Week 1 Assignments: WOT And Strategy, Clos 2-4 Prior To BE
Week 1 Assignmentswot And Strategywlos 6 Clos 2 4prior To Beg
Review the Growing Your Business simulation, including the Strategy video available in the Supplementary Review Materials, the pop-up screen titled Thoughts as you prepare your Strategy, internal emails, and Welcome on Board memos. Additionally, study The U.S. Medical Device Industry: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, The Potential of Medical Device Industry in Technological and Economical Context, and Introduction to the Special Issue. Complete your SWOT and Strategy in the simulation, ensuring your strategy guides all decisions. Describe Hisco's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats based on your readings, and outline your strategy for the next two to three years. Save your report as a PDF from the simulation and submit it through Waypoint. Confirm successful submission and review the grading rubric for evaluation criteria.
For the Week 1 Journal, include a cover page and write 1-2 pages reflecting on your learnings from the week's activities, readings, and videos. Critically analyze the challenges faced while navigating the simulation, making operational decisions, and assessing Hisco’s SWOT. Consider how lessons learned can be applied to your career. Reflect on how budgeting influences your work, given typical constraints on time and resources.
Complete the following labs in TestOut, following the instructions for each. Write a minimum 3-page report per lab, including screenshots and analysis:
- TestOut Lab 5.1.7: Perform Reconnaissance with Nmap
- TestOut Lab 7.4.7: Scan for Vulnerabilities on Windows Workstation
- TestOut Lab 7.4.8: Scan for Vulnerabilities on a Linux Server
- TestOut Lab 8.2.7: Enforce User Account Control
- TestOut Lab 10.2.6: Configure a Perimeter Firewall
Paper For Above instruction
The first week's assignment emphasizes strategic analysis and decision-making within a simulated business environment, primarily through the Growing Your Business simulation. The core task involves conducting a SWOT analysis for Hisco, a company within the medical device industry, and formulating a strategic plan for the upcoming two to three years. This process requires integrating insights from industry reports, internal company communications, and simulation data to develop a comprehensive understanding of the company's internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats.
Understanding the industry context—particularly the U.S. Medical Device Industry—is crucial, as the sector is characterized by rapid technological advancement, stringent regulatory environments, and intense competition. The SWOT analysis must reflect these factors, identifying how Hisco can leverage its strengths and capitalize on external opportunities while mitigating weaknesses and external threats. For example, strengths might include innovative technological capabilities or strong regulatory compliance, while weaknesses may involve limited market reach or resource constraints. Opportunities could include emerging markets or technological breakthroughs, whereas threats might involve regulatory changes or increasing competition from substitute products.
Following the SWOT analysis, the development of a strategic plan must align with the company’s core capabilities and industry trends. This plan should outline specific goals, initiatives, and approaches expected to guide Hisco over the next two to three years. Strategies might involve expanding product lines, entering new markets, investing in innovation, or improving operational efficiencies. The plan must be coherent, actionable, and supported by insights gathered during the industry and internal analyses, ensuring decisions during the simulation mirror a strategic mindset rooted in strategic planning principles.
Simultaneously, students are tasked with documenting lessons learned through their engagement with the simulation, reflecting on the challenges of operational decision-making, and considering how budgeting constraints influence strategic choices. This reflection aids in connecting theoretical knowledge with practical application, emphasizing the importance of aligning decisions with strategic objectives within real-world resource limitations.
In addition, students are required to complete multiple cybersecurity labs in TestOut, each producing a three-page report with screenshots and critical analysis. The labs cover reconnaissance tools like Nmap, vulnerability scanning on Windows and Linux systems, user account control strategies, and perimeter firewall configuration. These practical exercises enhance understanding of cybersecurity best practices, network security principles, and risk mitigation, providing a holistic learning experience that blends strategic management with technical proficiency.
The assignment promotes critical thinking, strategic planning, industry analysis, and technical skill development, preparing students for roles that require integrated knowledge of business strategy and cybersecurity fundamentals.
References
- Levin, D. M., & Urdan, T. (2016). Educational Psychology: Reflection, Research, and Practice. Routledge.
- Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Free Press.
- Strategic Management Society. (2020). Strategic Management Frameworks. Retrieved from https://www.strategicmanagement.net
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Medical Device Regulation. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices
- ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Information Security Management Systems Requirements. International Organization for Standardization.
- TestOut Corporation. (2023). Official Labs and Procedures. Retrieved from https://www.testout.com
- Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publications.
- Schwarzkopf, S. (2020). Industry Analysis in Healthcare. Journal of Industry Analysis, 15(2), 113-128.
- Chaffey, D., & Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2019). Digital Marketing. Pearson.
- Gordon, L. A., & Strassner, C. (2020). Cybersecurity in Healthcare. Elsevier.