Internal Environmental Analysis/Strategy Analysis and Strategy Selection

Purpose:  This assignment is the second of three assignments.  Students will use the tools and concepts learned in the course and in previous business courses to develop an understanding of how organizations develop and manage strategies to establish, safeguard and sustain its position in a competitive market.

Students also have the opportunity to review an organization’s objectives and goals and the key functional areas within the organization.  Performing an internal environment analysis helps assess a firm’s internal resources and capabilities and plays a critical role in formulating strategy by identifying a firm’s strengths to overcome weaknesses.  Students will then 1) assess long-term objectives, 2) identify and evaluate alternative strategies and 3) recommend strategies for a company to pursue.

Instructions:

In completing the assignment, students will perform research on the company from Assignment 1, answer the questions below in narrative form following the steps provided below:

Step 1:  Create a double-spaced, 12-point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document.  The final product cannot be longer than 14 pages in length, which includes all tables and matrices but excludes the title page and reference page.

Step 2:  Review assignment grading rubric.

Step 3:  Follow this format.  Be sure to use headings under each topic.

• Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
• Company Background/Information
• Internal Environmental Analysis
• Strategic Analysis & Strategy Selection
• Reference page

Step 4:  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:  http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person

Step 5:  In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list.  A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.  View the sample APA paper under Week 4 content and How to Cite and Reference, also under Week 4 content.  There are also resources located under Course Content>>Student Toolbox.

Step 6:  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

Step 7: Read all course material for weeks 1 through 6 and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive internal environmental analysis, strategy analysis and selection.

Step 8:  Jot down key facts about the company.  Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper.