Assignment: Internal Analysis
Overview
The vice president of strategy for your selected firm (Ford, Procter & Gamble, Virgin Group, or Build-Your-Own firm) has asked you to prepare an objective review of the internal strengths and weaknesses of the firm. Your leaders are hoping to use this understanding to plan for the future direction of the organization.
Note: Use the same firm you used in your previous two assignments. You are to use the same firm for all coursework.
Assignment Context
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assignment criteria:
• Competency 1 - Apply strategic theories, models, and best practices to understand and explain an organization's strategy.
o Explain possible ethical dilemmas and governance issues.
• Competency 2 - Analyze the fit of the internal elements (resources, capabilities, goals, structures, systems, and values) with the organizational strategy.
o Evaluate how the selected firm leverages its resources and capabilities to execute the business strategy.
o Evaluate the effectiveness of the organizational structure and management system design.
• Competency 4 - Communicate in a manner that is professional and consistent with expectations for members of the business professions.
o Write coherently to support a central idea; use current APA style, and correct grammar, usage, and mechanics, as expected of a business professional.
Assignment Preparation
Use the Capella University Library, the Internet, your textbook case studies, or resources provided in Firm Research Information (linked in the Resources) to find at least four current, scholarly, or professional resources that provide the information you need for this assignment.
Assignment Requirements
Prepare a 4-6 page executive briefing report identifying not only internal strengths and weaknesses, but also a rationale that addresses why your analysis pointed to a particular strength or weakness. Also, be sure to focus on strategic elements (capabilities) of the firm and on how the strategic elements fit into the strategic position of the company.
Use the Assessment 3 Executive Briefing Report template (linked in Resources). Use clear headings and subheadings to organize the key points of your report, and include the following:
• Evaluate how the selected firm leverages its resources and capabilities to execute the business strategy. Are the firm's capabilities found in its functions or the value chain, or both? Does the strategy give coherence to decisions about allocation of resources?
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the organizational structure and management system design. Include the firm's ability to support the key resources and capabilities that execute the business strategy. Is the organizational structure suited for the particular tasks and particular business environment of the firm?
• Explain possible ethical dilemmas and governance issues. These issues may include shareholders and stakeholders, distribution of excess profits, and top management's pay.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.