Questions and Topics We Can Help to Answer
Paper Instructions;
Week 1 Assignment
Required Reading
Required Reading and Multimedia:
• Principles of Strategic Planning and Marketing, Chapters 1 and 2: https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_principles-of-marketing-v2.0/s05-strategic-planning.html This is a good view of how SWOT is used in strategy development.
• SWOT analysis in strategy development: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3273100290&v=2.1&u=umd_umuc&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=86bd270f6e12bb7d0ee947a39effe1ac This is a nice quick view of SWOT.
• Porter's Five Forces (industry analysis). https://www.boundless.com/management/textbooks/boundless-management-textbook/strategic-management-12/external-inputs-to-strategy-87/porter-s-five-forces-420-1822/
Recommended Resources:
• Risvi, Qamar (2010). Going International: A Practical, Comprehensive Template for Establishing a Footprint in Foreign Markets. (Attached)
• Khanna, Tarun and Palepu, Krishna (2013). Emerging Markets: Look Before you Leap. (Attached)
• Multimedia: YouTube - The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy
Required Industry Databases:
• GlobalEdge.msu.edu
• Global Edge Industry Insight Reports. This link takes you to the Global Edge short industry reports, which give insight into industry structure. http://globaledge.msu.edu/global-insights/by/industry
•
Country level research databases:
• The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015, World Economic Forum. http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-competitiveness-report-2014-2015
• Ease of Doing Business Index. The World Bank. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.BUS.EASE.XQ
• Global Talent Competitiveness Index. INSEAD Global Indices. http://global-indices.insead.edu/gtci/gtci-2014-report.cfm
• World Bank Development Index,
• IMF (International Monetary Fund)
• UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).
• WTO (World Trade Organization)
Assignment Topic # 1
Using information from the GlobalEdge Databases of Industry Performance, select data on the following subset of industries:
automobile
healthcare
financial services
consumer goods
telecoms and technology
Based on the data you find, discuss your views on the following questions.
1. What kinds of industries tend to be better performers in the medium to long term? Why? What kinds of industries tend to do poorly in the medium to long term? Why? Refer to the readings to support your views.
2. Can you make the claim that some industries are inherently more profitable than others? Provide arguments and examples to justify your response.
3. Which of these industries would you recommend for your team's strategy project? Justify your recommendation.
Assignment Topic # 2
Using financial performance information at the company level for your selected Industry in topic one, discuss your views on the following questions. Use and refer to the assigned readings to support your views.
1. How is it that, even among the best performing industries, only some companies do well? How can some companies in poorly performing industries still do well?
2. Generally speaking, for companies in the same industry, what factors would explain differences in company performance over the long term?
3. Which company in your selected industry would you recommend for your team's strategy project? Explain why, using data to support your recommendation. Remember that you will want to select a company that is not already operating in too many of the BRICS+ Next 11 countries, as that would leave you with little room for international expansion.
