COMPANY: AMAZON

 All submissions must be no more than 10 pages in length (10 pages are the expected length) plus appendices/references, written in Times New Roman Font 12 (for readability purposes), double- spaced, with 1.0-inch margins. The appendices and references count as extra pages and must be properly labeled and formatted. Be sure to give proper credit for sources of information you draw upon in your work.

Grading for this assignment primarily focuses upon these three areas which include:

 The purpose of this assignment is help you in developing the ability to evaluate a business through detailed analysis and make appropriate recommendations. It is important to be concise and precise throughout the report.

The process is to conduct analysis from several perspectives, identify any shortcomings or problems (not simply the symptom, but the root-cause), provide possible solutions, make a decision/recommendation for a specific solution, outline an implementation plan, and set measures to identify progress.

As the text states in Chapter 1, “Strategic management consists of the analyses, decisions, and actions an organization undertakes in order to create and sustain competitive advantages.” That is your mission during this case assignment.”

Tips include:

• In your response be concise and to the point.
• Identify a problem that will be new to the Board.
• Think outside the box. Be creative with your solution. This is very important!
• Conduct outside research + use of the course text to support your submission.
• Helpful to include input from employees/customers/competitor customers for your project.
• Chapter 13 of the text provides helpful information regarding “how to” conduct case studies.
• Be sure to include your name, course, and date at the start of the report.
• Encouraged to use headings throughout the report that follow the outline listed below.
• It will be challenging to keep the report within 10 pages. Focus on writing in a concise manner.

Scenario

You have been selected to serve as a consultant for a business/organization for a sum of $250,000. The client expects a well done and well thought out recommendation. If you are successful in this endeavor, the client has additional consulting projects that you would likely be afforded. The recipient and evaluator of your work is the Board of Directors.

It has been several years since this business/organization has done a detailed review from an outside party. There is the need to conduct a deep and thorough analysis, pinpointing the primary issues (problems) facing the company, and of your recommendation to address.

At the end of the day, the client expects that you will both pinpoint an issue and recommendation that will be new to the Board. The objective is to enhance the company’s competitive advantage.

The recipient of your work is the Board of Directors. They expect precision, and a writing style that “says what needs to be said in as few words as possible.” Charts, graphs, tables, bullet points are welcomed.

Details on your selection process for the particular company or organization that you select is found at the conclusion of this document.

Part I. Purpose

Length: One sentence.

What is the stated purpose of your report? What are you hoping to accomplish?

Part II Introduction Introduction

Length: One to two paragraphs.

Provide a brief overview of the business/organization highlighting its history, present state, and general market it serves.

Part III. Analysis

Length: 7 pages

• Organizational Goals and Objectives.

1. What is the firm’s vision and/or stated mission statement (Chapter 1)?
2. Do the firm’s short-term strategic objectives match with their long-term objectives?

• External Environments.

1. What do the “five forces” model developed by Michael E. Porter (Chapter 2) point out regarding your firm’s competitive posture?

• Internal Environment.

2. Do any of the four criteria for assessing sustainability of resources and capabilities (Chapter 3 – Exhibit 3.6) point out a competitive advantage for your firm?

• Financial.

3. Using financial ratio techniques, of your choice, (Chapter 13 – Exhibit 13.1) review the financial position of your firm. Are there any concerns?
4. This is not an exhaustive financial report. Do need to use data, which can be attached to the appendix, to support your perspective on the firm’s financial health.

• Human Capital

5. How might your firm improve and/or make no needed changes in their approach to recruit, develop, and retain (Chapter 4) their employees?

• Generic Strategies

6. Michael Porter (Chapter 5) presents three strategies to achieve a competitive

advantage. These include overall cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. Which of the three does your firm practice? Is that appropriate or need to be changed?

• Industry Life Cycle

7. Companies go through stages (Chapter 5) that include introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. What stage is your firm at? How does that impact their strategic direction?

• Portfolio Management

8. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) growth/share matrix (Chapter 6) is widely recognized. It identifies firms as stars, question marks, cash cows, and dogs. Where does your firm stand on this matrix? How does that impact their strategic direction?

• Competitive Actions

9. Firms need to identify how they are going to respond to competition. Is it in your firm’s best interest to react or be proactive by aggressively attacking? Do methods such as forbearance or co-opetition (Chapter 8) make sense for your firm?

 Part IV. Decision

Length: One to two paragraphs

State in a single sentence the one key problem or issue you have found facing the firm in terms of its ability to strengthen its competitive position that you wish to address? You are welcome to include additional text that supports that finding. What specific finding from your analysis led you to identify this problem?

Part V. Action

Length: .50 of a page

State in a single sentence your stated recommendation that you will provide to the Board.

What are three potential solutions that you wish to briefly present? Briefly, how would you implement your recommendation?

How can your recommendation be monitored and/or measure its effectiveness?

Part VI. Conclusion

Length: One paragraph.

Restate your stated recommendation, that single sentence.

In summary, why are you optimistic of your recommendation?

Any final comments that you wish to share with the Board of Directors?

The remaining documentation is outside of the ten-page guideline PART VII: APPENDICES with credits to sources

Include appropriate diagrams, financials, and/or charts that you used to conduct your analysis.

PART VIII: REFERENCES

Include all sources used in the writing of this project – make sure to include corresponding in- text citations.

Selecting your specific company or organization.

There are two options available in selecting the organization which you choose to review. You only need to select one of the two options. It will be more meaningful if you select a specific company or organization that you have a genuine interest in. 

Publicly Traded Company.

If you have a specific company within an industry that you are interested in, that can be an option. A publicly traded company is much easier to find key information for your analysis.

If a publicly traded company is chosen, please state why you selected it as you start your report.

One

Again, simply choose one company or organization that you will conduct your case analysis on.

 Reminder

As a reminder, approach the assignment with an open mind. Through your analysis, that is where you will identify the primary issue. Do not approach with an issue at the start that you are trying to prove. Your role as the consultant is to pinpoint an issue/recommendation that will be new to the Board.