Choose ONE of the following two companies:

blackberry OR scholastic

– Analyze your chosen company through the lens of Blue Ocean frameworks (ERRC, Value/Innovation, Tiers of non-customers) – Chapters 1-7.

– Give 3# specific recommendations to the CEO for next steps. Support your recommendations with data and insights from Trusted sources. Cite your sources. Please be crystal clear specific and detailed. Your recommendations can also include ERRC/ Blue Ocean concepts.

– At your discretion can you apply insights from EuroMonitor/ IBISWorld / PitchBook and WSJ to support and strengthen your analysis and recommendations? Of course, elements of a SWOT analysis may be appropriate here as well. Be crystal clear in your source annotations.

– Connect the RED threads of: Company and Industry details, Case, Blue Ocean and EuroMonitor/ IBISWorld / PitchBook

Your recommendation should be 3 page of narrative in a Microsoft Word Document ONLY, and a supporting Microsoft Excel sheet – which has Data ONLY.

**Writing requirement**
*Action Recommendations–Recommended course of action has strong arguments based in the analysis and issues and includes anticipated consequences and alternatives.
*Issue Analysis–Presents an insightful and thorough analysis of all identified issues. Includes all necessary calculations.
*issue Identification–Presents an accurate and detailed description of a variety of problems and opportunities that are compelling and insightful.
*organization and Clarity–Paper demonstrates concise and consistent writing. Transitions between ideas are handled well. Formatting is appropriate and writing is free of grammar and spelling errors.
*use of Course Concepts–Demonstrates complete command of tools and concepts from the course. Makes appropriate and powerful connections between identified issues and the strategic concepts studied in the course readings and class lectures.

BOOK: Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant: W.Chan Kim, Rene Mauborgne (Could be an older version) –Ch1-7–