Factors and Trends that Influence Strategy Development

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Assignment 1: Discussion—Factors and Trends that Influence Strategy Development

In this module you will explore how businesses react to changing economic times and the influence this has on product/service positioning in the market place. You will also learn about the different approaches an organization may take such as a retrenchment approach, an investment approach, or an ambidextrous approach to provide a foundation for opportunity and risk in recessionary times.
Consumer spending habits have undergone dramatic and enduring change in the United States.

Using the module readings, University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:

  • What risks and opportunities do the three common strategies during recessionary times—retrenchment, investment, and ambidextrous strategies—present to businesses?
  • What are the factors that are key for establishing product differentiation in the new post-recession consumer environment especially as it relates to economic indicators?
  • What is a luxury good and should marketers of luxury goods abandon their efforts to establish premium pricing?
  • How do changes in societal attitudes toward companies and products affect the way marketers of consumer goods think about the customer value chain? Provide examples of companies that have changed their approach to marketing in response to a shift in consumers’ value in changing economic times.

Write your initial response in approximately 300 - 400 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

 By Monday, May 20, 2013, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. 

 

 

Assignment 2: External Environmental Scan

In order to develop effective strategies, it is critical to understand the marketplace environment. In this assignment you will explore the relationship between marketplace positioning based on environmental factors.

Throughout this capstone course, you will work on a strategy audit for a selected organization. In Module 1, you selected an organization for your course project activities. So far you have completed a market position analysis for your organization.

In this module you will conduct a comprehensive external environmental scan of your business unit, including a Five Forces analysis, to identify the relevant trends that pose opportunities or threats to your business. These will serve as inputs into a final SWOT analysis that will be due in Module 4: Assignment 2.

There are many elements that can go into an environmental scan, and your analysis will depend on the nature of your business unit, product portfolio, target market, and other factors related to the scope of your business.

Your environmental scan should include some or all of the following elements:

  • Economic factors and trends
  • Political factors and trends
  • Regulatory and legal factors and trends
  • Societal factors and trends
  • Technological factors and trends
  • Geographic factors and trends
  • Porter’s Five Forces that consists of the following aspects:
    • Threat of new competition
    • Threat of substitute products or services
    • Bargaining power of customers (buyers)
    • Bargaining power of suppliers
    • Intensity of competitive/industry rivalry

Although your analysis will be tailored to your specific business, be sure to cover the following:

  1. A thorough Five Forces analysis of your industry
  2. The key factors and trends in any other areas affecting your industry
  3. A preliminary classification of the external factors and trends as either opportunities or threats which will be the inputs for the final SWOT analysis

Write a 3-page report in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc.

By , Friday, May 24, 2013, deliver your assignment

Assignment Component

Proficiency

Maximum Points

Conduct a Five Forces analysis of your industry.

The Five Forces analysis is complete and clear.

28

Summarize the key factors and trends in any other areas affecting your industry.

Key factors and trends in other areas affecting the industry are clearly identified and concisely summarized. How they affect the industry is briefly explained.

24

Create a preliminary classification of the external factors and trends as either opportunities or threats (inputs into a SWOT) analysis.

Classification of external factors and trends is clear and accurate. It specifically identifies and labels the factors and trends as opportunities or threats.

20

Write using ethical scholarship and proper grammar and mechanics.

Writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner; demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

 

8

Total:

 

80

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