MGT/498: Strategic Management

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qwz144

Business Finance

University of pacific

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Week 3: “Environmental Scanning” Purpose of Assignment A strategic management plan addresses four different management functions: environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, evaluation and control. Weeks 3, 4 and 5 individual assignments (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) are integrated to generate a strategic management plan. The purpose of the Week 3 individual assignment is to evaluate the internal and external environments of a company selected by the student, to analyze the competitive advantage of the selected company, to evaluate a set of suitable strategies, and to examine appropriate metrics. This assignment provides students an opportunity to research a selected company as if they were involved in a company's actual strategic management planning process. It allows students to see which management planning process and management plan the selected company is currently using, allowing them to measure the effectiveness of current strategies. A Strategic Management Plan addresses four different management functions: Environmental Scanning, Strategy Formulation, Strategy Implementation, Evaluation and Control. The Week 3, 4, and 5 Individual Assignments (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) are integrated to generate a Strategic Management Plan. This is Part 1 of the three part Strategic Management Plan. Assignment Steps Write a 1,050-word report in which you select a company you are familiar with, NOT the company where you currently work (Most people do not know how to cite sources, they believe they just know the information), and do the following: • • • • • Evaluate the internal and external environments of your selected company using an environmental scan. Analyze the competitive advantage of your selected company. Evaluate the strategies your selected company uses to create value and gain competitive advantage. Examine the measurement guidelines your selected company uses to verify its strategic effectiveness. Evaluate the effectiveness of the measurement guidelines your selected company uses. Cite 3 scholarly references, including at least one peer-reviewed reference from the University Library. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Week 4: “Strategy Formulation” The Week 4 individual assignment is the second part of a three part strategic management plan for the company selected by the student in Week 3. The purpose of the assignment is for students to establish long-term goals and objectives; indicate, specify and discuss strategies; and investigate, consider and describe specific business strategies including vertical integration and strategic alliances, to achieve competitive advantage in the industry. The student also generates an appropriate organizational chart in alignment with the stated strategies. Weeks 3, 4, and 5 Individual Assignments are integrated to generate a Strategic Management Plan. This is Part 2 of the three part Strategic Management Plan. Assignment Steps • • • • • • • • • • • • • Write a 1,050-word report on the company you selected in Week 3, following up on the Individual Assignment of Week 3 (Environmental Scanning), and address the following: Establish Long-term Goals and Objectives Strategy Formulation. Indicate the markets that the company will pursue. Specify the unique value the company will offer in the selected markets. Discuss the resources and capabilities that are required. Analyze how the company will capture value and sustain competitive advantage over time. Business Management Strategy Consider Cost and Differentiation Advantages. Describe the Corporate Strategy. Investigate Vertical Integration. Describe Strategic Alliances. Detail the Company Competitive Advantage. Generate an Organizational Chart of the company you selected. Cite at least 3 scholarly references. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Week 5: “Strategy Implementation, Evaluation and Control” Weeks 3, 4 and 5 Individual Assignments are integrated to generate a Strategic Management Plan. This is part three of the three part Strategic Management Plan addressing strategy implementation, evaluation and control. The purpose of the Week 5 individual assignment is to allow the student to discuss and explain how the strategies discussed in prior weeks are converted into implementation activities both domestically and internationally, in alignment with legal, social and ethical considerations. Furthermore, the student has an opportunity to explain and discuss how the strategic plan and implementation activities will be monitored. Weeks 3, 4, and 5 Individual Assignments are integrated to generate a Strategic Management Plan. This is Part 3 of the three part Strategic Management Plan. Assignment Steps • • Write a 1,050-word report on the company you selected in Week 3, following up on the Individual Assignment of Week 3 (Environmental Scanning), and address the following: Strategy Implementation Discuss International Strategy. • • • • • • • • Discuss Strategic Implementation. Explain the influence of Governance and Ethics. Discuss the Company Social Value. Discuss Innovation and Diversification. Discuss Legal limitations. Evaluation and Control Explain Strategic Metrics. Discuss Key Financial Ratios. Cite at least 3 scholarly references. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
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Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING – APPLE INC.

Environmental Scanning – Apple Inc.
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING – APPLE INC.
Internal and external environments
Apple Inc. was started in 1976 by Steve Jobs. The company is famous for its
aggressive pioneer, its glamorous product design, and its up-to-date technology. Three
researchers: Usman Ali Khan, Mohammad Noor Alam, and Shabbir Alam, have come up with a
report entailing the internal and external environments of Apple. They achieved this by applying
techniques such as SWOT analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis, and PESTEL analysis.
Internal Environment
A SWOT analysis was used to summarize the major issues from Apple’s business
environment. In this case, strengths and weaknesses are considered to be part of the company’s
internal environment. Opportunities and threats form the company’s’ external environment.
Below are the strengths and weaknesses of Apple Inc. (Khan, Alam & Alam, 2015).
Apple has, since opening up its personal computer business, enjoyed rapid growth
from its large sales volume. The company has managed to maintain its top position, according to
Forbes, with a capital of up to $416.62 billion. Apple’s worldwide recognition is attributed to the
aggressiveness of its founder, Steve Jobs. The company had earlier positioned its major branches
in locations of high traffic, a factor that has contributed to its high revenues. Another strength of
Apple Inc. is its trustworthiness. Customers can wait behind long queues in the cold to get the
newest iPhone. Also, these gadgets are easy to use and understand.
Being the world’s largest IT company comes with greater responsibilities. In spite
of the company having a strong promotion strategy, its weakness is revealed by its dependency
on iPhones and iPods. Additionally, the brand’s hardware can only be used on iOS gadgets,
whereby android, its closest competitor, does not have such issues (Khan, Alam & Alam, 2015).

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING – APPLE INC.
External Environment
In political terms, Apple faces several challenges since it has had numerous
contract suppliers around the world. Since a bulk of its sales contribution is outside the US,
political insurgencies would affect the company on a large scale. The company has recently been
under political pressures that arise from issues such as suicide cases of its major supplier,
Foxconn (Khan, Alam & Alam, 2015).
Factors that have affected the company economically include the high
unemployment rates in the United States, China, and Japan between 2012 and 2013. When
countries such as America, Europe, and Japan were recovering from the global recession, Apple
was affected.
Social analysis has shown that Apple has always been making changes to its
products to satisfy customer needs. It has, therefore, made several acquisitions including, Topsy,
Prime Sense, and Embark. It has also made alliances with Sony, Phillips, AT&T, and Motorola.
By 2013, the company’s sales had increased by huge proportions in India.
From a technological point of view, Apple has proven to be a trendsetter when it
comes to the business of consumer electronics and innovation. It was able to maintain 49% of its
entire population of consumers, according to Forbes. Its deal with China Mobile has acquired the
company 760 subscribers of China Mobile, giving it a great competitive advantage (Khan, Alam
& Alam, 2015).
Apple’s competitive advantage
Apple Inc. manufactures and sells electronic products such as computers,
smartphones, tablets, and music gadgets (Gupta & Prinzinger, 2013). The key components of the

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING – APPLE INC.
company’s competitive advantage are its brand strength, premium pricing, innovation, and
management of the supply chain.
The company’s brand strength gives it great visibility on a global scale. Apple
has established an interrelationship among its products to encourage consumers who purchase
one product to try another. Since products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac all run on the same
software, iOS. This means that they are easy to use and so become the natural choice of
consumers who want to get new gadgets.
It is difficult to mention Apple Inc. without thinking of innovation. The company
has, over the years, established a reputation and has shown commitment to the development of
new products. A major factor of its competitive advantage is its ability to create new products on
the same operating system platform. As a result, the company can minimize risks...


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