strategic management case study

Assignment overview

Report format -50% of module marks

•2,500 words excluding tables, charts, diagrams, and bibliography

•Good report writing style with analysis

•Follow the assessment brief

• Research reliable information sources

–BBC, Financial Times, Economist, Google Books, Industry reports, journal papers

–Analyse the current picture and evaluate options

Tasks to be completed:	Marks
1. Analyse the current position of the organisation in relation to its competitors using the five forces framework	20%
2. Evaluate the strategic options now available to the organisation using relevant concepts and frameworks	40%
3. Recommend the strategic route forward and the methods for implementation of your chosen options.	40%

Assessment Structure

Three tasks that are interrelated

•Follow the tasks to structure the report

•Task 1 then task 2 and task 3

•Investigate a given organisation –Samsung to analyse its current position, evaluate the strategic options available, and recommend the strategic routefor its mobile business.

•Analyse, evaluate and recommend.

Some analytical considerations

Apply the framework to Samsung’s situation

•For example, what Five forces, or VRIO issues are relevant for Samsung and how?

–Which strategic resources should be most important for Samsung in the next few years and why?

–What sort of competitive advantage this firm has?

–What sort of competitive advantage should this firm seek? Same or different?

–Which strategies are currently used and should the firm continue or change in some way vis-à-vis competitors in different markets?

Task 1 -1. Analyse the current position of the organisation in relation to its competitors using the five forces framework (20%)

–Five forces

•Understand the framework

•Collect relevant data for different forces –be specific

•Write the five forces analysis

•Identify the threats and any opportunities based on your analysis

•Important to consider few products and some key markets –US, UK, Europe, Far East Asia,

Task 2 -Evaluate the strategic options now available to the organisation. (40%)

–Assess the resource position of the firm

•Threshold resources & capabilities

•Distinctive resources & capabilities

•Analyse the distinctive resources & capabilities for their VRIO potential

•Assess if some individual resources can provided sustained competitive advantage or some resources combined will result in sustained advantage?

–Assess the change readiness of the firm

•Forces pushing for change vs. forces pushing against change

Compare different strategic options for each of the following and discuss their advantages or disadvantages for Samsung

–Corporate strategic directions –should the firm continue with same or new products ? In same markets? Or firm should diversify in other business areas?

–Business strategies for existing and new product lines

•How to best utilize strategic resources and market position

•Innovation –how and which product areas?

–Internationalization approach

•International strategy -Which countries currently? Which additional countries to explore? What products can be more suitable for different countries

–Analyse how much successful against competitors with existing strategies

–Analyse which strategic options are needed to be successful in medium and longer time frame to sustain or achieve competitive advantage?

–Compare strategy options for their advantages and limitations

–Use evaluation techniques to compare options

Task3-Recommendthestrategicrouteforwardandthemethodsforimplementationofyourchosenoptions.(40%)

–Basedonyourevaluationofstrategicroutesintask2,recommend the strategic route best suited to provide Samsung with best competitive performance interms of corporate direction,business strategy and internationalization.

–Alsorecommendclearlyhowtoimplementthestrategicrouteinshortandmediumtermtimeframes–organizationalstructureandrelatedactions

Task: Investigate the given organisation to analyse its current position, evaluate the strategic options available, and recommend the strategic route.

Samsung – Smartphone giant facing challenges

You have been provided with some initial background information of Samsung’s recent market situation. This provides you with foundational information, which you should develop through other sources. You will find commentary relating to this company via the financial press (such as the Financial Times). You should complete a detailed search for further information, which will support your use of strategic models for analysis.

You are to produce a report to compete the following tasks:- Tasks to be completed:	Marks
1. Analyse the current position of the organisation in relation to its competitors using the five forces framework	20%
2. Evaluate the strategic options now available to the organisation using relevant concepts and frameworks	40%
3. Recommend the strategic route forward and the methods for implementation of your chosen options.	40%

There should be an appropriate balance of analysis for each of these tasks dependent upon the circumstances surrounding the organisation. You should clearly answer each task in a separate section. The maximum word limit is 2,500 words (+ / - 10%) excluding tables, charts and diagrams. This work accounts for 50% of the marks available for this module (50% from exam).

Do not spend time describing, you are asked to analyse, evaluate and recommend.

Follow good report writing style. Use a 12 point font, with double line spacing and clearly print a copy of the report in order for you to check its readability before submitting on Turnitin. Clearly mention name on the front page of report.