Case

3.  Read the case for Writing Assignment #2 (below) and complete the "Case Preparation Questions" found in the "Course Materials" area.  To complete this assignment, do the following:   

 - In the "Course Materials" section, download the "Case Preparation Questions" and "Basic Company and Industry Research".

    - Perform basic research on a company that sells a product that you use (i.e. clothing, soft drinks, automobiles, etc.).  

    - Prepare a single Microsoft Word document.  In this document, prepare a response to each question based on the information in the case.  Make sure you do the following

  - Make sure the NAICS and Ticker Symbol for the company you chose is listed somewhere near the top of the first page of your document.

- Make sure you number your response to each of the six questions (#1, #2, etc.).

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.  TYPE YOUR ANSWERS IN BLACKBOARD; EACH QUESTION IS PROVIDED AS A SEPARATE QUESTION IN THE EXAM.

QUESTION 1:          

Identify the firm's apparent current mission.  Then briefly review the firm's current objectives and strategies. 

Q1) Just restate the mission.  Then, note any strategies (i.e. Market Penetration, Product Development, an integration strategy, etc.) and objectives.

QUESTION 2:

How would you describe the firm's current financial condition?  (Use financial ratios and other pertinent income and balance sheet data to support your analysis).

Q2) Make sure you include more than just a couple of ratios.  You should consider including at least one for each type of ratio (liquidity, efficiency, performance, etc.)

QUESTION 3:                      

Outline and discuss the firm's external opportunities and threats, using any analytical model(s) you believe are relevant.

Q3) List opportunities and threats.  Remember, opportunities are NOT things that a company can choose to do.  Opportunities are positive phenomena or trends that apply to most industry competitors, and are generally not under the control of any one competitor.  Ask yourself a simple question as you read each objective out loud.  Are you saying a company can choose do to this?  If so, it is not an opportunity.  Threats are similar, but more negative.  For each one, make sure you provide at least one sentence to describe it and one sentence to explain WHY it can be considered an opportunity.

QUESTION 4:

Outline and discuss the firm's internal strengths and weaknesses using any analytical model(s) you believe are relevant.

Q4) Same as Q3, but list strengths and weaknesses.  These apply to the company in question more than the industry as a whole, and the company does have some measure of control over them.

QUESTION 5:

Based on your analyses:

a.  Revise the firm's mission and objectives if necessary.

b. Develop and discuss corporate and business strategies that you recommend to achieve the firm's mission and objectives.

Q5) Make sure you state recommended strategies (see Q1, above).  Remember, these should be in support of revisions to the mission and objectives.  Objectives should have 3 parts: a measurable, an amount of change, and a period of time to accomplish it (i.e. "increase Net Income by 5% over 2 years").

QUESTION 6:

Outline and discuss the specific actions needed for implementation of your chosen strategies. This should include the following:

a.  Specific strategies and long-term objectives in such areas as marketing, human resources, finance, operations and information systems as appropriate.

b.  Specify the financial results expected.

Q6) Make sure you state what is required to implement the strategies given in Q5.  In particular, you should state objectives (see Q5) for each of the 4 major business functions ("Accounting and Finance", "Sales and Marketing", "Production and Operations", and "HR and Staffing").  In addition, make sure you state PLAINLY what you expect to occur (i.e. "increase of $5M in revenue over 2 years" or whatever).