Global Business Experience

2014-2015
Industry Structure Analysis Paper
Description
The industry structure analysis is intended to demonstrate your understanding
of the dynamics and profitability of the industry relevant to your project. As
referred to in the Consulting Methods lecture, this analysis is a necessary first
step in thinking through the project issue to be addressed, generating an initial
hypothesis to answer the issue, and designing a work plan for the team.
What is required is more than a flat, unprocessed delivery of industry or
market facts. This is not intended to be a book report, nor a superficial slog
through the Porters 5 Forces Analysis framework. You need the facts, to be
sure; and Porters framework is an excellent way to marshal those facts and
get smart. More important, however, is how you think about those facts, and
the forces at work in the industry, what you conclude about the industry, and
how those conclusions might color an opinion about what your client is asking
of you.
Conclusions about the industry might include, for example, that the industry is
crowded, undifferentiated and largely unprofitable; or that the market has very
attractive profits, largely because it is exceptionally difficult to enter; or growth
is so intense that the competition cannot keep up with it, and so on. These
would all be important conclusions for a yes/no to market entry, or business
expansion. So, we are looking for you to interpret and apply, not simply
report.
Grading
Your

paper quality and your grade will depend on:

How well you organize the delivery of basic data
How intelligently you focus on relevant data and interpret that data
How closely all is tied to the project issue, including initial hypotheses

Guidelines

This is a team-based assignment (not individual submissions)

It is advisable to agree with your faculty on the appropriate industry
boundaries before beginning. Also advisable is an agreement on the
issue at hand, and the cementing of a target of success. Know the
industry, the question asked, and the target for which you are aiming.

Paper length: 12 pages are required (not including exhibits)

Papers are due by 5pm on Friday, January 9th via email to:
<js243@georgetown.edu>