Step 1: Preparation for the Assignment
Before you begin writing the report, you will read the following requirements that will help you meet the writing and APA requirements.
Read the grading rubric for the assignment. Use the grading rubric while writing the report to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.
In writing this assignment, you will read and following these tasks:
Third person writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person.
Contractions are not used in business writing, so you are NOT to use contraction in writing this assignment.
You are expected to paraphrase and are NOT to use direct quotes. You are expected to paraphrase, which can be learned by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html.
You are responsible for APA only for in-text citations and a reference list. Cite the page or paragraph number.
In writing the analysis, writing in the third person. What this means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations with page or paragraph number and a reference list. If information is taken from a source document, it has to be cited and referenced with a page or paragraph number. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.
In completing this assignment, you are required to support reasoning or conclusions using in-text citations. Note that a reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.
When using a source document, the expectation is that the information is cited and referenced with a page or paragraph number.
No books other than course eBook.
In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes unless citing the mission statement of a company. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Read all course material for weeks 1 through 6 and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive internal environmental analysis, strategy analysis and selection.
Jot down key facts about the company. Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper.
Step 2: How to Set Up the Plan
Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product cannot be longer than 16 pages in length, which includes all tables and matrices but excludes the title page and reference page. Those items identified in the technical analysis should appear under the appropriate heading in the paper. Do no use an Appendix.
Review assignment grading rubric and periodically throughout completing the report, review.
Follow the following format using these topics as headings:
Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
Company Background/Information
Internal Environmental Analysis
Strategic Analysis & Strategy Selection
Reference page
Under the appropriate heading, include the following:
Background analysis including vision and mission statements and objectives
Internal Environmental Analysis
Corporate Level Strategy
Business Unit Level Strategy
Functional Level Strategy
Explain how these strategies align with the company’s vision and mission statements;
Assess the company’s interactions with its stakeholders, the organizational structure, the organizational culture, and communication/decision making among managers within human resources, marketing production, operations, finance and accounting, R&D, and computer information systems, which can be accomplished by viewing the company’s website, interviews, and surveys.
Financial analysis for the last reported fiscal year:
Use the company’s income statement and balance sheet to calculate no less than a total of ten (10) key financial ratios to the business. There must be a mix of four different key categories inclusive of the leverage, liquidity, profitability, and efficiency ratios so that the ratios do not all come from the same category. The specific ratios selection must come from the following categories.
LEVERAGE RATIOS
Long term debt ratio, Total debt ratio, Debt-to-equity ratio, Times interest earned ratio, and Cash coverage ratio.
LIQUIDITY RATIOS
Net working capital to total assets ratio, current ratio, quick ratio, and cash ratio
EFFICIENCY RATIOS
Asset turnover ratio, Average collection period, Inventory turnover ratio, and Days sales outstanding
PROFITABILITY RATIOS
Net profit margin, Return on assets, and Return on equity
Technique Analysis: develop and explain an IFE, BCG matrix, Grand Strategy Matrix, and QSPM. The expectation is not to copy from the Internet but to develop one’s own. If copied from the Internet, a zero will be assigned The various tools are to appear in the appropriate area of the paper and not in one section of the paper.
Strategy Analysis:
Identify and explain company strengths and weaknesses. Discuss success factors and what the company must do to perform successfully in the industry? Discuss what strategies would allow the company to capitalize on its major strengths. Discuss strategies that would allow the company to improve upon its major weaknesses
Generate a minimum of three possible alternative strategies for the company;
Identify and discuss cultural factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies;
Prioritize and explain the selection of alternative strategies
Recommend the best one or two strategies among the alternative strategies and explain why these strategies are the best;
Step 3: Create an introductory paragraph. The Introduction should clearly and concisely convey the main points of the assignment’s requirements. Review the following website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph: https://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 4: Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s) of the essay. Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the essay is complete. The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.
Step 5: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.
Step 6: Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 7: Submit the report in the Assignment Folder (The assignment submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor. It is incumbent upon the student to verify the assignment is the correct submission. No exceptions will be considered by the instructor.)