STR/581

Successful businesses regularly analyze their processes to ensure they’re operating as efficiently as possible and maintaining their competitive advantages. Although you can assess a company in many ways, a common technique is the SWOT analysis. In this assignment, you will practice using a SWOT analysis to better understand the factors involved in making business decisions that promote sustainable competitive advantage. 

Select and research a company from the 2019 Fortune 500 list that demonstrates a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Evaluate the selected company’s sustainable competitive advantage using the SWOT analysis technique.

Write a 700- to 1,050-word modified SWOT analysis that includes the following:

• An introduction with a detailed description of the company
• A SWOT analysis diagram that includes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• An evaluation of how specific internal factors (strengths and/or weaknesses) support and/or promote a competitive advantage; examples may include:
• Financial, physical, or human resources
• Access to natural resources, trademarks, patents, or copyrights
• Current processes (employee programs or software systems)
• An evaluation of how specific external factors (opportunities and/or threats) support and/or promote a competitive advantage; examples may include:
• Market trends (new products or technology advancements)
• Economic trends (local and/or global)
• Demographics
• Regulations (political, environmental, or economic)
• Conclusion with an evaluation of how the company has retained its competitive advantage