Review "How Do We Describe a Firm's Strategy?" in Chapter 1 of Foundations in Strategy, on page 19. Write an executive memo to Terri Bell, the vice president of strategy for your project firm. Communicate the findings from your preliminary analysis of the organization's strategy.
Identify and analyze the firm's generic business and corporate strategies. How is the firm competing? Specifically, which of the three generic business strategies-cost, differentiation, or hybrid-has it established to supply customer needs and beat the competition? Does the firm employ any of the following three corporate strategies: diversification, vertical integration, or globalization?
Analyze the business strategy. What is the firm's competitive game plan or its articulated strategy? Is there a strategy for different business units, if it has diversified? Does the strategy address how to strengthen its market position and gain a competitive advantage?
Analyze the firm's business model, that is, the core products and how the firm makes money. What is the customer value proposition? What is the profit proposition?
Analyze the firm's corporate strategy, including product, geographical, and vertical scope in which it operates. Has the firm expanded from its initial product line or field of operation? Does the firm own vertically related activities along the value chain for its products?