Corporate Strategy
All assignments are linked together from assessment 1 to assessment 6
business analysis of your key research findings regarding your selected firm's level of
diversification (product scope), geographical and vertical scope, and the overall fit with the
business strategy or strategies.
Note: The assessments in this course are sequenced in such a way as to help you build specific
skills that you will use throughout your program. Complete the assessments in the order in which
they are presented.
Note: The assessments in this course are sequenced in such a way as to help you build specific
skills that you will use throughout your program. Complete the assessments in the order in which
they are presented.
Overview
The vice president of corporate strategy at the headquarters of your selected firm (Ford, Proctor
and Gamble, Virgin Group, or another firm you have selected) has requested that you provide
her with a business analysis of your key findings regarding the firm's level of diversification
(product scope), geographical and vertical scope, and the overall fit with the business strategy or
strategies (identified in Assessment 1 of the course).
Preparation
Use the Capella University Library, the Internet, or resources provided in the Firm Research
Information document (in the Suggested Resources) to find at least four current, scholarly, or
professional resources that provide the information you need to complete this assessment.
Requirements
In 4–6 pages, provide a business analysis of the firm you selected. Your analysis should do all of
the following:
• Analyze the corporate strategy of the selected firm, 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?
• Analyze the firm's overall corporate structure and key management systems. Does the
firm employ any of the following three elements of corporate strategy: diversification,
vertical integration, or globalization? Are global alliances an overall part of the corporate
strategy?
• Analyze the strategic fit between the business and corporate strategies of the selected
firm.
Use clear headings and subheadings to organize the key points of your analysis.
Your report should be clearly written and communicate effectively to organizational leadership;
use correct grammar, spelling and mechanics as expected of a business professional. Cite and
reference all sources using current APA style.
Additional Requirements
• References: Support your business analysis with at least four academic resources from
the Capella University Library.
• APA Style: Use proper APA style for all citations and references.
• Length: 4–6 double-spaced, typed pages, not including the references list or title page.
• Written communication: Demonstrate graduate-level writing skills through accurate
communication of thoughts that convey the overall goals of the analysis and do not
detract from the message.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• All papers must have abstract, introduction, conclusion
Note: Faculty may also use the Writing Feedback Tool to provide feedback on your writing. In
the tool, click the linked resources for helpful writing information.
Corporate Strategy Scoring Guide
Criteria
Proficient
Distinguished
Analyzes the corporate strategy
of the selected firm, including
product, geographical, and
vertical scope.
Analyzes the corporate
strategy of the selected
firm, including
product, geographical,
and vertical scope and
summarizes key
findings.
Analyze the firm's overall
corporate structure and key
management systems.
Analyzes the firm's overall
corporate structure and key
management systems.
Analyzes the firm's
overall corporate
structure and key
management systems
and summarizes key
findings.
Analyze the strategic fit between
the business and corporate
strategies of the selected firm.
Analyzes the strategic fit
between the business and
corporate strategies of the
selected firm.
Synthesizes the
strategic fit between
the business and
corporate strategies of
the selected firm.
Analyze the corporate strategy of
the selected firm, including
product, geographical, and
vertical scope.
Write coherently to support a
Writing coherently supports a
Writing is coherent,
central idea (in appropriate APA central idea in appropriate APA using evidence to
Criteria
Proficient
format) with correct grammar, format, with few errors of
usage, and mechanics as expected grammar, usage, and
of a business professional.
mechanics.
Distinguished
support a central idea
in a consistently
appropriate APA
format, with correct
grammar, usage, and
mechanics as expected
of a business
professional.
Research Information
Review the following resources to further your understanding of a selected firm to use in your
coursework. Use additional resources from the Capella University Library, Internet, your text
case studies, or your own research, as needed, for completing the course assessments.
Ford
Ford is a complex multinational organization that has recently focused on strategic initiatives to
address production capacity, supply chain reliability, sustainability, and technological innovation
in order to remain competitive in the rapidly changing automotive industry.
Grant, R. M., and Jordan, J. (2012). Ford and the world automobile industry in 2012. Hoboken,
NJ: Wiley and Sons.
Currie, A., Larsen, P. T. (2011, Jun 7). Ambitious goals for Ford. The New York Times.
Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/business/08views.html?_r=0
Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative. (n.d). Ford Motor Company manages ethics and social
responsibility [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu/pdf/ford-motorcase.pdf
Henry, J. (2015). One Ford, part two; Tweaking The master plan. Forbes. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhenry/2015/08/30/one-ford-part-two-tweaking-the-masterplan/#3d15b7147333
Miller, D. (2016, April 9). Dispelling 3 Ford Motor Company shareholder concerns. The Motley
Fool. Retrieved from http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/09/dispelling-3-fordmotor-company-concerns.aspx
Procter and Gamble
This is a huge multinational firm with products you probably buy every day. This business is
interesting because the company is focusing on science and technology to help it revise many
of its business strategies and contribute to overall company goals for sustainability and
corporate social responsibility. Search for the articles by following the instructions in the Library
Guide:
•
Brown, B., & Anthony, S. D. (2011). How P&G tripled its innovation success rate.
Harvard Business Review, 89(6), 64–72.
•
Dillon, K. (2011). I think of my failures as a gift. Harvard Business Review, 89(4), 86–89.
•
Lafley, A. G., Martin, R. L., Rivkin, J. W., & Siggelkow, N. (2012). Bringing science to the
art of strategy. Harvard Business Review, 90(9), 56–66.
•
Lafley, A. G., & Tichy, N. M. (2011). The art and science of finding the right CEO.
Harvard Business Review, 89(10), 66–74.
Virgin Group
A multinational conglomerate with more than two dozen Virgin-branded companies, Virgin
operates in at least 13 regions around the globe, in seven industries (Virgin, n.d.).
It becomes apparent that Virgin’s corporate strategies include diversification and globalization,
and some argue there are opportunities for Virgin to vertically integrate companies within certain
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market segments-travel and lifestyle markets, for example. Yet, however Virgin’s corporate
strategies are labeled, the brand is the dominant resource that Richard Branson leverages to
acquire and develop new business that differentiates Virgin from the competition (Ankeny,
2012).
Branson’s philosophy toward management of Virgin companies includes keeping intact the
entrepreneurial spirit of firms acquired or merged. He defends his approach to keeping a
multitude of individual entrepreneurial companies with the Virgin brand as follows: “Often,
owning a number of individual stand-alone companies run by different people can be more
effective than having one giant company with lots of people working together” (Maxwell, 2014,
And what about making the difficult decisions concerning people heading, para. 2).
A strategic assessment of Virgin is an assessment of how well an individual Virgin company fits
the Virgin business model. Prahalad and Bettis (1986) might define the business model of Virgin
as the dominant logic that describes the rationale for Virgin’s diversification strategy.
Choose one of the following Virgin companies to conduct a comprehensive organizational
strategic assessment:
•
Virgin Atlantic.
•
Virgin Galactic.
•
Virgin Media.
•
Virgin Records.
References
Ankeny, J. (2012, June). Richard Branson on building and empire. Entrepreneur, 40(6), 30–38.
Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223639
Maxwell, C. (2014). Sir Richard Branson. Retrieved from http://www.director.co.uk/sir-richardbranson/
Prahalad, C. K., & Bettis, A. (1986). The dominant logic: A new linkage between diversity and
performance. Strategic Management Journal, 7(6), 485–501.
Virgin. (n.d.). Find a Virgin company. Retrieved from http://www.virgin.com/company
Additional Resources
Hunter, M. (2013). Typologies and sources of entrepreneurial opportunity (II). Economics,
Management & Financial Markets, 8(4), 69–141.
Altman, W. (2009). Branson: The global brand builder. Engineering & Technology, 4(2), 80–81.
Rubin, E. N. (2013). Assessing your leadership style to achieve organizational objectives.
Global Business & Organizational Excellence, 32(6), 55–66.
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