ASSIGNMENT BMST5103

MAY 2011 SEMESTER STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT BMST5103 ASSIGNMENT (50%)

OBJECTIVE: To apply effectively the key concepts of strategic management including strategy formulation, strategy selection and strategy implementation of a selected corporate company, (either local or international). INSTRUCTIONS: Select ONE public listed company, either local or international, from the following list of companies: PETRONAS, MAYBANK, CIMB, PUBLIC BANK, SIME DARBY GROUP, AIR ASIA, MAS, KPJ, PERODUA, PROTON, MAXIS, MISC, TENAGA, TM, IOI CORP, GENTING, DIGI, ASTRO, & YTL Group. APPLE, MICROSOFT, GE, 3M, IBM, GOOGLE, P&G, WAL-MART STORES, e-Bay, INTEL, AMAZON, STARBUCKS, HP, and DELL. IKEA, NOKIA, VIRGIN, SONY, SAMSUNG, TOYOTA and SIA.

Critically appraise the selected company in terms of its mission, values, goals, objectives and strategies. Conduct an external environmental diagnosis, as well as an internal environmental diagnosis. Examine and discuss the critical success factors, relevant problems and issues in the company that need to be addressed. Recommend strategies for the future growth and development of the company.

Guidelines for Assignment a. Format: Use standard format: Introduction, body & conclusion. Use sub-headers where necessary. b. Your topic must be discussed in the context of Strategic Management. c. This assignment should contain about 3,000-5,000 words (at 15-20 pages) including tables, figures, diagrams, graphs, illustrations and references. (Specify the total number of words written.) d. Your assignment should be typed on A4 paper using 12 pt Times New Roman and 1.5 spacing. e. Provide references. References should use the American Psychological Association (APA) format. References should be latest (year 2005 and onwards).

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f.

Binding of assignment is desired. You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myVLE and a hardcopy to your facilitator. g. Date of submission: Assignments should be submitted according to the fixed date as specified by CGS, OUM. Late submissions will be penalised accordingly. h. Plagiarism is not acceptable. Plagiarised assignment will be rejected. If you are not sure what is meant by plagiarism, refer to the various websites which discuss this matter, e.g. owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts. i. Assessment criteria: Merit will be given to richness of related content, clear and logical presentation, and high level of critical analysis, relevant cross-referencing and original and/or creative ideas.

Suggested Assignment Outline Content/Headings Introduction Sub-headers (Optional) 2 External environmental analysis 4 Critical success factors Brief historical evolution and development of the company Organisational vision, mission statement & values Significance & Impact Porters Five-Forces Model PEST Model Competitor analysis Market survey Core competencies Analysis of organisational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats Elaboration on the SWOT elements Contributing factors that explain how the company or organisation is able to create, and sustain its competitive advantage by analysing some of the following related and relevant issues Globalisation strategy, regional expansion, international expansion Network strategy or industry collaboration Corporate strategy - directional (growth, stability & retrenchment), portfolio and parenting e.g. Integration strategy, diversification strategy, merger, acquisitions, joint-ventures, strategic alliance. Business strategy e.g. Low price or cost strategy, product differentiation, market focus/ market segmentation Functional strategy or operational strategy e.g. 2

Internal environmental analysis

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5 Problems & Issues

strategic marketing strategy, strategic human resource management, R&D, Just-in-time Management, ERP, MIS, ISO, franchising, direct selling, etc Organisational structure or design, job design, management systems, policies & practices e.g. restructuring, centralisation, decentralisation, open communication, teamwork etc. Organisational control and evaluation e.g. Balanced Scorecard, Benchmarking Organisational culture e.g. a learning organisational culture Leadership & management Corporate governance, corporate social responsibility/ business ethics Crisis management / risk management Change management (restructuring reengineering, & innovation, Any other critical success factors Implications of these CSFs Problems and issues that need to be addressed Implications of the problems Justifications of how the organisation should address these key issues or suggestions of how the organisation could create, enhance or sustain its competitive advantage Implications of these recommendations Summary of key points. Develop personal evaluation of related issues, problems, views & ideas

Recommendations

7 Conclusion

END OF ASSIGNMENT