Project - Individual Case Analysis

1. Introduction

This individual research project will be graded based on:

1. Your mastery of the concepts and the theory presented during the semester;

2. How well your ideas are communicated and how well you use the sources;

3. How well quantitative tools are used in support of your suggestions.

This case analysis (12 pages max, ten pages min., double-spaced, single-sided) is of a publicly traded (!) food service or lodging company. It should be prepared according to the guidelines presented below. All matrices are to be incorporated in the text where appropriate and should not straddle two pages. Font size is 12 pts, pages are numbered consecutively, cover page is added but not numbered. The use of headings and sub-headings is mandatory as it helps the clarity of the presentation. Information presented must include the company's most recent financial report.

2. Preparing the matrices and spreadsheets: the analysis

After reading at least five company-specific and five industry-specific sources, prepare these spreadsheets and matrices: 

Complete a common-size and comparative income statement and see all matrix format in samples

1. Common-size & Comparative Analyses of the 2015 and 2016 income statements for the company;

2. An EFE Matrix summarizing the most important external factors (3 O-T);

3. An IFE Matrix summarizing the most important internal factors (3S-W);

4. ACPM Matrix comparing the company to its two most important competitors (based on sources!);

5. ASWOT Matrix (3 SWOT&2 potential strategies ineach quadrant), based on IFE & EFE information;

6. A QSPM Matrix assessing each of the 8 strategies from the SWOT leading to three final strategies.

3. Putting together the paper: the format.

Incorporate the matrices into the discussion and present the following in a logically structured and clearly presented format:

a. Executive Summary (One- page summary of objectives& strategies, written last but positioned first!)

b. An introduction of the company, its major competitors (Starbucks & Chipotle, examples showed in sample files) and the field it operates in, highlighting some of the issues that have affected the field as a whole recently (sources). This includes a discussion of your financial analysis of the most recent income statements. The spreadsheet with your common-size and comparative analyses, and with major ratios highlighted, is an addendum, not part of the paper or the word count.

c. A discussion of the first long-term objective(3-year) in the format discussed in class(see format in "future objective pdf file page 24-41), with the proposed strategy, the means to achieve it and three yearly benchmarks to measure progress towards the objective;.

d. A discussion of the second long-term objective (3-year) in the format discussed in class, with the proposed strategy,   the means to achieve it and three yearly benchmarks to measure progress towards the objective;.

e. A discussion of the third long-term objective (3-year) in the format discussed in class, with the proposed strategy, the means to achieve it and three yearly benchmarks to measure progress towards the objective;.

f. A conclusion in which you highlight the merits of your suggestions

g. References

Assignment Files -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z9vhonc2j6biqr/Assignment%20Files.rar?dl=0