Analyse the internal and external logic of the chosen strategy. • Offer a diagnostic: is the competitive strategy sustainable?

Posted: April 19th, 2022

This is a project for my Organisations and Organisational Structures subject (Not Business)

Assignment information: You need to carry out a strategy identification project. This consists in identifying and examining a successful strategy that a company has implemented. To do so you need to: • Describe the firm scope and sources of competitive advantage; • Analyse the internal and external logic of the chosen strategy. • Offer a diagnostic: is the competitive strategy sustainable? • Provide recommendations to the company. The choice of firm is up to you, but you should avoid small companies with limited information online. Sources: data and resources available online (companies’ website, annual reports, press, etc.). Your report should contain the following elements: 1. Background information on the company of your choice  Firm description: Business Model, Goals  Key industry challenges (industry analysis) 2. Firm Scope  Geographic scope and product scope  Relative to competitors: Market size, ranking in its industry/niche, etc.  Company statistics: stock pricing, annual sales, profitability, etc. 3. Goals and Competitive Advantage Undertake an environmental analysis (internal & external context) using different tools discuss on the module.  External logic: Fit with demand and supply conditions; Fit with industry  Internal logic: Fit with resources and capabilities of the firm; Fit with internal organisation. 4. Diagnostic: Is the competitive strategy sustainable? 5. Recommendations: make recommendations on the future direction of the firm, for the medium-long term of the organisation, based on your analysis 2 Key/suggested references: Gerry Johnson, Richard Whittington, Kevan Scholes, Duncan Angwin, Patrick Regner [JWSAR]: Exploring Strategy: Text and Cases, 11th edition, Pearson. 2016  JWSAR, Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4 and 14  Porter, M. E. 1996. What is strategy? Harvard Business Review. November-December: 61-78.  Porter, M. E. 2008. The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Harvard Business Review. January: 79-93.  Barney, J. 1991. Firm resources and sustainable competitive advantage. Journal of Management. 17 (1): 99-120.

Word limit: 2,000 (with 10% plus or minus leeway) Referencing style: Harvard

Marking scheme: Marking will be in accordance with the general IMS undergraduate marking rubric: 1. Answer. (Does the coursework address the question/issue or meet the assigned aims and keep on topic? Is there a comprehensive understanding of the topic?) 2. Structure. (Is the structure clear and material presented in a well argued, coherent and synthesised manner?) 3 3. Writing Style. (Is the writing fluent and of a good standard with few errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar?) 4. Level of Reading. (Is the topic well researched and supported? Is there evidence of using a range of high quality sources?) 5. Quality of Referencing. (Is the work appropriately sourced? Are the references well formatted and written up accurately and consistently?)