four members and assigned a case study from a selection provided in Appendix C of the course textbook. The case studies require a detailed examination of the organization’s strategic profile, external and internal environments, SWOT analysis, strategic alternatives, and implementation plans. The final deliverable is a comprehensive report, formatted according to APA standards, that presents findings analogous to a strategic presentation to senior management or the board of directors.
Throughout the project, teams are expected to undertake external industry, competitor, and environmental analysis, including industry and competitor strategy assessment, value chain analysis, that identify firm strengths and weaknesses, and environmental opportunities and threats. Based on these analyses, teams formulate strategic alternatives, evaluate them critically, and recommend the most suitable strategy. Implementation steps and action plans should be explicitly detailed, demonstrating an understanding of organizational change management, leadership, and ethical considerations.
The grading emphasizes thoroughness of analysis, critical evaluation, clarity of recommendations, research depth, writing mechanics, integration of MBA-level concepts, ethical awareness, data-driven decision-making, and effective teamwork. The report should be well-organized, concise, and compelling, reflecting a sophisticated grasp of strategic management principles and applying analytical tools learned during the program.
Paper For Above instruction
The comprehensive team project in MBA687 represents a capstone exercise designed to synthesize strategic management concepts learned throughout the MBA curriculum. This assignment enables teams to demonstrate not only their analytical skills but also their capacity for strategic thinking, collaboration, and professional presentation—hallmarks of effective leadership in the corporate sector.
Introduction
Strategic management is fundamental to a firm’s ability to sustain competitive advantage and adapt to the dynamic external environment. The team project requires students to critically analyze a real or simulated organization using a structured framework. This involves assessing the current strategic position, identifying environmental forces, and proposing strategic actions rooted in data and analytical rigor.
External Environment and Industry Analysis
The first phase of analysis involves examining the external environment through tools such as PESTEL analysis to evaluate political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors. Industry analysis, often utilizing Porter’s Five Forces, helps identify competitive intensity and profitability prospects within the industry. This stage underscores the importance of understanding industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive forces shaping organizational strategy (Porter, 2008).
Competitor analysis complements this by profiling key rivals’ strategies, core competencies, capabilities, market positioning, and potential responses. Data for this assessment may be gathered from secondary sources such as industry reports, financial statements, and media outlets (Grant, 2019).
Internal Analysis and SWOT
Internal analysis centers on evaluating the organization’s resources, capabilities, and core competencies—those factors that provide competitive differentiation (Barney, 1991). Value chain analysis reveals activities that create value and potential areas of strength or weakness. Financial ratios, organizational culture, leadership, and operational efficiency are examined to develop a comprehensive understanding of internal health.
The SWOT analysis synthesizes the external and internal findings, highlighting strategic opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses. An optimal strategy aligns internal strengths with external opportunities, while devising plans to mitigate threats and address weaknesses (Ginter, Duncan, & Swayne, 2018).
Strategy Formulation and Evaluation
Developing strategic alternatives involves creating feasible options that exploit opportunities or defend against threats, considering the organization’s core competencies and resource capacities. Each alternative must be critically evaluated using criteria such as feasibility, potential impact, risk, and alignment with organizational objectives (Thompson et al., 2018).
The decision-making process involves selecting the most promising strategic option, supported by quantitative data, scenario analysis, and strategic fit considerations. Discussions should include pros and cons, with justified trade-offs, leading to a well-reasoned final recommendation.
Implementation and Action Planning
Effective strategy implementation requires detailed action plans, including structural adjustments, resource allocations, leadership roles, and performance metrics. Change management principles emphasize communicating vision, securing stakeholder buy-in, and establishing controls to monitor progress (Kotter, 1996).
Implementation steps must be realistic, time-bound, and assign responsibilities clearly. Teams should consider potential barriers to execution and develop contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges.
Critical Perspectives and Ethical Considerations
Throughout the analysis, ethical standards and social responsibility must be integrated. Ethical decision-making and sustainable practices are increasingly vital for modern organizations aiming for long-term viability (Crane & Matten, 2016). Analyzing the ethical environment involves assessing stakeholder impacts, organizational culture, and compliance issues, ensuring that strategies align with moral expectations and legal requirements.
Conclusion
The team project allows students to demonstrate their mastery of strategic management by conducting in-depth analyses, formulating viable strategies, and proposing actionable implementation plans. This exercise encapsulates the essence of MBA-level decision-making—integrating theory, data, ethical considerations, and practical execution to guide organizational success.
References
- Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120.
- Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2018). Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations. Jossey-Bass.
- Grant, R. M. (2019). Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Wiley.
- Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Porter, M. E. (2008). The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review, 86(1), 78-93.
- Thompson, A. A., Peteraf, M. A., Gamble, J. E., & Strickland, A. J. (2018). Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. McGraw-Hill Education.