Strategic Management - 4

Part A

The questions in Part A refer to the material discussed in Lesson 1 of this course. Respond to the following.

1. Describe the strategic management process. What does it mean to manage strategically?

2. What are the three types of organizational strategies and how are they different?

3. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) has had a significant impact on strategic management practices and strategies. Discuss how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 reformed corporate governance.

Part B

The questions in Part B refer to the material discussed in Lesson 2 of this course. Respond to the following.

1. Compare and contrast the industrial organization (I/O) and resource-based views (RBV) on competitive advantage.

0. How does each develop a competitive advantage?

0. What is their focus?

0. What are their determinants of profitability?

1. What makes organizational resource-based views unique?

Part C

The questions in Part C refer to the material discussed in Lesson 3 of this course.

In Lesson 2 you discussed the industrial organization (I/O) and resource-based views (RBV) on competitive advantage. You now know that competition and competencies are both major organizational concerns. In Lesson 3 we take a closer look at how to conduct an external analysis of an organization’s specific and general environments.

To demonstrate your understanding of external analysis, respond to the following.

1. Analyze the two perspectives on the environment.

1. Explain the primary responsibility of managers in conducting external analysis across managerial levels.

1. Describe the benefits of conducting an external analysis.

Part D

The questions in Part D refer to the material discussed in Lesson 4 of this course.

As you learned in Lesson 3, performing an external analysis can provide information to be used in planning, decision making, and strategy formulation. Organizations that conduct external analysis are most successfully when they combine this knowledge with a solid understanding of their internal strengths and weaknesses.

To demonstrate your understanding of internal analysis, respond to the following.

1. Define and present the characteristics of distinctive organizational capabilities.

1. Outline the steps in the identification of distinctive organizational capabilities.

1. Describe the criteria involved in judging organizational strengths and weaknesses.

1. Discuss the internal audit approach and why it is important.

Grading Rubric

Please refer to the rubric on the next page for the grading criteria for this assignment.

CATEGORYExemplarySatisfactoryUnsatisfactoryUnacceptable

15 points 12 points 8 points 5 points

Student provides a clear,

logical description of the

strategic management

process, as well as the three

types of organizational

strategies, and how are they

different.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical description of

the strategic management

process, as well as the three

types of organizational

strategies, and how are they

different.

Student provides a weak or

unclear description of the

strategic management

process, with some

discussion of the three

types of organizational

strategies and how are they

different.

Student provides a poor

description of the strategic

management process, with

some discussion of the

three types of

organizational strategies

and how are they

different.

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical discussion of how the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

reformed corporate

governance.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical discussion of

how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

of 2002 reformed corporate

governance.

Student provides a weak or

unclear discussion of how

the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of

2002 reformed corporate

governance.

Student provides a poor

discussion of how the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

reformed corporate

governance.

15 points 12 points 8 points 5 points

Student provides a clear,

logical comparison of the I/O

and RBV views on

competitive advantage,

including what makes

organizationa RBV views

unique.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical comparison of

the I/O and RBV views on

competitive advantage,

including what makes

organizationa RBV views

unique.

Student provides a weak or

uclear comparison of the

I/O and RBV views on

competitive advantage,

including some discussion

of what makes

organizationa RBV views

unique.

Student provides a poor

comparison of the I/O and

RBV views on competitive

advantage, including little

discusssion of what makes

organizationa RBV views

unique.

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical analysis of the two

perspectives on the

environment.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical analysis of the

two perspectives on the

environment.

Student provides a weak or

unclear analysis of the two

perspectives on the

environment.

Student provides a poor

analysis of the two

perspectives on the

environment.

10 points 8 points 5 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical discussion of the

benefits of and the primary

responsibility of managers in

conducting external analysis.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical discussion of

the benefits of and the

primary responsibility of

managers in conducting

external analysis.

Student provides a weak or

unclear discussion of the

benefits of and the primary

responsibility of managers

in conducting external

analysis.

Student provides a poor

discussion of the benefits

of and the primary

responsibility of managers

in conducting external

analysis.

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical discussion of the

characteristics of distinctive

organizational capabilities.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical discussion of

distinctive organizational

capabilities.

Student provides a weak or

unclear discussion of

distinctive organizational

capabilities.

Student provides a poor

discussion of of distinctive

organizational capabilities.

10 points 8 points 5 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical outline of the steps in

the identification of

distinctive organizational

capabilities.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical outline of the

steps in the identification of

distinctive organizational

capabilities.

Student provides a a weak

or unclear outline of the

steps in the identification

of distinctive organizational

capabilities.

Student provides a a poor

outline of the steps in the

identification of distinctive

organizational capabilities.

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical description of the

criteria involved in judging

organizational strengths and

weaknesses.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical description of

the criteria involved in

judging organizational

strengths and weaknesses.

Student provides a a weak

or unclear description of

the criteria involved in

judging organizational

strengths and weaknesses.

Student provides a a poor

description of the criteria

involved in judging

organizational strengths

and weaknesses.

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical discussion of the

internal audit approach and

why it is important.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical discussion of

the internal audit approach

and why it is important.

Student provides a a weak

or unclear discussion of the

internal audit approach and

why it is important.

Student provides a a poor

discussion of the internal

audit approach and why it

is important.

Part B: Competitive

Advantage (15

points)

Part D: Capabilities

Identification (10

points)

Part D:

Organizational

Strengths and

Weaknesses (5

points)

Part A: Strategic

Management (15

points)

Part C: The

Environment (5

points)

Part C: External

Analysis (10 points)

Part D: Internal

Audit Approach (5

points)

Part A: Sarbanes-

Oxley Act (5 points)

Part D: Distinctive

Organizational

Capabilities (5

points)

15 points 12 points 8 points 5 points

Student makes no errors in

grammar or spelling that

distract the reader from the

content.

Student makes 1-2 errors in

grammar or spelling that

distract the reader from the

content.

Student makes 3-4 errors in

grammar or spelling that

distract the reader from the

content.

Student makes more than

4 errors in grammar or

spelling that distract the

reader from the content.

10 points 8 points 5 points 2 points

The paper is written in

proper format. All sources

used for quotes and facts are

credible and cited correctly.

The paper is written in

proper format with only 1-2

errors. All sources used for

quotes and facts are credible

and most are cited correctly.

The paper is written in

proper format with only 3-5

errors. Most sources used

for quotes and facts are

credible and cited correctly.

The paper is not written in

proper format. Many

sources used for quotes

and facts are less than

credible (suspect) and/or

are not cited correctly.

Format (10 Points)

Mechanics (15

Points)