MG 4740 Business Strategy L6

Choose any U.S company of your preference

MG 4740 Business Strategy L6 – Capstone Course
Department of Management and International Business, School of Business and Economics
The American College of Greece – DEREE
Second Summative Assessment (Major Written Project)
Professors: Common Assessment
Fall 2023
1. Overview – The major written project in MG 4740 A1 L6 Capstone will challenge each student in
analyzing, formulating, executing, and implementing strategy for a business enterprise through the
use of a complex case (case method) selected by the instructors. In the case study method, relevant
data are gathered, organized, evaluated, and generalized.
Recommendations and an
implementation plan are provided. The case study analysis is for a U.S. public company to be
selected by students.
Successful completion of this project will contribute to the student’s proficiency in the following
learning outcomes:
•
•
•
integrate and assess the elements of the internal and external environments of an organization
using appropriate analytical tools
formulate, select and evaluate alternative strategies and strategic approaches
create action plans for strategy implementation considering resource allocation and control
2. Content – The following content is suggested for the complex case analysis. You must, of course, use
your own good judgment, also, as the content and material should be presented in a way that is
most clear and helpful to the reader/decision maker. Please remember that the following are
suggestions, but you are not limited to them. Your work should be robust.
•
Company overview – name, ownership structure, BOD composition and diversity, history,
headquarters, size, product scope, geographic scope, organization structure, key executives
•
Company Direction – assess vision and mission statements
•
External Analysis – macro environment (e.g., PESTEL analysis) & industry environment (e.g.,
strategic group mapping, competitive forces analysis)
•
Internal Analysis – VRIN test of main resources and capabilities, value chain analysis and
financial analysis
•
SWOT Analysis – compose strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and treats, derived from
External Analysis and Internal Analysis sections
•
Current Strategy – select current strategy/strategies implemented by the company from: i)
competitive strategies, e.g., cost leadership, differentiation, and niche market focus; ii)
strategies to strengthen the company’s competitive position, e.g., horizontal/vertical
integration, related/unrelated diversification; iii) Strategies for competing in international
markets, e.g., export strategies, licensing and franchising strategies, foreign subsidiary
strategies, collaborative strategies, multidomestic strategy, global strategy, transnational
strategy
•
New Strategy Proposal – based on the SWOT analysis recommend a new strategy to exploit
market opportunities and neutralized competitive treats
•
Implementation Plan – decide a “high level” plan to implement the proposed new strategy
MG 4740 Business Strategy L6 – Capstone Course
Department of Management and International Business, School of Business and Economics
The American College of Greece – DEREE
Second Summative Assessment (Major Written Project)
Professors: Common Assessment
Fall 2023
3. Format – Each student will prepare the major written project using the following required format:
• Title page – includes the title of the project, the student’s name and ID number, the course
number and name (e.g., MG 4740 Al L6 Capstone Business Strategy), the project due date, the
instructor’s name, and word count
• Table of Contents – lists the sections and subsections by name in their order of appearance in
the project, along with the page numbers on which they begin
• Introduction – includes a brief statement of what you intend to accomplish in the project, and
a summary of what follows in main body
• Main Body – see content requirements above (i.e., 2. Content); use appropriate headings and
subheadings throughout the written project
• Conclusion – includes a brief statement of what you have accomplished through your
discussion in the main body of the project
• List of References – identifies the academic sources and other published information which
you have used; please refrain from using Wikipedia and other wiki sources as, generally, they
are not considered to be academic sources
• Attachments – includes, e.g., visual aids and graphics that you choose not to place in the main
text
• Appendix – includes related material not deemed necessary to be in the main text
4. Mechanics – Each student should adhere to the following technical requirements:
• Documentation: APA style is required; a guide is available at: libguides.acg.edu – Easybib Pro
• Word length: 4,500-5,000 words; it is compulsory to report the number of words at the end
of the paper. A violation of the specified word range results in a 10% grade penalty for the
work. This project should be double spaced, using Arial font size 12
• Submission: The project must be word processed, and each student will submit the project
electronically and in paper copy, if requested by your instructor.
5. Project Due Date – All projects are due on the date and time indicated by your instructor. Please
follow the progress of your work carefully so that you will meet this deadline. Where coursework
is submitted late and there are no accepted extenuating circumstances by the Committee on
Academic Standards and Policies, the coursework will be penalized in line with the following tariff:
submission within 6 working days: a 10% reduction of the original grade for each working day late
down to the 40% pass mark and no further. Submission that is late by 7 or more working days:
submission refused, mark of 0.
6. Evaluation – The written project will be evaluated using the Evaluation Rubric for Major Written
Project – Level 6, a copy of which is available on Blackboard.
7. Contribution to Final Course Grade – The major written project is 70% of the final course grade.
8. Originality and Authenticity – The rules of academic ethics apply when undertaking this major
written project, including the requirements that the student undertakes the major written project
without improper or unauthorized assistance from anyone including Generative Artificial
Intelligence tools. If it is determined that the project is not done individually and solely by the
student, the instructor may grade the major written project as an F.
9. Turnitin – Each student must submit electronically the major written project to Turnitin.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Business Strategy
Major Written Project
Fall 2023
Written Project
Originality and Authenticity
The rules of academic ethics apply when
undertaking this written project, including the
requirements that the student undertakes the
written project without improper or unauthorized
assistance from anyone. If it is determined that
the project is not done individually and solely by
the student, the instructor may grade the written
project as an F.
2
Written Project
What is Plagiarism?
3
Written Project
Generative Artificial Intelligence tools
Policy Statement
Deree- The American College of Greece recognizes the importance of academic integrity and
expects all students to submit their own work, as stated in the Student Academic Integrity Policy
(Undergraduate Catalogue Deree US Accredited Degree & Student Handbook The Open
University Validated Award) p. 216-218; Regulations for validated awards of The Open University
for Institutions offering Dual Awards, p.26 and Appendix 9).
Unauthorized use of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools, including chatbots, such as Chat
GPT, and other tools, such as paraphrasers, to generate and / or rewrite material is strictly
prohibited. This act constitutes deliberate cheating and falls under the category of academic
misconduct.
4
Written Project
Rubric Criteria
See Evaluation Rubric for MWP on acgboard.
Vision and Mission:
5%
External Analysis:
15%
Internal Analysis:
15%
SWOT Analysis:
5%
Current Strategy:
15%
New Strategy Proposal:
15%
Implementation Plan:
10%
Quality of Writing:
5%
Quality of Research and Sources:
10%
Use of APA Style:
5%
See Indicative Content
5
Written Project
Rubric Scale
FAIL
F
SATISFACTORY
C
C+
GOOD
B
VERY GOOD
B+
EXCELLENT
A-
A
(0 – 39)
(40-44)
(45-49)
(50-59)
(60-64)
(65-69)
(70-100)
Clearly below the Satisfactory
Satisfactory
A good
Very good
pass standard;
performance — performance — at performance; a performance; a very Very good
Superior
lacking substance, at least passable; least passable;
good level of
good level of critical performance; a very performance; a high
knowledge and acceptable level acceptable level critical analysis analysis and
good level of critical level of critical
understanding; of critical
of critical analysis and evaluation; evaluation;
analysis and
analysis and
ideas confused analysis and
and evaluation; some evidence of significant
evaluation; significant evaluation; incisive
and incoherent; evaluation; little little evidence of originality;
originality; well
originality; well
and original;
fundamental
evidence of
originality;
reasonably well researched; clarity researched; clarity of exceptionally well
weaknesses in
originality;
adequately
researched; ideas of ideas, thoughtful ideas, thoughtful and researched; high
most areas. Fails adequately
researched; ideas generally clear
and effective
effective
quality
to meet the
researched;
fairly clear and
and coherent;
presentation; very presentation; very
presentation;
Learning
ideas fairly clear coherent though some but not
coherent and
coherent and logical; exceptional clarity
Outcomes.
and coherent
with some
significant
logical; minor errors minor errors only.
of ideas; excellent
though with
significant
weaknesses.
only.
The student skillfully coherence and
some significant weaknesses. The
The student
connects his or her logic. Trivial or very
weaknesses. The student connects
skillfully connects analysis to a large
minor errors.
student connects his or her analysis
his or her analysis number of varied and -90-100 Not only
his or her
to a limited
to a limited number highly relevant
excellent but also
analysis to a
number or variety
or variety of highly sources.
exceptional
limited number of sources.
relevant sources.
-80-90 Not only
and limited
excellent but also
variety of
outstanding
sources.
70-80 Excellent
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Written Project
Project Structure
Title page: includes
✓ the title of the project
✓ the student’s name & ID number
✓ the course number & name (e.g., MG 4740 A L6 Business
Strategy),
✓ the project due date, &
✓ the instructor’s name
✓ Word count
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Written Project
Project Structure
Table of Contents identifies the numbered sections and the associated page
number for each section
✓ Introduction
✓ Main body (see Indicative Content; divided to numbered chapters &
subsections)
✓ Conclusion in the written project
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Written Project
Project Structure
Introduction: includes
▪ a brief statement of what you intend to accomplish in the project,
& a summary of what follows in main body
Main Body: (don’t actually write “Main Body” in the project
▪ see Indicative Content
▪ use appropriate numbered headings & subheadings throughout
the written project
Conclusion: includes
▪ a brief statement of what you have accomplished through your
discussion in the main body of the project
9
Written Project
Project Structure
List of References: identifies
▪ the academic sources & other published information which you
have used;
▪ refrain from using Wikipedia & other wiki sources as, generally,
they are not considered to be academic sources
Appendix: includes
▪ related material not deemed necessary to be in the main text
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Written Project
Reference style
For journals:
▪ Surname, Initials (year). Title of article, Journal Name, volume issue, pages.
▪ e.g. Capizzi, M.T. and Ferguson, R. (2005). Loyalty trends for the twenty-first century, Journal
of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 72-80.
For books:
▪ Surname, Initials (year). Title of Book, Publisher, Place of publication.
▪ e.g. Harrow, R. (2005). No Place to Hide, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY.
For newspaper articles (authored):
▪ Surname, Initials (year). Article title, Newspaper, date, pages.
▪ e.g. Smith, A. (2008). Money for old rope, Daily News, 21 January, pp. 3-4.
For electronic sources:
▪ e.g. Castle, B. (2005). Introduction to web services for remote portlets, available at:
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/library/ws-wsrp/ (accessed 12 November 2007).
11
Written Project
Citation style
In text Citation of publications:
• One author: (Adams, 2006)
• Two authors: (Adams and Brown, 2006)
• More than two authors: (Adams et al., 2006)
In text Citation of quoted text:
• One author: According to Adams (2006: 13) “………”
• Two author: According to Adams and Brown (2006: 13) “………”
• More than two authors: According to Adams et al. (2006: 13) “………”
12
Written Project
Sources
Use academic sources in order to discuss key concepts & tools, e.g.
▪ literature on Vision / Mission
▪ Strategic groups mapping
▪ VRIO analysis and resource-based view
▪ Selecting strategies
▪ Approaches to strategy execution
Approximately 30 academic sources (at least 20 articles published in academic
journals)
▪ Key: make them relevant to the case!
•
Quality of research & sources:
10%
•
Use of APA style:
5%
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Written Project
Mechanics
Documentation: APA style is required;
▪ a guide is available at: libguides.acg.edu – Easybib Pro
Word length:
▪ 4,500-5,000 words;
▪ it is compulsory to report the number of words at the title page. A
violation of the specified word range results in a 10% grade penalty
for the work.
▪ projects should be double spaced, using Arial font size 12
Submission:
▪ Each student will submit the project electronically (doc.file, NOT pdf)
& in paper copy (TBD)
14
Written Project
TurnitIn (to be advised)
Turnitin Originality Report:
▪ Must be attached at the end of the project
▪ Shall include BOTH:
➔ Full Originality Report &
➔ Similarity Index page
Folder:
▪ Place the project in a folder of your choice;
▪ it should not be submitted only with the pages stapled or
clipped together in the upper left corner.
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Written Project
Notices about the MWP
•
•
•
•
MWP should not exceed 5000 words. I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE THIS CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING.
When doing your research for the MWP, keep in mind that other
student papers, regardless of where they are found and how they
were located, are not appropriate sources for the project. You
should not use other students’ work as a source(s).
Please keep in mind that for the MWP, small matches are not
excluded from the Turnitin report.
Students may be requested to orally present and defend the ideas in
their projects, in case professors suspect contract cheating or other
academic integrity violations.
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Written Project
Other important info
Contribution to Final Course Grade:
▪ 70% of final grade.
Project Due Date: Dec. 11, 2023 (23:59)
In case of Late Submission, the coursework will be penalized in line with the
following tariff:
▪ Submission within 6 working days:
• a 10% reduction of the original grade for each working day late
down to the 40% pass mark & no further.
▪ Submission that is late by 7 or more working days:
• submission refused, mark of 0.
17
Written Project
Indicative Content
Company overview
name, ownership structure, BOD composition and diversity, history,
headquarters, size, product scope, geographic scope, organization
1. Introduction/Company Profile:
structure, key executives
•
introduction to the company,
Company Direction
• name, ownership, history,
assess vision and mission•statements
headquarters, locations, size,
• product scope, geographic scope, integration,
External Analysis
structure,
key
executives
Macro environment•(e.g.,organization
PESTEL analysis)
& industry
environment
(e.g.,
strategic group mapping, competitive forces analysis)
2. Company Direction:
Internal Analysis
• Vision
VRIN test of main resources and capabilities, value chain analysis and
• mission,
financial analysis
•
values & major goals
18
Written Project
Indicative Content
SWOT Analysis
compose strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and treats, derived from
External Analysis and Internal Analysis sections
1. Introduction/Company Profile:
• introduction to the company,
Current Strategy
select current strategy/strategies
• name,
implemented
ownership,
by thehistory,
company from: i)
competitive strategies, e.g.,
leadership, differentiation,
and niche
• cost
headquarters,
locations, size,
market focus; ii)• strategies
to strengthen
the company’s
competitive
product
scope, geographic
scope,
integration,
position, e.g., horizontal/vertical integration, related/unrelated
• organization
structure,
key executives
diversification; iii) Strategies
for competing
in international
markets, e.g.,
export strategies, licensing and franchising strategies, foreign subsidiary
strategies, collaborative strategies,
multidomestic
strategy, global strategy,
2. Company
Direction:
transnational strategy
• Vision
•
• mission,
values & major goals
19
Written Project
Indicative Content
New Strategy Proposal
based on the SWOT analysis recommend a new strategy to exploit market
opportunities and neutralized competitive treats
1. Introduction/Company Profile:
• introduction to the company,
Implementation Plan
decide a “high level” plan to• implement
name, ownership,
the proposedhistory,
new strategy
•
• headquarters, locations, size,
product scope, geographic scope, integration,
• organization structure, key executives
2. Company Direction:
•
•
Vision
• mission,
values & major goals
20