consulting paper

OUTLINE FOR STRATEGIC CONSULTING PROJECT

Title Page

· Organization Name (Pictures and logo)

· Consultants/Students Names (Consulting firm name optional)

· Professor

· Course, Term

· MSU Meridian Professional MBA

Acknowledgements

· Thank you to organizational contacts

· Others that helped in the project development

Table of Contents

Meet the Consultants

· Headshots of each team member with professional attire

· One paragraph professional biography of each team member

Executive Summary

· Provide an overview of the analysis and strategic plan.

· Include information from each section

· This is a separate section, usually 1 to 1 ½ pages in length.

Introduction

· Introduction (may include a brief history or overview of the organization)

· Organization mission, vision, and values (If you cannot find one for your organization, please write your own)

· Who are the Customers/Benefactors?

· Who are the other Stakeholders?

Industry

· Industry definition. Define the broader and specific industry or industries in which the organization competes (e.g. consumer products, auto manufacturing, etc.)

External and Internal Environment

· The External Assessment

· General External Environment Factors Impacting the industry

· Political/Legal

· Economic

· Sociocultural

· Demographic

· Technological

· Global Business

· Driving forces of change

· What factors are driving the changes in the industry?  What impact will these factors have on the industry?  Include information about COVID 19!!

· Competitive Landscape

· Identify and discuss the competitors in the broader industry

· Identify the Strategic Group

· Industry analysis - Include Porter’s Five Forces

· How do these forces impact the competitive environment?

· Buyer Power

· Supplier Power

· Intensity of Rivalry

· Threat of Substitutes

· Threat of New Entrants

· Identification of External Opportunities and Treats

· The Internal Assessment

· Value Creation

· Key Resources (Tangible and Intangible)

· Capabilities

· Core competencies

· Competitive Advantages

· Value Chain Analysis

· Value Chain Activities (Supply Chain Management, Operations/Production, Distribution, Marketing & Sales, Follow-up Service)

· Support Functions (Marketing, Finance, R&D, MIS)

· Core competencies

· Identification of Internal Strengths and Weaknesses

Analysis Tools

· State of the Business

· Data Analysis (Primary and/or secondary)

· Financial Ratios- Analysis of firm, strategic group and industry

· SWOT Analysis Table

· SWOT Matrix

· Other Matrices as needed

Strategic Plan

· Core Issues- Identification of two or three central issues affecting this organization. These central issues should come from your SWOT Analysis

· Recommendation - Make one recommendation based on an internal analysis. Should be based on the SWOT matrix.  Answer the question: What should this company do?  Be sure to include business level strategy and POST COVID Environment

· Implementation - How would you suggest the organization implement your recommendation?

· Be thorough, precise, specific, and knowledgeable.

· Answer the following questions:

· Who is responsible?

· When will this strategy be implemented?

· How will the competitors react?

· Where should the strategy be implemented? Locally, Regionally, nationally, internationally…Why? Why? Why?

References & Appendices

https://www.threefootfestival.com/music

Core issues:

1. Attracting younger demographics.

2. Needing a more diverse festival by attracting more African Americans.

3. And the need of student involvement from MSU Meridian, Meridian community college, East Central community college, and West Alabama.

Recommendation: What should this company do?

· Add African American cultural Arts

· Showcase up to date musicians/ songs for the younger generation, local artist.

· Todays music; pop and r&b

· Adding Jamal Roberts to the Gospel segment

· Market toward African American vendors

· Dance performance during the “Afrimissippi” segment

· Art car submissions for the public with permanently decorated cars.

· Prizes for the best art car (trophy)

· Set up meetings with teachers from the colleges to give students incentives for attending the festival.

Post covid involvement:

· Safety guidelines are strictly enforced

· Wash stations surrounding the festival

Budget:

· 90k

Competitors:

· Local arts festivals

The final project format will vary based on the client’s needs and team strategy. The final report should, at minimum, include a well-designed cover page, a table of contents, and an executive summary, followed by the full report. The project should be approximately 25-40 pages. The final report must provide complete documentation of the project so that the client may refer to it later. The final project will be bound. The client MUST have hard copies of the final project in hand at the time of the presentation. The Instructor must have an electronic copy of the report at least 48 hours before the presentation. All team members must be present (virtually) and actively contribute to the presentation. Failure to attend and participate in the final presentation to the client will result in a failing grade. Project = 60% and presentation = 10% of the final class grade.