Assignemnt: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

The company you will use in this assignment: (Apple Inc.)

1. SWOT analysis:

1.1. External analysis:

Identify opportunities and threats as follows:

- Four opportunities: two competitive forces, and two general forces
- Four threats: two competitive forces, and two general forces

1.2. Internal analysis:

Identify strengths and weaknesses as follows:

- Three strengths: one tangible resource, one intangible resource, and one capability
- Identify three weaknesses: one tangible resource, one intangible resource, and one capability

2. Value chain analysis:

2.1. Core business:

- Give the name of your company's core business (if several core businesses, choose one)
- Give the names of three activities your firm performs along the core business' value chain
- Give the names of two activities your company has outsourced

2.2. Brand (or model) within the core business:

- Name one brand your analysis will focus on (if the brand has several models, name one model)
- Give the name of, and explain, the value your firm seeks to create for that brand (or model)

3. Performance analysis:

3.1. Financial performance:

- Name one financial indicator you have chosen to analyze your firm's financial performance
- Based on that indicator, analyze your firm's financial performance

3.2. Strategic performance:

- Name one strategic indicator you have chosen to analyze your firm's strategic performance
- Based on that indicator, analyze your firm's strategic performance

4. Competitive advantage analysis:

Based on points 1, 2, and 3 above, state whether your company has achieved a competitive advantage for the brand or model you have chosen (e.g.: For its Corvette model, General Motors has achieved a competitive advantage). Explain your answer. In your explanation, focus on whether your company has excelled in creating the value that the brand or model you have chosen was seeking.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

- Do not provide answers that go beyond what the question is asking
- Although you only discuss your answers, put them in writing so you can refer to them
- DO NOT SKIP A QUESSTION: Have an answer to every question
- Several students have the same company
- It is up to those students to decide whether to share homework answers
- However, during your discussion, you are solely responsible for the answers you give.