Research Brief- Pick a company (Part 1) "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.

Analyze the business environment and competition using Jack's Five Slide Methodology. Write a 5-6 pages paper that includes: Introduction, Body: Slides 1-5, and Conclusion Depending on the company not all questions can be answer, if applied answer not available

Slide 1: What the Playing Field Looks Like Now

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

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

• 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?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor? How good are its products? How much does each one spend on R&D? How big is each sales force? How performance-driven is each culture?

• Who are this business's main customers, and how do they buy? Slide 2: What the Competition Has Been Up To

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

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

• Are there any new entrants, and what have they been up to in the past year? Slide 3: What You've Been Up To (company picked)

• What have you done in the past year to change the competitive playing field?

• Have you bought a company, introduced a new product, stolen a competitor's key salesperson, or licensed a new technology from a startup?

• Have you lost any competitive advantages that you once had-a great salesperson, a special product, a proprietary technology? Slide 4: What's Around the Corner?

• What scares you most in the year ahead-what are one or two things a competitor could do to nail you?

• What new products or technologies could your competitors launch that might change the game?

• What M&A deals would knock you off your feet? Slide 5: What's Your Winning Move?

• What can you do to change the playing field-is it an acquisition, a new product, globalization?

• What can you do to make customers stick to you more than ever before and be more loyal to you than to anyone else?

Slide Deck (Part 2) In today's fast-moving, global environment with rapid technological change and competition popping-up from all directions, it's important to harness quick, agile strategy development practices. You will use the organization to develop and present a 5-slide strategy. You will develop your strategy from a leadership perspective, with your intended audience being the executive team at your company.

Analyze the business environment and competition using: Jack's 5-slide strategy methodology can be found in Chapter 11 of Winning. Develop and deliver a compelling PowerPoint desk with notes presentation that informs, frames, and persuades the executive team to support your strategic plan.

Your presentation and deliverable should address the following criteria: 1. Present your key findings and analysis for each of the four elements: 1. Slide 1 - The playing field 2. Slide 2 - The competition 3. Slide 3 - Your organization 4. Slide 4 - What's around the corner? 5. Slide 5 - Persuasively and logically present your "Winning Move"

PowerPoint slides include talking points in the "Notes" pane. The talking points demonstrate thought process, rationale, and presentation planning. Incorporate your understanding of important and relevant questions for your company and industry.