SWOT Analysis Rooms-to-go

DRTL 2090 SWOT Analysis Guidelines (50 pts)

Due On: September 24 8:30 AM

1. For this assignment, you are acting as an objective consultant to the business. You will be assigned a “Top 500” multichannel retailer from one the following categories:

a. Apparel Specialty Store b. Home Specialty Store c. Department Store d. Electronics Store e. Home Improvement Store f. Discount Store g. Mass Merchant h. Drug Store

2. You will search for current company information on the Web. Use reputable internet sources such as Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, Internet Retailer and the “about us” section on the company’s own website.

3. You may integrate your personal knowledge of the retailer only if it is relevant to the

analysis, however, you are to write the paper in the 3rd person, as a business report. Think of the report as one you would present the findings to the company executives.

4. Create your SWOT analysis by answering the questions as shown in the following diagram (from a multichannel point of view) and create the SWOT analysis diagram for your company.

5. Based on your SWOT analysis, write a report that includes:

a. A written summary of your SWOT analysis findings b. A list of recommendations (at least 3) for the company. The recommendations

should be specific and should address the opportunities (merchandise, the website, content, the features and functionality, etc.) and how the company might overcome any of the internal weaknesses and external threats you identified in the SWOT analysis.

6. This assignment must be typed using MS Word, double-spaced, a one-inch margin on all

sides, and 12-point font. Each section MUST be separated by a paragraph with a headline.

7. The report must include a cover page, and a reference page (APA format) at the end.

8. Grading (See grading rubric for details):

 SWOT Diagram - up to 20 pts.

 Summary - up to 13 pts.

 3 Recommendations - up to 12 pts.

 Mechanics* - up to 5 pts.

9. Due date and submission: Submit your SWOT analysis through the Blackboard TurnItIn link no later than Sept 24 before class begins. Also, bring a hard copy to class on or before Sept 24. *Mechanics: report format, grammar, paragraph structure, syntax, APA format references.

SWOT Analysis Grading Rubric

exceeds

expectations meets

requirements needs more information did not include points given

SWOT Diagram 20-18 pts 17-16 pts 15-14 pts 0 pts

Summary 13-12 pts 11-10 pts 9 pts 0 pts

1st Recommendation 4 pts 3 pts 2 pt 0 pts

2nd Recommendation 4 pts 3 pts 2 pt 0 pts

3rd Recommendation 4 pts 3 pts 2 pt 0 pts

Mechanics 5 pts 4 pts 3 pts

Total points