How would a low-cost strategy address an industry environment characterized by intense rivalry? What about a differentiation strategy?
Strategic Choices
Background
In the Assignment, you will be learning how to apply and
integrate the SWOT for Kraft Foods Group with the four generic business
strategies discussed in this assignme
Required Reading
If you are having trouble determining how to integrate the SWOT
factors with different strategies, the following two readings may help.
1.
The first article includes some examples of how RBV variables
can be used to leverage a cost or differentiation strategy:
Competitive Advantage (2007). Retrieved on November 6, 2012, from:.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/”>http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/
2.
The second reading demonstrates how a cost, differentiation, or
focus strategy can help a company defend itself against Porter’s Five Forces:
Porter’s Generic Strategies. (2007). Retrieved on November 6, 2012, from:.quickmba.com/strategy/generic.shtml”>http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/generic.shtml
Session Long Project
In this assignment, using the Kraft Foods Group, we will be integrating
the results of our SWOT with our chosen strategy.
Keys to the Assignment
Step 1: Create a 5×5 table with the four strategies listed across the
top and the four SWOT variables at left as follows:
Low cost
Differentiation
Focus
Preemptive
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Step 2: Using your work in Modules 2 and 3 as it relates to the Kraft Foods Group,
select one element from any of the analytical models we studied that
contributes to each of the four SWOT variables. For example, for Weaknesses,
you may want to choose an element from Porter’s Value Chain (say, operations),
while for Opportunities you may want to select something from the PEST analysis
(say, sociocultural factors). Select one for Strengths and Threats as well.
Step 3:Enter the elements you have chosen with the corresponding SWOT
variable. Below, “strong competitive rivalry” has been chosen for
Threats. Note that other choices could have been high barriers to entry, high
bargaining power of suppliers or customers, high substitutability (from Five
Forces analysis), or a specific political, economic, social, or technological
factor (from PEST). Complete this process for all four SWOT variables.
Low cost
Differentiation
Focus
Preemptive
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats: Strong competitive
rivalry
Step 4: This is potentially the most challenging part. Indicate the
impact each strategy might have on each SWOT factor you have chosen by offering
a business action that will address the SWOT. For example, follow the threat
strong competitive rivalry across all four generic strategies. How would a
low-cost strategy address an industry environment characterized by intense
rivalry? What about a differentiation strategy? Focus? Preemptive? In other
words, you are considering the same industry threat, but addressing it
differently depending on the chosen strategy. See the example below:
Low cost
Differentiation
Focus
Preemptive
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats: Strong competitive
rivalry
Undercut rivals on price
through operational economies
Brand loyalty attracts repeat
customers
Find an underserved market
segment that rivals are unwilling to serve
Beat rivals out of the gate,
establish dominant position
Thus, the strategic action you choose to fill in a given blank
should do two things: 1) offer a tactic for taking advantage of a strength or
opportunity or for managing a threat or weakness, and 2) follow the basic
thrust of the strategy in that column.
Assignment Expectations
Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5)
criteria:
Assignment-Driven Criteria (Precision and Breadth): Does the paper fully
address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the
Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper
meet minimum length requirements?
Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking and Depth): Does the paper
demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple
sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and
synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address
the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?
Business Writing (Clarity and Organization): Is the paper well
written (clear, developed logically, and well organized)? Are the grammar,
spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section
headings included in all papers? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the
primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is
justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct
quotations?
Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy and
References): Does the paper demonstrate that the student has read,
understood and can apply the background materials for the module? If
required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by
students use of relevant and quality (library?) sources? Do additional sources
used in paper provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in
shaping the overall paper?
Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of
referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text citations (for
paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g.,
references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside
research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all end references
been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?
Tips and Suggestions
There are no right or wrong answers to this exercise, provided
that your analysis is logical. That is, the factors you choose must align with
the appropriate SWOT variable, and the business actions you choose must align
with the proper strategy.
Take care to prepare a professional presentation of your table.
It should fit on one page and be readable. (You will probably have more luck
with a landscape layout than portrait layout.)
Include headings for all papers longer than two pages.
Cite and reference all sources, including those you paraphrase.
This means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than
five words, and citations for information you have “borrowed” or
paraphrased from other sources.In the Assignment, you will be learning how to apply and
integrate the SWOT for Kraft Foods Group with the four generic business
strategies discussed in this assignmeIf you are having trouble determining how to integrate the SWOT
factors with different strategies, the following two readings may help.1.
The first article includes some examples of how RBV variables
can be used to leverage a cost or differentiation strategy:
Competitive Advantage (2007). Retrieved on November 6, 2012, from:.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/”>http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/2.
The second reading demonstrates how a cost, differentiation, or
focus strategy can help a company defend itself against Porter’s Five Forces:
Porter’s Generic Strategies. (2007). Retrieved on November 6, 2012, from:.quickmba.com/strategy/generic.shtml”>http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/generic.shtmlIn this assignment, using the Kraft Foods Group, we will be integrating
the results of our SWOT with our chosen strategy.
Step 1: Create a 5×5 table with the four strategies listed across the
top and the four SWOT variables at left as follows: Low costDifferentiationFocusPreemptiveStrengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
Step 2: Using your work in Modules 2 and 3 as it relates to the Kraft Foods Group,
select one element from any of the analytical models we studied that
contributes to each of the four SWOT variables. For example, for Weaknesses,
you may want to choose an element from Porter’s Value Chain (say, operations),
while for Opportunities you may want to select something from the PEST analysis
(say, sociocultural factors). Select one for Strengths and Threats as well.
Step 3:Enter the elements you have chosen with the corresponding SWOT
variable. Below, “strong competitive rivalry” has been chosen for
Threats. Note that other choices could have been high barriers to entry, high
bargaining power of suppliers or customers, high substitutability (from Five
Forces analysis), or a specific political, economic, social, or technological
factor (from PEST). Complete this process for all four SWOT variables. Low costDifferentiationFocusPreemptiveStrengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats: Strong competitive
rivalry
Step 4: This is potentially the most challenging part. Indicate the
impact each strategy might have on each SWOT factor you have chosen by offering
a business action that will address the SWOT. For example, follow the threat
strong competitive rivalry across all four generic strategies. How would a
low-cost strategy address an industry environment characterized by intense
rivalry? What about a differentiation strategy? Focus? Preemptive? In other
words, you are considering the same industry threat, but addressing it
differently depending on the chosen strategy. See the example below: Low costDifferentiationFocusPreemptiveStrengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats: Strong competitive
rivalryUndercut rivals on price
through operational economiesBrand loyalty attracts repeat
customersFind an underserved market
segment that rivals are unwilling to serveBeat rivals out of the gate,
establish dominant positionThus, the strategic action you choose to fill in a given blank
should do two things: 1) offer a tactic for taking advantage of a strength or
opportunity or for managing a threat or weakness, and 2) follow the basic
thrust of the strategy in that column.Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5)
criteria:
Assignment-Driven Criteria (Precision and Breadth): Does the paper fully
address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the
Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper
meet minimum length requirements?
Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking and Depth): Does the paper
demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple
sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and
synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address
the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?
Business Writing (Clarity and Organization): Is the paper well
written (clear, developed logically, and well organized)? Are the grammar,
spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section
headings included in all papers? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the
primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is
justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct
quotations?
Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy and
References): Does the paper demonstrate that the student has read,
understood and can apply the background materials for the module? If
required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by
students use of relevant and quality (library?) sources? Do additional sources
used in paper provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in
shaping the overall paper?
Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of
referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text citations (for
paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g.,
references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside
research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all end references
been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?
There are no right or wrong answers to this exercise, provided
that your analysis is logical. That is, the factors you choose must align with
the appropriate SWOT variable, and the business actions you choose must align
with the proper strategy.
Take care to prepare a professional presentation of your table.
It should fit on one page and be readable. (You will probably have more luck
with a landscape layout than portrait layout.)
Include headings for all papers longer than two pages.
Cite and reference all sources, including those you paraphrase.
This means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than
five words, and citations for information you have “borrowed” or
paraphrased from other sources.
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