Apple - Individual Case Analysis

BUS690IndividualCaseAnalysisUpdatedSpring20203.docx

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BUS 690 Dr. Bonner: Individual Case Analysis

Individual Case Analysis (Updated for Spring 2020)

Assignment: An understanding of a firm’s external environment includes a thorough understanding of its competitors, rivals, and potential substitutes. Typically, this assignment will help each group get an understanding of what their rival’s strategies are. However, given we do not have a group assignment, for this assignment each individual will do an internal and external analysis of any publicly traded firm not discussed in a meaningful way in the class (e.g., Starbucks, Costco), too large (e.g., Amazon and Walmart), or a company used in an example provided on ilearn. The overall assignment has not changed much other than the companys available (no longer only rivals of your group’s company) and the additional templates/additional question at the end. If you have already done substantial work or completed the older version, try to copy and paste into these templates if it isn’t too difficult. A document with the following structure will be due on the date indicated on the Syllabus (5/4 and 5/5). You can populate the outline (i.e., erase the bullet points and write your answers/fill in the templates). The originality score will be high, however, you should make sure to cite your sources and use your own wording (e.g., if you’re looking at an available SWOT for your company, for example, you should rephrase and add to the content rather than copy and paste and cite):

Executive Summary

· An executive summary of your case

Vision & Mission

· Include the vision & mission statement for your company

Resources & Capabilities

· Tangible, intangible, organizational capabilities: What are the valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable resources/capabilities of the organization that give them their distinct/core competencies and enable to them to have a sustainable competitive advantage.

· Focus on the tangle, intangible, and organizational capabilities that lead to their competitive advantage (i.e., you will not have to list every single resource available to your company, just how they bundle them to get a competitive advantage)

General description of industry (Use the PESTEL analysis)

· Check in databases + update with any recent information

· PESTEL is an anagram that reflects the names of six segments of the general environment: political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal.

· Indicate at least 3 salient factors in each of the 6 segments and describe how/why that factor will influence the general environment for your company.

· Element	Factor	Business Impact
Political	The element that has been identified	What is the business impact of this factor
Economic
Sociological
Technological
Legal
Environmental

5 Forces

· Use the database + check date of report. Add information if needed

· Consider using a drawing, explain if each force is L/M/H + examples (see below for an example)

SWOT

Use the databases + check for recent information – should be under company research.

Indicate at least 3 strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Remember, the SWOT should stem from the internal and external analyses.

Strengths

Anything that the organisation is currently doing which give it strength and an advantage over its competitors. Factors may include:

1. Strong cash availability

1. Pre-existing systems to support new developments

1. Strong brand

1. Existing contracts

1. Strong knowledgebase to draw from

Weaknesses

Any internal factors which limit the organisation. Factors may include:

1. Organisational structure

1. Existing systems or processes

1. Knowledge gaps

1. Cash-flow limitations

1. Reputation

Opportunities

Any external factors which the organisation could adopt. Factors may include:

1. New technological developments

1. Export market available

1. Demographical trends

1. Government incentives/initiatives

Threats

Anything that could cause problems for the organisation. Factors may include:

1. Exchange rates for export markets

1. Government restrictions/limitations

1. Competitors getting to the market first

1. Price wars with competitors

Current and Recommended Strategies (This section should have 4-10 citations which could include popular press articles, annual reports, etc.)

· What are they currently trying to do to gain competitive advantage?

· What strategic actions would you recommend for your company? Why (e.g., what are rivals doing, what is changing in the environment, etc.)?

Porter’s Five Forces of

Competitive Position

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Competitive Rivalry, eg:

 number and size of firms

 industry size and trends

 fixed v variable cost bases

 product/service ranges

 differentiation, strategy

Supplier Power, eg:

 brand reputation

 geographical coverage

 product/service level quality

 relationships with customers

 bidding processes/capabilities

Substitutes, Product and

Technology Development,

eg:

 alternatives price/quality

 market distribution changes

 fashion and trends

 legislative effects

Buyer Power, eg:

 buyer choice

 buyers size/number

 change cost/frequency

 product/service importance

 volumes, JIT scheduling

New Market Entrants, eg:

 entry ease/barriers

 geographical factors

 incumbents resistance

 new entrant strategy

 routes to market