Current Event Analysis Paper

Learning Objectives: 

 

To demonstrate proficiency in applying concepts, theories and frameworks from the Strategic Management course to the analysis of current business events related to the strategic management of the firm.  This is an important assignment that provides you an opportunity to demonstrate your grasp of core strategy concepts by applying them to an analysis of a chosen current event article.  Take the opportunity to showcase your capacity to grasp and apply strategy concepts to a real world event.

 

Description:

 

Choose one of the articles below after perusing a few.

 

The following links will take you to the full articles listed below.  If you have trouble with the links not working, please copy and paste the title of the article into google search box and that should take you to the full article.  The Economist will allow you to read 2 full articles per day and after that the subscription box will pop up asking you to subscribe. You may do so at a much lower student rate, or continue getting the free articles every day or from different computers in a day.

 

 

 

Uber: Driving Hard, The Economist, June 13. 2015

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21654068-taxi-hailing-company-likely-disrupt-delivery-business-driving-hard

 

 

The sharing economy; Boom and backlash, The Economist, April 26, 2014.

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21601254-consumers-and-investors-are-delighted-startups-offering-spare-rooms-or-rides-across-town

 

The driverless, car-sharing road ahead   The Economist January 2016

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21685459-carmakers-increasingly-fret-their-industry-brink-huge-disruption

 

Walmart Thinking outside the box,  The Economist June 2016

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21699961-american-shoppers-move-online-walmart-fights-defend-its-dominance-thinking-outside

 

An old management idea gets a new lease of life, The Economist  April 2016

http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21696911-tech-fashion-old-management-idea-back-vogue-vertical-integration-gets-new

 

 

 

 

Read the articles above by following the links and choose ONE for your Current Event Analysis paper.  Alternatively, you may base your paper on information drawn from more that one article, if you think you can do so coherently. Read carefully at least 2-3 times and identify the current strategy / change in strategy/ response to changes in external environment, i.e. the key strategic issues confronting the company.

Then, try to clearly identify at least one or two strategic management concepts / theories that would be applicable to the analysis of the given situation and think about how you would apply it to the analysis Try not to say you are going to analyze strategy, but specify what exactly you are going to apply and how.

Lastly, clarify the conclusions / recommendations that can be drawn from the preceding analysis.  In other words, what strategy changes did the company make (or ought to make) and what is your evaluation of these changes, or lack thereof, given the changes in the industry sector and larger external environment?  Do you believe the company has created the basis for a sustainable competitive advantage in light of these changes?  Support your statements / conclusions with hard facts.

 

In terms of a broad outline, divide the paper into three major sections, SUMMARY, ANALYSIS and CONCLUSION. . Make sure your paper includes a title that reflects the subject of the paper.  A generic title such as, Current Event Analysis is not acceptable.  Failure to include an appropriate/ relevant title and sub sections will result in a 10 point penalty. You may  use the sub-titles suggested below to organize and structure your paper.

 

 

1. Introduction –Statement of main idea(s), key issues confronting firm. This section could include a brief summary of the article making sure you focus on the issues to be discussed in the body of the paper. A long-winded, pointless summary could end up hurting your paper, so keep it focused, concise and to the point.

 

 

1. Analysis – identify clearly defined strategic management concepts from course and apply them to the analysis.  Briefly describe your understanding of the selected concepts you plan to apply. When you do so, please make sure you summarize them in your own words, rather than lift it wholesale from the text. Then make sure the example used is linked clearly to the selected strategy concept described earlier. Using broad terms such as marketing / corporate strategy without pinning it down with specific examples and applying it in some depth will result in a superficial analysis and indicate that weak grasp of concepts.

 

 

1. Conclusions / Recommendations – the conclusions need to follow logically from the key issues and the subsequent analysis. This is a good area to inject a well-reasoned point of view, that follows logically form the discussion/analysis.  A weak conclusion that fails to pull the key threads of the paper will weaken your paper.

 

 

 

NOTE: The analysis should demonstrate that you not only understand the firm’s strategy, but can comment on it intelligently using the concepts learned in this course.  Structure the paper so that you have sub-sections such as an Introduction, Analysis and Conclusion. In the Introduction, summarize the main points made in the article and their relationship to strategic management.  In the Analysis section, use the concepts identified earlier to discuss the main ideas presented in the article.  In the Conclusion/ Recommendations, conclude your arguments by commenting on the firm’s strategic choices then draw the main themes together and present your personal point of view on the issues discussed along with suggestions for future strategy aimed at sustaining competitive advantage.  Do remember that the conclusion should follow logically from the ideas presented and discussed in the paper and your personal point of view should be based on sound factual reasoning and evidence.

 

Please name the file with you last name, first name, course number and assignment name(PLP). Five point penalty for failure to name file as required and five point penalty for lack of relevant title/ sub-titles.  

 

 

 

 

Final Deliverable:

 

A 2-3 page, double-spaced, minimum 12 point font paper that includes the key components listed above.  Your paper will be graded on the basis of the quality of the critical insight you bring to the analysis and your ability to use strategy concepts in an appropriate manner in the analysis.  You need to balance summary with analysis and make sure you use specific, clearly defined strategy concepts, such as core competencies, competitive advantage, etc. in your analysis. Explain the concept in your own words first and then apply it to the situation in the selected article. Please note that vague and generalized references to the firm’s marketing strategy or competitive advantage do not constitute insightful analysis.