Question:
Overview
This case study assessment task is designed to expose you to a strategic perspective on issues that concern the organisation. You will be required to understand the strategy problems and opportunities for the organisation at the network, corporate, business and functional levels. You will develop a strategy for the organisation in the case study.
Case study analysis solution development is a classic strategy course assessment task in business schools. Case study assessment allows students to gain insight by understanding and experiencing a variety of businesses across industries in a range of countries.
Assessment details
This assessment will be broken up into multiple sections:
Section 1: Overall impact of executive summary, case analysis, writing quality and referencing
Includes the overall favourable impact of the executive summary and the report. The executive summary is to be a succinct explanation of the content of the report — identifying the “big issues” in the case study and giving insight into the recommendations. The report is to have appropriate headings, be well written, clear and referenced appropriately.
Section 2: External environment analysis, Industry analysis, critical success factor Identification and prioritization
Explanation of external environment elements (i.e. political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental) and how they influence the firm and the industry. Includes the development of a Porter five forces industry analysis. Elements extracted from the case study should be well chosen and prioritised. Elements are to be clearly explained and for the five forces analysis, a weighting is given to the strength or weakness of the force.
Section 3: Company analysis
Strategy of the organisation and the business or businesses are carefully explained. The Porter generic position (e.g. low cost, differentiation) should be accurately and carefully explained. Key stakeholders and their values are identified, understood and explained. Functions of finance, marketing, human resources, operations and information technology and if applicable R & D explained clearly. Two to three well considered facts for each of these functions are to be identified and prioritised for explanation.
Section 4: SWOT analysis
An accurate appraisal of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is conducted. The SWOT is to be balanced with the benchmark five key points for each of S, W, O and T. This is a thinking exercise — in that when the SWOT is balanced, it encourages students to take a 360 degree view of the case study, rather than simply focusing on strengths and missing key issues in W, O and T.
Section 5: Recommendations
Recommendations that are well thought out and written will have a positive influence on shareholder and/or stakeholder value. A particular recommendation may influence shareholder value only or stakeholder value only — but part of the assessment here is the overall internal consistency and favourable impact of the recommendations overall. For each recommendation, students are to give insight into the benefits and/or the costs (e.g. shareholder value, profits, free cash generation, reduced environmental emissions), the timeframe required to deliver, and the critical success factor(s) are addressed.
