Week 2 - Discussion 2- Capstone - Strategic Busi Mgmt

Discussion 2: Research Weekly Concepts for Environmental Analysis, SWOT Analysis, and the Value Chain

Post no later than Day 4 (Thursday)
Responses to be completed by Day 7 (Sunday)

For Discussion 2, please visit the Walden Library databases or select a recognized business publication such as Forbes, Business Week, Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and so forth. Select an article addressing Porter’s value chain; value chain analysis; SWOT analysis; or another topic that relates to these ideas and this week’s Learning Objectives. For example, you could explore topics such as environmental analysis; multiple uses of a SWOT analysis; SWOTT analysis (a traditional SWOT analysis with added trend lines on each of the four elements) as an analytic tool in strategic management; strategic market analysis; the GE 9-Cell model; PESTEL analysis; and so forth.

Following APA style and formatting guidelines, summarize the article into approximately 300 words (do NOT copy the article), and explain the knowledge you gained from it. Post to Discussion 2 by Day 4. Include a link to the original article so your colleagues can read it.

Engage in class discussions of the article, starting no later than Day 4, and continuing until Day 6. All discussion posts must be complete by Day 7. In addition to your initial post, respond a minimum of three times (100–125 words) over a minimum of 3 days.

To earn full points, full engagement in this discussion requires an initial post and active substantive responses with colleagues over a minimum of 3 days and preferably every day.

Week 2 Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week's assigned Learning Resources.

Required Resources

Readings

• Thompson, A. A. (2014–2015). Strategy: Core concepts and analytical approaches(3rd ed.) [BSG electronic edition]. Burr Ridge, IL: McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Chapter 3, “Evaluating a Company's External Environment” (pp. 32–62)
  • Chapter 4, “Evaluating a Company's Resources and Ability to Compete Successfully” (pp. 64–88)
• Borton, J. (n.d.). E-presentations [PowerPoint presentation]. Minneapolis, MN: Walden University College of Management and Technology.  

Business Strategy Game (BSG) Simulation website:

• Thompson, A. A., Reidenback, M. A., Stappenbeck, G. J., Harms, C. C., & Thrasher, I. F. (2014). The Business Strategy Game: Competing in a global marketplace. Retrieved from https://www.bsg-online.com/
  
  Visit this website to read Chapters 3 and 4 of the course e-book course and to continue your progress in the Business Strategy Game (BSG) SIM. This simulation provides opportunities for you to make some of the difficult decisions often encountered by managers as they seek to execute the strategy that has been established by senior executives who are responsible to the shareholders.

Media

• Global Edge Learning (Producer). (2010). Value chains: Knowing your business model [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/hEeVocMBHHQ
• Oxford Learning Lab (Producer). (2009). SWOT analysis: How to create a useful one [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/V6NhsoVSD88