Detailed Guidelines for Term Project BS

8/9/2019 Detailed Guidelines for Term Project BS

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Detailed Guidelines for Term ProjectMain Purpose:The Term Project consists of Industry and firm specific monitoring of the environment and

preparation of a written analysis. Major goals of this exercise are to help you feel comfortableunderstanding of business strategies and to help you integrate the course concepts into a coherent

framework. Accomplishing this educational goal is important to any career path that requireshigher-level managerial decision-making under conditions of uncertainty. Based on the data

collected by you, a comprehensive analysis of the strategies adopted by the company can bemade and which can also be critically examined. Consistent with the objectives of your EPGDIB

Programme, we will focus on companies facing intense competition especially due to WTO,liberalized environment and the current global economic meltdown. A well-prepared report will

include a discussion of any relevant ethical and global issues facing the firm.

Format:I envision a comprehensive Report that contains about ten to fifteen pages of text, but it may be

considerably longer when supporting exhibits (tables and figures) are included. As the report isrelatively short, a table of contents is not essential, however sub-headings should be used. A

suggested outline is provided below.Title Page

Executive SummaryIntroduction/Industry

External EnvironmentIndustry Dynamics

Internal capabilities & resourcesAdditional Issues

Assessment of overall DirectionConclusions

Exhibits (should include the relevant information from the news papers, articles from business

magazines, journals etc.)References.


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Student Resources:

As a student of IIFT you have access to several excellent business research sources through thelibrary. Among others, these include India Trades, Prowess, India Stat, EIS-CMIE, etc.

Moreover you also have numerous industry specific sites and firm specific sites. Use them tosupplement the data you have collected through the print media.

Specific Guidelines:Be sure to discuss strategies relative to- a) Companys history and b) industry trends. Also, becontext specific as possible: What life-cycle stage is the industry in?, the company in? What are

the environment factors? What is the generic strategic option pursued? How well the resources ofthe firm supports the strategy adopted? You can also use the functional management tools

studied elsewhere in the Programme.

Section Guidelines:Title page:

Should include Title (eg. Company X: Strategy Analysis); (by) author name; Course, Roll No.(Ambarish Singh, EPGDIB (VSat) 2003-05, 52); (for) Course Coordinator, Trimester.

Executive summary:

One paragraph synopsis of the topic and conclusions.

External Environment:

Introduction:

Introduce the reader to the company and industry.

Industry Dynamics:

Based on the data collected, identify the stage of the industry, the forces shaping the industry,critical success factors for the firms in the industry, the business landscape etc.

Competitive Advantage:


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The sources of Competitive Advantage for the firm can be identified through the primary data

you collect about the firm. Try to see how well the firm utilizes the Competitive Advantage andhow far it is sustainable.

Competitive Reactions:

The Competitive Reactions, especially of the close competitors and the support/threats ofcompetitive forces should be identified. Also how the firm is tackling such reactions thoughinternal and external factors and strategic tools should be discussed.

Additional Issues:

There may be certain major issues specific to the industry/firm which may influence the

competitive strategy of the firm which is not covered by you in the above. Also you may beinterested to lay stress on some of the issues which are covered in the earlier sections. Such

issues in a different perspective may also be included in this section.

Assessment of overall direction:

In this section you can put together your assessment on the overall direction taken by the firm inthe given competitive situation. Also you can integrate the course concepts and your practical

learning in this section.

Conclusions:

Recommendations for management (supported by analysis in the paper).One way to approach this section is to tie-in the conclusions made in each sub-section


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Format for Strategy Action Update

Name of the Company :

Industry :

Market Share (Latest) :

Turn Over :

THE MISSION UPDATE:

1. What is the vision of the leader of the organization?(Where is he taking organization in the long run?)

2. What core competencies need to be obtained?

3. What will the organization look like in five years time?

4. Is there any change in the Mission Statement of the organization in the recent past?

5. If yes, what are the circumstances which led to such changes?

THE EXTERN

AL ENV

IRON

MEN

T UPDATE:1. What are the most important economic factors in the organizations domestic market?2. What are the most important economic factors in markets abroad?

3. What are the most important political factors likely to affect the organization?4. Which legal factors affect or could affect the organization?

5. Which current demographic trends may affect the organizations workforce?6. What are the trends in demand for the organizations main services or products?

7. Is there any key political legislation which could affect your industry(ies)?

THECOMPETITION UPDATE:

Current Industry competitors

Under each category below, put in the names of companies or people where appropriate. Regardthis as a simple measure of your knowledge of the industry.

1. Which are the top performers in your industry?2. Are there any other important national competitors?

3. Who are the strategically most dangerous people in competing organizations?


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4. Which are the important regional or local competitors?5. Which are the current customers most likely to integrate backward?

6. Which are the current suppliers most likely to integrate forward?7. Any organizations which might enter the industry?

STRENGTHS, NEUTRALS, AND WEAKNESSES OF THE FIRM:

Check each of the following categories in terms of it being strength, neutral, or a weakness.Sometimes it helps to allocate a number from 1 to 5 indicating high (5), medium (3), or low (1).Thus a Neutral with a 5 on it would be very close to Strength with a 1 on the same category.

Organization functionStrength Neutral Weakness

Accounting skills (financial)

Accounting skills (management)

Access to finance

Business strategy

Corporate strategy

Cost structure of businessDistribution network

Divisional strategy

Entry barriers

Exit barriers

Information technology

Innovation

Lateral communication

Leaders ability

Leadership in generalLoyalty of workforce

Management ability


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Manufacturing skills

Marketing skills

Organization structure

Products

Quality of brands

Quality of staff

Reputation in market

Reputation as employer

Relationship with government

Relationship regulator

Relationship with trade union

Relationships with suppliers

Research and development

Services

Selling skills

Technical engineering skills

Personnel administration

Vertical communication

Additional categories(Relevant to your particular

iness)


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SUMMARY OF SNW UPDATE

Select the top four strengths, neutrals, and weaknesses from your analysis on the previous pagesand set them out below with a brief note on how you might use, neutralize, or improve the effects

of each on the success of your firm is vis--vis competition.

The strengths

1.

___________________________________________________________2.

___________________________________________________________3.

___________________________________________________________4.

___________________________________________________________

The neutrals

1.____________________________________________________________2.____________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________4.____________________________________________________________

The weaknesses

1.____________________________________________________________2.____________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________

5.___________________________________________________________

Detailed Guidelines for Term Project BS

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