Assignment

"Strategy means making clear-cut choices about how to compete. You cannot be everything to everybody, no matter what the size of your business or how deep its pockets." Jack Welch

For this assignment you will use Jack's Five Slide Methodology to analyze the business environment and competition. Specifically, you will draft slides 1 and 2 and explain your rationale and research in an accompanying research brief.

4-7 Page Research Brief. Analyze the business environment and competition using Jack's Five Slide Methodology.

1. Slide 1 - What does the "Playing Field Look Like?"

a. Who are the competitors in this business, large and small, new and old?

b. Who has what share, globally and in each market? Where do we fit in?

c. What are the characteristics of this business? Is it a commodity, high value, or somewhere in between? Is it long cycle or short? Where is it on the growth curve? What are the drivers of profitability? d. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor? How good are its products? How much does each one spend on research and development (R&D)? How big is each sales force? How performance-driven is each culture?

e. Who are this business's main customers, and how do they buy?

2. Slide 2 - What has "the Competition Been Up To?"

a. What has each competitor done in the past year to change the playing field?

b. Has anyone introduced game-changing new products, new technologies, or a new distribution channel?

c. Are there any new entrants, and what have they been up to in the past year?

Draft Slides 1 and 2. Develop slide 1 and 2 for your final project.

1. Draft slide 1 a. Synthesize your market research to provide key, relevant bullet points from slide 1. 2. Draft slide

2. 2 a. Synthesize your market research to provide key, relevant bullet points from slide 2.

GUIDE to reference

1. Describe what the "Playing Field Looks Like" today.

a. The student describes relevant industry, competitor, and customer information, and was mostly clear and concise. Satisfactorily demonstrated synthesis of information, ability to determine key information, and make novel connections and insights.

2. Describe "What the Competition Has Been Up To".

a. The student clearly and concisely described relevant competitor information. Completely demonstrated synthesis of information, ability to determine key information, and make novel connections and insights.

3. Research finding and facts are supported with in-text citations, appendixes, and references.

a. Most research findings and facts are supported with in-text citations, appendixes, and references; and/or the formatting is mostly consistent and enables the reader to identify the source.

4. Research brief and slides are logical, professionally formatted, and free from grammatical errors.

a. Research brief is logical and professional. It includes a cover page, may have mostly appropriate headings, font, and spacing. Mechanics and usage errors, if any, are minor and have no impact on the flow.