Wal-Mart Research Analysis Project
Project (Company Analysis)
You are required to perform an in-depth, longitudinal analysis of a company (Wal-Mart) and the industry in which it operates and submit one report.
Written report submission
The project report should single spaced, using 12-point size font, and should not exceed 25 pages (excluding cover page, tables, figures, appendices, references, and endnotes)
The report should contain the following sections:
Table of Contents
Executive Summary of project
Company Background/History
Analysis section (including Environmental/Industry analysis, Competitor analysis, Company SWOT analysis, and Tracking/Discussion of company performance over time; at least 5 years)
Important issues and problems faced by the company and reasonable solutions to these issues/problems; (including social responsibility)
List of references
Exhibits (Tables and charts)
ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS PART (SECTION 5):
The Industry Environment
A brief history of the industry (development stages)
Global/local market position (e.g., size of major markets, products, customers and end users, pricing structure)
This is an introduction to the industry
The company's external environment
Identify and profile the major strategic groups (You may use size, market share, and other critical and relevant variables to identify viable strategic groups in the industry)
Key success factors (What does it take to succeed in this industry, or in each strategic group? What can a company do to gain a competitive advantage? What does it take just to survive in this industry?)
Identify and compare key strategies pursued by major players in the industry; you are also expected to discuss which strategy seems to be most successful in the industry, and why
The Microenvironment
Special strategic issues facing the industry (such as changes in governmental policies, changes in demographics, globalization, etc.).
Competitor analysis – What are other companies currently doing
Company SWOT analysis – This table should be included as well as a written explanation
Tracking/Discussion of company performance over time; at least 5 years – financial outlook – also include stock analysis if applicable
Company Analysis (Section 6):
Key Strategic Issue
From your team's industry analysis and your competitive advantage analysis of the firm, identify a single major strategic issue facing the company (the best issues are typically either major problems to be solved, or major opportunities to take advantage of)
Alternatives
Develop, in detail, two or three viable strategic alternatives. In each alternative you should
Show how it addresses the key strategic issue
Show the ability of the company to successfully pursue each alternative (from competitive advantage analysis, and financial analysis)
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative
Make sure you completely discuss all of the above for the first alternative, and then do the same for the second alternative Do not jump back and forth between discussing each alternative
Recommended Course of Action
Select one alternative and discuss why this alternative was chosen over the other
Implementation
Discuss how the recommended course of action can be implemented and how the disadvantages and risks of the chosen alternative can be minimized or handled
Company's Social Responsibility
Explain the company's current position on being ethical and moral
Directions as to where and how projects should be submitted will be given to you by Week 6.
Projects are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday of Week 7.
Project (Company Analysis)
You are required to perform an in-depth, longitudinal analysis of a company (Wal-Mart) and the industry in which it operates and submit one report.
Written report submission
The project report should single spaced, using 12-point size font, and should not exceed 25 pages (excluding cover page, tables, figures, appendices, references, and endnotes)
The report should contain the following sections:
Table of Contents
Executive Summary of project
Company Background/History
Analysis section (including Environmental/Industry analysis, Competitor analysis, Company SWOT analysis, and Tracking/Discussion of company performance over time; at least 5 years)
Important issues and problems faced by the company and reasonable solutions to these issues/problems; (including social responsibility)
List of references
Exhibits (Tables and charts)
ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS PART (SECTION 5):
The Industry Environment
A brief history of the industry (development stages)
Global/local market position (e.g., size of major markets, products, customers and end users, pricing structure)
This is an introduction to the industry
The company's external environment
Identify and profile the major strategic groups (You may use size, market share, and other critical and relevant variables to identify viable strategic groups in the industry)
Key success factors (What does it take to succeed in this industry, or in each strategic group? What can a company do to gain a competitive advantage? What does it take just to survive in this industry?)
Identify and compare key strategies pursued by major players in the industry; you are also expected to discuss which strategy seems to be most successful in the industry, and why
The Microenvironment
Special strategic issues facing the industry (such as changes in governmental policies, changes in demographics, globalization, etc.).
Competitor analysis – What are other companies currently doing
Company SWOT analysis – This table should be included as well as a written explanation
Tracking/Discussion of company performance over time; at least 5 years – financial outlook – also include stock analysis if applicable
Company Analysis (Section 6):
Key Strategic Issue
From your team's industry analysis and your competitive advantage analysis of the firm, identify a single major strategic issue facing the company (the best issues are typically either major problems to be solved, or major opportunities to take advantage of)
Alternatives
Develop, in detail, two or three viable strategic alternatives. In each alternative you should
Show how it addresses the key strategic issue
Show the ability of the company to successfully pursue each alternative (from competitive advantage analysis, and financial analysis)
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative
Make sure you completely discuss all of the above for the first alternative, and then do the same for the second alternative Do not jump back and forth between discussing each alternative
Recommended Course of Action
Select one alternative and discuss why this alternative was chosen over the other
Implementation
Discuss how the recommended course of action can be implemented and how the disadvantages and risks of the chosen alternative can be minimized or handled
Company's Social Responsibility
Explain the company's current position on being ethical and moral
Directions as to where and how projects should be submitted will be given to you by Week 6.
Projects are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday of Week 7.
0 comments:
Post a Comment