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Assignment 2: LASA 1—Preliminary Strategic Audit
The end result of this course is developing a strategic audit. In this module you will outline and draft a preliminary framework for your final product. This provides the student with the opportunity to get feedback before a final submission.
In Module 1, you reviewed the instructions for the capstone strategic audit assignment and grading rubric due in Module 7. By now you have completed the following steps:
Identified the organization for your reportInterviewed key mid-level and senior level managersCreated a market position analysisConducted an external environmental scan in preparation of your final report and presentation
In this assignment, you will generate a preliminary strategy audit in preparation for your final course project.
Directions:
In preparation for your course project, prepare the preliminary strategy audit using the tools and framework you have focused on so far including:Analysis of the company value proposition, market position, and competitive advantageExternal environmental scan/five forces analysisIdentify the most important (5–7) strategic issues facing the organization or business unit.You may modify the strategic issues in your final report based on the additional analysis you will conduct in the next two modules as well as the feedback you receive on this paper from your instructor.Keep in mind it is important to look at the strategic issue(s) from more than just one perspective in the business unit or company—speak to or research the issue from more than one angle to offer a 360° approach that doesn’t cause more problems/issues.Strategic issues arise from a mismatch between internal capabilities and external trends such that important opportunities are not being pursued or significant external threats are not being addressed under the current strategy.Include a preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company’s strategic alignment and operating performance.You may modify these recommendations in your final report based on the additional analysis you will conduct in the next two modules as well as the feedback you receive on this paper from your instructor.Keep in mind that recommendations can include but are not limited to tactics in marketing, branding, alliances, mergers/acquisitions, integration, product development, diversification or divestiture, and globalization. If you recommend your company to go global, you must include a supply chain analysis and an analysis of your firm’s global capabilities.Write your report as though you are a consultant to your company and are addressing the executive officers of this company.Make sure your writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner; demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.Write a 7–10 page report (see number 4 above) in Word format.
Use The following format:
Cover pageExecutive Summary / AbstractTable of ContentsIntroduction to Company (each subsection should be an assessment)Value propositionMarket positionCompetitive advantageExternal Environmental Scan/Five Forces AnalysisCurrent environmentAssessment of external factors applying five forcesStrategic IssuesLabel each issue and provide a header and the reason for why it is an issueSummary / Key Findings and RecommendationsApply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M4_A2 .
By Wednesday, January31, 2013, deliver your assignment to the M4: Assignment 2 Dropbox.
This assignment is worth 40 points and will be graded using a rubric. Download and review the rubric to understand the expectations.
LASA 1—Preliminary Strategic Audit
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Unsatisfactory 70 – 77% (C- to C) |
Emerging 78 – 82% (C+ to B-) |
Proficient 83 – 89% (B to B+) |
Exemplary 90 – 100 % (A- to A) |
Score To calculate score: (% / 100) x max pts. e.g. (80% / 100) x 12 = 9.6 |
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Value Proposition, Market Position, Competitive Advantage: Assess the organization’s value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage (Course Objective [CO 2, 5]) |
Assessment of organization’s value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage is inaccurate or severely underdeveloped or incomplete. Scholarly research is sparse or inappropriate. |
Assessment of the organization’s value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage is accurate but underdeveloped or vague. Scholarly research is present, but how it supports ideas is unclear. |
Assessment of the organization’s value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage is accurate, grounded in reason, and uses examples and scholarly research to support ideas. |
Assessment of the organization’s value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage is accurate, perceptive, grounded in reason, and uses a variety of scholarly research to support ideas. |
32 points |
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External Environmental Scan/Five Forces Analysis: Assess the external the external factors that impact the organization using Five Forces Analysis. CO 2, 5 |
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization using Five Forces analysis is inaccurate, or severely underdeveloped or incomplete. Scholarly research is sparse or inappropriate. |
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization using Five Forces analysis is accurate, but under developed or vague. Scholarly research is present, but how it supports ideas is unclear. |
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization using Five Forces analysis is accurate, grounded in reason, and uses examples and scholarly research to support ideas. |
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization using Five Forces analysis is accurate, perceptive, grounded in reason, and uses a variety of scholarly research to support ideas. |
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Strategic Issues: Identify the most important (5-7) strategic issues facing the organization or business unit. CO 2, 5 |
The strategic issues identified are common in the field, but not specifically tied to the organization. They represent low-priority issues that threaten the organization in some way. |
The strategic issues identified are ones facing the organization or business unit but are not significantly important to the organization. They represent only a few issues that threaten the organization in some way. |
The most important strategic issues facing the organization or business unit are reasonably significant issues and are clearly and completely discussed. They represent the main issues that threaten the organization in some way. |
The most important strategic issues facing the organization or business unit are clearly significant issues, and they are perceptively and completely discussed. They represent a variety of issues that threaten the organization in some way. |
32 pts |
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Preliminary Recommendations: Include a preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company’s strategic alignment and operating performance. CO 1 |
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company are inappropriate. How these tactics directly improve strategic alignment and operating performance is severely underdeveloped. Tactics likely will not reach those goals. |
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company are appropriate, but they do not specifically address company’s resources, market, or goals. How these tactics directly improve strategic alignment and operating performance is broadly discussed but needs more specificity. Tactics might reach those goals. |
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company are appropriate for the company’s resources, market, and goals. How these tactics directly improve strategic alignment and operating performance is discussed, and these tactics will reasonability reach those goals. |
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company are insightful, specific, and appropriate for the company’s resources, market, and goals. How these tactics directly improve strategic alignment and operating performance is thoroughly discussed and supported by research. These tactics will clearly reach those goals. |
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Academic Writing Write using ethical scholarship and proper grammar and mechanics. |
Writing is unclear and disorganized and rereading to solidify understanding is frequently necessary. Although an attempt at ethical scholarship is attempted, it is sloppy or incomplete throughout. Spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors severely interfere with readers’ comprehension. |
Writing is somewhat clear and is somewhat organized, although rereading to solidify understanding is occasionally necessary. It demonstrates an attempt at ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources, but errors are occasional or minor. Writing has good spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but errors somewhat interfere with readers’ comprehension. |
Writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner; demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. |
Writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner; demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. |
12 points |
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Total |
/ 140 pts |
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Solutions to Organizational Challenges: A Capstone Experience in Integration and Strategy
©2012 Argosy University Online Programs
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Solutions to Organizational Challenges: A Capstone Experience in Integration and Strategy
©2012 Argosy University Online Programs
