Introduction

The assignments have been designed to help you integrate and apply the concepts you have learned up to this point. These concepts provide a foundation on which other course concepts are built. Assessing your comprehension will help ensure that you are on track to successfully complete the course. Refer to the Course Guide for general guidelines on preparing and submitting assignments. Also, be sure to read your instructor's introductory postings pertinent to the assignments in the Discussions area of the course.

The activities in this module have introduced key features of the strategic model. This assignment will test your understanding of these features and what you have learned in Modules 1-3. All of the activities done for this module are the foundation for this assignment; a review the readings and the activities should reveal the appropriate answers to the questions posed.

This assignment consists of two parts: Part A requires an analysis of Build A Bear (as of March 2013), and Part B requires that you submit evidence of your work on the module activities. The assignment is worth 15 per cent of your final grade in the course. Click here to see the Form 10K.

Part A: 80% of the assignment grade

Perform an analysis of Build A Bear. Your analysis will draw on the latest Form 10K (as of March 2013). Your analysis can include information prior to March 2013 but should not draw on any information that you might come across that is post-March 2013. Bear in mind that as a strategic manager you do not have the benefit of foresight and hence your analysis must be confined to the period defined in the Form 10K as of financial year ending March 2013 for this assignment.

Address the following in your analysis:

Read the Build A Bear Case material and identify and analyze the principal strategies that the firm expresses and assess whether these strategies are appropriate for the industry in which it operates.

Identify and explain the forces that have shaped the company and defined its current place in the marketplace. Determine and discuss whether the firm faces more challenges than opportunities in its market.

Prepare a SWOT analysis of the company, revealing awareness of the firm's competencies, capabilities, and resources and relate the same to the opportunities and threats confronting the firm. Pay close attention to its financial performance over the last few years.

Using the SWOT as your foundation, discuss whether the firm's strategies conform to what the theory suggests would be appropriate.

Based on your awareness of the firm as revealed in questions 1-3, what must the firm do to improve its performance and long-term sustainability? As appropriate, refer to strategic management theory and the evidence from the case to support your assessment.

PLEASE INCLUDE:

1-Porter 5 forces analysis

2-SWOT analysis (make table)

3-Vertical and horizontal analysis of income statement

4-Competitive advantage

5-Product differentiation

6-Social and ethical responsibility

7-What is the corporate level strategy?

Part A should not exceed 10 pages in length, double spaced, Times Roman 12 pt. Page setup: 1 inch margin on the left and right.

Part B: 20% of the assignment grade

Write a brief report that demonstrates your active participation in the discussions and contributions to your personal journal. It should include examples of your postings on the activities, your thoughts and personal musings on the problems and issues introduced in the activities, and a summary of what you learned in this module. In addition, you can refer to questions that arose from your work on the activities. If you replied to questions posed by other class participants, indicate what your replies were and whether the interaction with other participants increased your understanding of course concepts, such as strategy formation and the strategic planning process. DO NOT copy and paste from your personal journal or discussion postings. Part B is an executive summary of the relevant issues/theory raised in the module activities.

Part B should not exceed 4 pages in length, double spaced, Times Roman 12 pt. Page setup: 1 inch margin on the left and right.

When you have completed the assignment send it to your Open Learning Faculty Member using the Assignments function in Blackboard.

The assignment must be properly formatted and be professional in appearance. It must include your name, TRU student ID, Course name, assignment number, your TRU or personal email address and your current home mailing address, and other information as described in the course guidelines.

Prepare Assignment 3 in Microsoft Word format. Part A and Part B must be presented in a single document. Assignments will not be graded if both parts are not included.