·Final Research Paper – Strategic Audit, due: Apr 14
You will perform key components of strategic audit of a global firm (MNCs) of your choice. Please consider a company you will have a lot of information available through publicly available sources, and ESC online library. Follow the expectations highlighted in the syllabus (LC) and the outline below. You can see the complete outline that covers part I and part II of the final research paper to have an understanding that it is a comprehensive and interrelated paper. Apply requested models and provide interpretation and conclusions. Please consider trends as the evidence of the dynamic global environment. The paper covers only elements of the global market research and global strategy planning.
The Final Analytical Research Paper:The research paper 15 pages long.Students are advised to work on the paper throughout the term although the due dates are close to the end of the term. It will refer to topics studied in the assigned readings. It will include key components of an audit of a global strategy of a selected MNC. Students should plan to discuss the paper with the instructor several weeks before the end of the term. The paper must be based on careful research and well-referenced data. The paper should include footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations and a bibliography.The ability to provide sufficient researched information from reliable sources and relate subject matter to real life issues and problems (content and development); the ability to communicate in an organized and correct way (clarity and mechanics) that includes an acceptable analytical framework and the support provided for conclusions will be considered in the evaluations. Paper needs to include application of the studied analytical tools of global strategic management, recognition of strategies used, and critical assessment of the strategic choices made. It is important to address: industry specifics, geographical implications, SBU differences. Students should follow the provided outline of the paper for inclusion of all components required.
Final Research Paper – Complete Outline
PART I
I.Positioning
a.Company name and incorporation
b.Industry (maturity, consolidation), sectors, geographic presence and SBUs
c.Products (product life cycle) and customers, market share, market segments
d.Company mission, vision and objectives
e.Corporate structure
f.Corporate culture (ethnocentric/polycentric)
g.Corporate Social Responsibility supporting business
h.Corporate Code of Conduct
i.Management
j.Stakeholders
II.External Environment, industry focus (please recognize regional differences and promising markets vs. saturated markets)
a.PESTEL analysis & forecasts
b.Porter’s Five Forces competitive analysis & expected changes (please recognize global competitors)
c.Porter’s Diamond industry clusters (globally and regionally)
III.Internal Environment, company focus
a.Value Chain Analysis (activities and value added determination)
b.Resources, VRIO analysis
(dynamic view with recognition of global availability to resort to)
c.Capabilities and Core Competencies
d.Key success factors
e.Competitive advantage and its sustainability
IV.Strategy formulation
a.SWOT analysis
b.TOWS analysis
c.Alternatives and recommendation
PART II
V.Global Strategy analysis
a.Corporate Strategy
i.Directional strategy: growth (concentration/integration vs. diversification), stability/maturity, retrenchment
ii.International Entry Modes & motives (first mover or late entrant)
iii.Portfolio analysis (global SBUs), please perform BCG Matrix
iv.Multipoint competition
b.Business-level strategy
i.SBUsdifferences
ii.Geographic differences (global or multi-domestic)
iii.Competitive/cooperative strategy (low-cost, differentiation, focus)
c.Functional Strategies
i.Marketing (marketing mix)
ii.Finance/Accounting
iii.R&D & Innovation, TQM
iv.Production/Operations/Global Supply Chain Management
v.IHRM (functions) & Diversity (PCN-expatriates, HCN, TCN)
VI.Your assessment of coherence of strategic choices (all levels interdependent), (geographic constancy), and with conclusions from both external and internal environment
VII.Your recommendation of alternative global strategic solutions
