MB609 Capstone Case and Industry Analysis - Complete Course

DISCUSSION QUESTION 1-1
Two (2) key factors in determining the cost-effectiveness and potential profitability of bringing any product or service to market are supply and demand and price determination. After reviewing your Required Readings, address the following issues. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)

1. What is learned from a well-formulated supply and demand curve analysis and how does this information help determine optimum production rates for maximum profitability?


2. What is the correlation between employee benefits and return on investment assets, return on equity, and return on sales?


3. How can the inability to compete profitably on price be overcome?
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DISCUSSION QUESTION 1-2
Having successfully brought a new product to market, you are now ready to take your company public. Discuss how each of the following economic indicators may affect the environment for the launching of your initial public offering (IPO). Overall, how soon should you launch a public offering given the cyclic nature of the economy? (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)

1. Nominal Gross Domestic Product (NGDP): The nominal gross domestic product is increasing at the rate of 2.6% annually, while the Real Gross National Product (RGNP) is rising only 2.3%.


2. Consumer Price Index (CPI): The Consumer Price Index has been rising at a fraction of a percent per quarter for each of the last four (4) quarters.


3. Discount Rate: The Federal Reserve has announced a reduction in the discount rate of 0.5% and hinted that further cuts may be forthcoming.


4. Unemployment Rate: The rate of unemployment is holding steady, although the rate of new claims is declining somewhat.
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DISCUSSION QUESTION 2-1
Describe the three (3) basic types of organizational structures and the challenges/crises faced by the organization as it moves through each stage of corporate development. In addition, describe the matrix and network organizational structures. Discuss when their use is appropriate. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
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DISCUSSION QUESTION 2-2
Briefly discuss twelve (12) reasons why strategy implementation can fail and twelve (12) safeguards that can prevent implementation from failing. An APA-formatted bibliography is required. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
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DISCUSSION QUESTION 3-1
Define benchmarking and describe the six (6) steps involved in evaluating performance using this method. What are the benefits of benchmarking? (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)

DISCUSSION QUESTION 3-2
Respond to each of the items below. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)

1. List the five (5) basic steps in financial analysis.


2. Why do you believe these steps would be important when conducting a financial analysis?


3. Provide two (2) examples of liquidity ratios and two (2) examples of profitability ratios. For each, include their meaning and how they are expressed.

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ACTIVITY 4
MB609 Capstone: Case & Industry Analysis

Activity 4: Technology and Innovation

The increasingly important role of technology and innovation in modern strategic management emphasizes that strategic managers have an obligation not only to encourage new product and process development, but also to develop a system to ensure that technology is being used most effectively to result in useful innovations. The chapter also describes key issues and techniques under the headings of environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and evaluation and control. To demonstrate your understanding of these concepts, respond to the following. Cite any sources you use in an APA-formatted bibliography. Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document them in a bibliography using APA style. (100 points) (A 4-page response is required.)

Part A How should a corporation scan the external environment for new technological developments? Who should be responsible?

Part B What is technology research and how does it differ from market research?

Part C What is the importance of product and process R&D to competitive strategy?

Part D What factors help determine whether a company should outsource a technology?

Part E How can a company develop an entrepreneurial culture?
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ACTIVITY 5
MB609 Capstone: Case & Industry Analysis

Activity 5: Nonprofit Organizations (100 points)

Select a nonprofit organization of your choice. Using the Internet, journal articles, and other sources of information, provide the following information and address the following issues related to the organization. An APA-formatted bibliography is required. Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document them in a bibliography using APA style. (100 points) (A 4-page response is required for the combination of
Parts A, B, C, D, and E.)

Part A Provide an overview of the organization’s history and purpose.

Part B Discuss the organization’s financial and performance fluctuation.

Part C Evaluate Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors.

Part D Discuss the internal environment (corporate structure, culture, and resources).

Part E Explain whether you think the organization has made the correct strategic decisions and if you feel that they are or are not poised for future success.
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ACTIVITY 6
MB609 Capstone: Case & Industry Analysis

Lesson 6: Competitive Intelligence

Activity 6: Small Businesses and Entrepreneurial Ventures (100 points)

Although many small companies have a number of reasons for not using strategic management practices, strategic management is being used successfully by a growing number of them. This Activity asks you to discuss the important issues for small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures under the headings of strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and evaluation and control. To demonstrate your understanding of these concepts, respond to the following. Cite any sources you use in an APA-formatted bibliography. Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document them in a bibliography using APA style. (100 points) (A 4-page response is required.)

Part A In terms of strategic management, how does a new venture's situation differ from that of an ongoing small company?

Part B How should a small company engage in environmental scanning? To what aspects of the environment should management pay most attention?

Part C What considerations should small-business entrepreneurs keep in mind when they are deciding whether a company should follow a growth or a stability strategy?

Part D How does being family-owned (as compared to being publicly owned) affect a firm's strategic management?

Part E If the owner/manager of a small company asked you for some advice concerning the introduction of strategic planning, what would you tell her?

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STAND-ALONE PROJECT
MB609 Capstone: Strategic Management

Stand-Alone Project: Strategic Audit (200 points)


These past several years have been troubling times for the airline industry. Jet fuel prices alone have risen 110% from January 2001 to December 2006, and 133% from January 2007 to July 2008. Each of the largest U.S. airlines including United/Continental and Delta/Northwest, have filed for bankruptcy at least once. American Airlines (AA) was the only major airline that managed to stay away from bankruptcy for many years. Despite not having turned a profit in 2004 or the first half of 2005, the company hoped its turnaround plan would start yielding results and put it back on the road

ANSWER WILL BE SENT ON EMAIL.