Assignment1
Assignment 1: Strategy vs Goals.
DUE JUNE 11, 11.59PM. WORD DOCUMENT SUBMITTED TO BLACKBOARD.
Based upon your assigned country prepare an assignment that conforms to the following
structure:
1. Identify the latest World Ranking of your assigned country;
2. The bookmakers odds for your assigned country;
3. The goal of your country in the competition;
4. How do you expect your assigned country to compete? Defensive, attack?
5. Provide examples of what your country has done in order to prepare the squad as
well as possible for the competition in terms of the players physical and
psychological welfare.
6. Does your country have a unique competitive position or strategy, or is its focus
simply upon operational effectiveness.
7. If you were trying to convey the nature of your assigned country to someone who
knew nothing about soccer, imagine that your country is a smartphone: what
brand best describes your country, and explain your choice:
a. Apple
b. Blackberry
c. Nokia
d. Samsung
8. Now look at your assigned country and predict the result (win, draw, loss) of each
game in your countrys Group. A country obtains three points for a win, one
point for a draw and 0 points for a loss. Based upon your predictions complete the
table below.
Country Played Win Draw Loss Total Points
3
3
3
3
MGT 490 001 Summer 2014 Page 7 of 16
May 28, 2014 [MGT 490 001, SUMMER 2014]
Assignment 1: Key concepts and Business Strategy
Concept Football Other Industries
Strategy
A unique way of playing (e.g.
Holland in 1970s; Spain 2010,
2014)
Apple;
Ikea
Tesla
Goals e.g. win World Cup;
qualify from group;
secure 6 points in group stage
e.g. become industry number
one;
increase market share;
increase international sales.
Operational effectiveness Training to become better Focus on value chain activities
Competitive position Attack vs defense Choice of generic strategy
Low cost vs differentiation
(Porter)
Disruptive innovation Example: Total Football Example: Apple and
ecosystem;
Spotify
Business model Means of winning games Means of delivering superior
value to target market
External environment
remote environment
Home advantage due to large
number of 12th man fans;
Best medical staff;
Playing conditions;
Decisions of referee;
PEST or PESTEL analysis
Political
Economic
Social
Technological
Environmental
Legal
MGT 490 001 Summer 2014 Page 8 of 16
May 28, 2014 [MGT 490 001, SUMMER 2014]
Concept Football Other Industries
External environment-
industry analysis
intensity of rivalry
Bargaining power of suppliers
Are some groups more intense
than other? Some groups very
difficult due to membership;
others much easier.
– some countries (e.g. Brazil)
have so many excellent
players that it is difficult to
decide on final 22 players;
Some countries have so few
excellent players, it is easy to
decide on final 22.
Are there many rivals (e.g. car
industry), or very few (e.g.
soft drinks). Latter offers a
much more appealing
environment
Companies want to ensure that
they have upper hand in
negotiations with suppliers
External environment
competitor analysis
When you examine different
teams you are conducting
competitor analysis.
Think of the factors that you
employ to assess a team.
You need to understand who
has been strong in the past, but
also who are the new rivals
that are developing new
competences. What are the
critical success factors in the
industry? How does each
company score against the
CSFs?
Internal analysis When you examine your
country, what do you consider
the most important
considerations to address?
Just apply the same approach
as employed to soccer to the
company of your choice.
The strategist The manager The CEO
The product portfolio/brands The players Products/brands
The product life cycle The age of the players The stage of the products
MGT 490 001 Summer 2014 Page 9 of 16
May 2
.nku.edu/webapps/assignment/uploadAssignment?content_id=_2890295_1&course_id=_145261_1&assign_group_id=&mode=view”>Assignment 2: The Strategist
Montgomery stresses that strategy is not just an analytical process. She argues that whilst good analysis is imperative, the success of the strategy ultimately depends upon the performance of the strategist – the CEO or whoever is responsible for implementing the strategy.
Consider the crucial role of Steve Jobs at Apple. Consider the role of Mr Ron Johnson at JC Penney. The coach or manager of each nation participating in the World Cup is “the CEO” or “the strategist”. The manager of each national side has possibly guided the country throught the qualification process. In some cases, the manager may a last minute appointment because the country decided that a change of manager was required.
Just as in business, it is critical to ensure that the strategist or coach is of the highest calibre. Hence,.com/blog/_/name/worldcupcentral/id/1456?cc=5901″>15 of the 32 countries participating in the World Cup will be managed by foreign coaches. Some of the most successful coaches in world soccer will be managing a foreign country. Soccer nations are thus like large global companies. They seek solutions on a global basis, seeking the best manager regardless of nationality. Thus this World Cup may provide some surprises because some countries have attarcted exceptional managers who have been working for years seeking to prepare their side for the competition.
A CEO or “the strategist” needs to develop and communicate clearly their ideas on their chosen strategy. They need to make very important decisions and this requires courage and insight. But often CEOs or “the strategist” can make poor decisions.
A CEO needs to recruit top talent to manage business divisions etc. They need to ensure that the company optimizes its product portfolio. It needs to ensure that there is a good fit between products/brands and the company’s overall strategy. The CEO has to decide which products to divest and which ones to acquire, and or develop. The CEO needs to make sure that the morale of employees is high and that “troublemakers” are dealt with effectively or removed. The CEO needs to undertake detailed strategic analysis to make sure that suitable adjustments are made to strategy as events unfold.
Based upon the performance of the coach ofyour country of choice provide your assessment of your coach in the build up to the world cup and up until June 23 2014.
.nku.edu/webapps/assignment/uploadAssignment?content_id=_2890419_1&course_id=_145261_1&assign_group_id=&mode=view”>Assignment 3: What is the Problem?
Due July 3 11.59 pm. Word Document of no less than 600 Words.
According to Richard Rumelt strategy is all about problem-solving, identifying an internal issue and focusing all efforts on addressing that problem.
Richard Rumelt defines strategyDuration: (2:20)
User:kdhphotovideo -Added:11/22/13
Looking at your country, what do you believe is/was the “big problem” or “big issue” facing or that faced your country during the 2014 World Cup
Has the strategist (i.e. coach/manager) addressed this problem effectively?
This demands that you focus upon an INTERNAL issue not an external issue?
.nku.edu/webapps/assignment/uploadAssignment?content_id=_2894317_1&course_id=_145261_1&assign_group_id=&mode=view”>Assignment 4
Due July 5, Word Document. 300-350 Words.
Rita McGrath argues that the idea of sustainable competitive advantage is now increasingly outdated.
She suggests that companies need to expect a shrinking period in which they can their ability to exploit competitive advantage, and so must be seeking “new waves” of new opportunities.
Others argue that when a competitive advantage is built on solid foundations that companies can and will continue to enjoy enduring competitive advantage.
What does this World Cup suggest about competiitve advantage?
Are the traditionally strongest teams (e.g. Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany) still the ones that reach the final stages of the competition?
Or do we see that the final stages look set to be a contest between very different nations from.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_knockout_stage”>those that reached the final 16 stage in 2010.