You will use the various analytical tools presented in the course to provide a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis for a company with which you are familiar
3011.1.1 : Strategy as a Process
The graduate identifies the strategic process and the execution of a strategic plan.
3011.1.2 : Fundamental Perspectives on Strategy
The graduate assesses the fundamental perspectives on strategic decision-making using analytical tools.
3011.1.3 : Winning Strategies and Maximizing Strategic Power
The graduate analyzes generic strategies for winning a competitive advantage and determines how to apply maximum strategic power.
3011.1.6 : The Framework for Communicating and Executing Strategy
The graduate evaluates the framework necessary to effectively execute strategy.
You will use the various analytical tools presented in the course to provide a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis for a company with which you are familiar or where you are presently employed. Once the SWOT analysis has been generated, you will discuss how this information might be used in terms of making strategic decisions for the company. You will also discuss what makes a strategy either successful or unsuccessful and how the SWOT analysis can affect the overall success or failure of the strategy. Finally, you will use your analysis to create a business strategy for the company in task 2.
Note: Any information that would be considered confidential, proprietary, or personal in nature should not be included in the actual task submission to WGU. Do not include the actual names of people, suppliers, the organization(s), or other identifiable information. Fictional names should be used. Also, organization-specific data, including financial information, should not be included but should be addressed in a general fashion as appropriate. Work performed for a client or an employer is their property and should not be used without written permission.
Your submission must represent your original work and understanding of the course material. Most performance assessment submissions are automatically scanned through the WGU similarity checker. Students are strongly encouraged to wait for the similarity report to generate after uploading their work and then review it to ensure Academic Authenticity guidelines are met before submitting the file for evaluation. See Understanding Similarity Reports for more information.
Grammarly Note:
Professional Communication will be automatically assessed through Grammarly for Education in most performance assessments before a student submits work for evaluation. Students are strongly encouraged to review the Grammarly for Education feedback prior to submitting work for evaluation, as the overall submission will not pass without this aspect passing. See Use Grammarly for Education Effectively for more information.
Microsoft Files Note:
Write your paper in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) unless another Microsoft product, or pdf, is specified in the task directions. Tasks may not be submitted as cloud links, such as links to Google Docs, Google Slides, OneDrive, etc. All supporting documentation, such as screenshots and proof of experience, should be collected in a pdf file and submitted separately from the main file. For more information, please see Computer System and Technology Requirements.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course.
A. Evaluate what makes a strategy either successful or unsuccessful by doing the following:
1. Discuss how the creation of the vision, mission, and values statements are critical in the formation of the overall strategy.
2. Discuss the importance of leadership team buy-in of the strategy.
3. Discuss the use of at least two analytical tools in performing a situational analysis.
4. Discuss the importance of having the appropriate alignment between strategy, people, and corporate culture.
a. Discuss the role that this alignment plays in determining the success or failure of the business strategy.
B. Perform a SWOT analysis for a company with which you are familiar or where you are presently employed by doing the following:
1. Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the company.
C. Discuss how the SWOT analysis from part B impacts your company’s strategic decisions.
D. Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
E. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.
File Restrictions
File size limit: 200 MB
File types allowed: doc, docx, rtf, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, odt, pdf, csv, txt, qt, mov, mpg, avi, mp3, wav, mp4, wma, flv, asf, mpeg, wmv, m4v, svg, tif, tiff, jpeg, jpg, gif, png, zip, rar, tar, 7z
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of how the creation of the vision, mission, and values statements are critical in the formation of the overall strategy. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a logical discussion, with insufficient detail, of how the creation of the vision, mission, and values statements are critical in the formation of the overall strategy. |
Competent The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of how the creation of the vision, mission, and values statements are critical in the formation of the overall strategy. |
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of the importance of leadership team buy-in of the strategy. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a logical discussion, with insufficient detail, of the importance of leadership team buy-in of the strategy. |
Competent The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of the importance of leadership team buy-in of the strategy. |
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of the use of at least 2 analytical tools in performing a situational analysis. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a logical discussion, with insufficient detail, of the use of at least 2 analytical tools in performing a situational analysis. |
Competent The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of the use of at least 2 analytical tools in performing a situational analysis. |
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of the importance of having the appropriate alignment between strategy, people, and corporate culture. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a logical discussion, with insufficient detail, of the importance of having the appropriate alignment between strategy, people, and corporate culture. |
Competent The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of the importance of having the appropriate alignment between strategy, people, and corporate culture. |
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of the role that the alignment plays in determining the success or failure of the business strategy. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a logical discussion, with insufficient detail, of the role that the alignment plays in determining the success or failure of the business strategy. |
Competent The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of the role that the alignment plays in determining the success or failure of the business strategy. |
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a plausible analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the company. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a plausible analysis, with insufficient detail, of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the company. |
Competent The candidate provides a plausible analysis, with sufficient detail, of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, an d threats of the company. |
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Not Evident The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of how the SWOT analysis from part B1 impacts the company’s strategic decisions. |
Approaching Competence The candidate provides a logical discussion, with insufficient support, of how the SWOT analysis from part B1 impacts the company’s strategic decisions. |
Competent The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient support, of how the SWOT analysis from part B1 impacts the company’s strategic decisions. |
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Not Evident The submission does not include both in-text citations and a reference list for sources that are quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. |
Approaching Competence The submission includes in-text citations for sources that are quoted, paraphrased, or summarized and a reference list; however, the citations or reference list is incomplete or inaccurate. |
Competent The submission includes in-text citations for sources that are properly quoted, paraphrased, or summarized and a reference list that accurately identifies the author, date, title, and source location as available. |
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Not Evident This submission includes pervasive errors in professional communication related to grammar, sentence fluency, contextual spelling, or punctuation, negatively impacting the professional quality and clarity of the writing. Specific errors have been identified by Grammarly for Education under the Correctness category. |
Approaching Competence This submission includes substantial errors in professional communication related to grammar, sentence fluency, contextual spelling, or punctuation. Specific errors have been identified by Grammarly for Education under the Correctness category. |
Competent This submission includes satisfactory use of grammar, sentence fluency, contextual spelling, and punctuation, which promote accurate interpretation and understanding. |