ICAP 2

7

MGMT441 ICAP II Company Analysis Grading Rubric

Section Expectations Grade Scale Analysis of business and corporate level strategy (25%)

(1) The company's business-level strategy is clearly identified and explained with supporting evidence; (2) if applicable, the company’s corporate strategy is identified and explained with supporting evidence; and (3) the firm’s recent strategic actions are discussed and how these actions support (do not support) the execution of its business and corporate level strategy is explained.

Excellent (A): meets or exceeds the listed expectations Proficient (B): meets most of the listed expectations Basic (C): meets some of the listed expectations Unsatisfactory (D-F): does not meet most of the listed expectations

Financial analysis (25%)

(1) Required ratios are accurately calculated for each of the past three years for the focal company, its two closest competitors, and industry average; (2) competitive advantage or disadvantage of the focal firm relative to its closest competitors and industry average is evaluated with logical explanations; (3) Trends in the company’s ratios overtime are described and possible causes for such changes are explained with supporting evidence; and (4) presentation of data, table, and graphs is well organized.

VRIO and competitive advantage (25%)

(1) The company's key resources and capabilities are comprehensively identified; (2) VRIO analysis for each of the key resource(s) or capability(ies) is performed; (3) The VRIO analysis, in particular, rarity and imitability part of it, is explained and supported with sufficient evidence and theoretical reasoning; (4) conclusion of VRIO analysis is stated and underlying logic is thoroughly explained; and (5) VRIO template is used.

Fit between internal and external environments (15%)

x (1) Whether the firm is well-positioned to take advantage of external opportunities and/or neutralize environmental is thoroughly analyzed; (2) The analysis is based on the industry analysis and the rest of the company analysis; (3) The prospects for the firm’s performance in the near future is assessed, and the assessment reflects on the evaluation of the company’s environmental fit.

Compositional skills and Assignment guidelines (10%)

(1) The paper is reader friendly (e.g., section headings and paragraphs) (2) The paper is well written, organized and free of (or with very limited) grammar and spelling errors; (3) A variety of reliable sources/references are used; (4) Citations are made appropriately (e.g. quotation marks are used for direct citations; sources for data and information are cited in the text in addition to being listed in the reference page; see the instruction for citation format requirement); (5) Assignment guidelines are followed (e.g. length of paper, font size, submission deadline.)