Case Study:
This case study is on the Home Depot.
Answer must be in 5 to 7 pages, does not include title page or reference page.
- Should utilize 80% your own analysis, 20% cited material (as a guideline). (I have 3 pages with steps 2&3 already)
- Avoid over-using direct quotes! My guidelines are there should be no more than one direct quote per page and direct quotes should not be longer than three sentences.
- You must have 3 additional scholarly resources to support your analysis PLUS your textbook - for a total of 4 resources.
- Do not write in first person - avoid "I", "you", "we," etc.
1. Investigate and Analyze the Company's History and Growth. A company's past can greatly affect the present and future state of the organization. To begin your case study analysis, investigate the company's founding, critical incidents, structure, and growth.
Introduction:
SWOT analysis is the different study that is undertaken in determines how the corporation is functioning in different areas. It is out of this that the company is in a position to determine the way forward since they have the records that are taken internal and external in determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the threats that the company might face. In this case, the Home Depot institution has briefly provided a report on how activities are carried and the facts that the company face in the operating performance. Also the analysis shows a record on certain things on how the company's efficiency is attained (Ferrell, 2011).
Strengths
Every company has some factors that they major on, and this are their strengths, they are determining factor on how the company's progress will be facilitated. Home Depot Company has shown significant growth over the last years. The growth of a company can be determined by the increase in revenue that can be detected annually. Also the sales that the company offers play a significant role in determining the company's growth since a high sale implies that the company will have a high production rate. On the other hand, the different programs that help the company to come up with new ideas on how to sell the products determines how the company will develop. In this case, the Home Depot initiated a program on how they can sell their products on online marketing (The home depot, Inc, 2015).
As a result, this is a strength that point of the company since they tend to be in a position to grow at a high rate; this implies that the company will be well known globally. Secondly, there is the company's strength on multi-channels selling this means that the company has the largest net sales that are offering in different countries. It is out of this that the products tend to be sold in an effective way since they are known to offer great services hence the sales increase rapidly. With the help of the diversified products the company is in a position to increase, its products hence increase the company profitability.
Weaknesses
Every company must have up and downs that make the company be in a position to coming up with new ways that will help the industry grow and deal with the weakness that tends to arise. It is out of this that Home Depot institution has a huge debt from other stakeholders, this is contracts that are signed by the company are long terms hence the debt increases with a high rate. Another Home Depot weakness is the data breach by these different customers have the notion that the company's security regarding confidential data is not highly facilitated (The home depot, Inc, 2015). As a result, the claims arise against the company, which make the company to be in a position to lose some customers that are their target. It is out of this that the weakness that tends to occur in the Home Depot. Lower inventory turnover ratio is another weakness, which ought to be taken care of, and more so ensure that it is cleared.
Opportunities
This relates to the external environment, which may focus on ensuring that Home Depot grows and increases the number of sales. One of the opportunities is to expand in the United States since in this case it stands to benefit. This is a great venture, which will ensure that the company is in a position to reach to all the customers. This, therefore, calls for various operations, which are cost effective and have high maintenance. Another opportunity is based on the focus, which will be given to the customers; this is because it will be in a position to understand the productivity, as well as the capital to be allocated in each area. In addition, the product authority will be determined, and thus effectivity will be attained.
Threats
Threats are the expected harm that a company might experience because of a certain factor that the company does not facilitate. To begin with, completion is the biggest threat that most of the companies ought to experience, with this, and every company is working hard to ensure that they sell their products at a constant price. That will suit the customer hence another competitor develops with the same initiative offer offering goods and services at a better price. Another threat is how the company is subjected to a certain aspect that makes it not to be flexible; this implies that the company is in a position of not exceeding some speculated rules that govern the business idea.
In addition, flexibility is not obtained when every company is issued a government license that identifies its functionality and purpose hence the company cannot clarify any other legal business since it will be charged. In addition, anther threat that tends to arise is the counterfeit products by this it implies that different organization comes up with the same quality that offers the same products. Expansion of any company is a threat to Home Depot and this means that the competitors are growing their territory and thus they may end up overtaking the company. This serves as a threat for Home Depot since the people may change their brand and end up purchasing in other companies (The home depot, Inc, 2015)
Conclusion
To sum up, the analysis may serve as a proper guideline to the company and more so provide insight on what way to take. This will result in growth in the company and improved performance as well as deal with the challenges. This may also aim at improved sales and gain the competitive advantage; thus the analysis is necessary as well as efficient.
2. Analyze Your Findings. You need to create an evaluation for this portion of your case study analysis. Compare the strengths and weaknesses within the company to the external threats and opportunities. Determine if the company is in a strong competitive position and decide if it can continue at its current pace successfully.
3. Identify Corporate Level Strategy. To identify a company's corporate level strategy for your case study analysis, you will need to identify and evaluate the company's mission, goals, and corporate strategy. Analyze the company's line of business and its subsidiaries and acquisitions. You will also want to debate the pros and cons of the company strategy.
4. Identify Business Level Strategy. Thus far, your case study analysis has identified the company's corporate level strategy. To perform a complete analysis, you will need to identify the company's business level strategy. (Note: if it is a single business, the corporate strategy and the business level strategy will be the same.) For this part of the case study analysis, you should identify and analyze each company's competitive strategy, marketing strategy, costs, and general focus.
5. Analyze Implementations. This portion of the case study analysis requires that you identify and analyze the structure and control systems that the company is using to implement its business strategies. Evaluate organizational change, levels of hierarchy, employee rewards, conflicts, and other issues that are important to the company you are analyzing.
6. Make Recommendations. The final part of your case study analysis should include your recommendations for the company. Every recommendation you make should be based on and supported by the context of your case study analysis.
References
Leckey, A. (1998, Feb 03). Home depot's history shows earnings growth. Cincinnati
Post Retrieved from
https://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/docview/429537041?accountid=8289 on October 30, 2015.
Lucas, R.W. (2012). Customer service - Skills for success.6th Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Mao, V. (2012, Jun 08). Home depot shows muscle as base forms. Investor's Business
Daily Retrieved from
https://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/docview/1019054820?accountid=8289 on October 30, 2016.
Ziobro, P. (2016, Jun 27). Retailers rethink inventory strategies; home depot tells its stores, 'get . comfortable with days of inventory, not weeks'. Wall Street Journal (Online) Retrieved
from
https://search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/1799658226?accountid=8289 on October 31, 2016.