Business Strategy Analysis Project

This assignment dives deep into your company’s competitive advantage. Here’s what you’ll be exploring:

  1. Identify Key SBUs:
    • Start by listing the important strategic business units (SBUs) or product categories within your company. At a minimum, include the “cash cows” and “stars.”
  2. Analyze Competitive Advantage:
    • Evaluate the “customer willingness-to-pay” and “supplier-opportunity-cost” drivers for the SBUs that give your company its edge. ()
    • Perform an activity analysis to pinpoint the specific activities in the value chain that set your company apart from the competition.
    • Discuss the factors that help your company sustain this competitive advantage and how long-lasting these factors are likely to be.
  3. Innovation for the Future:
    • Detail your company’s efforts in process, product, or technology innovation that aim to protect and enhance its future competitive advantage.

Key concepts & examples:

Review the assigned readings on Competitive Advantage, Sustaining Competitive Advantage, and Leading Breakthrough Innovations and the class slides for helpful explanations and examples.

Research & Tools:

  • NotebookLM: Conduct your analysis using NotebookLM, making sure to populate your notebook with all relevant source materials.
  • Authoritative Sources: Stick to credible sources like:
    • Company 10-K reports
    • Earnings call transcripts
    • Analyst reports from reputable investment banks
    • Industry data providers (e.g., Capital IQ)
  • Summaries: Use your NotebookLM skills to summarize information from these sources into a submission-ready format.

Submission Details:

  • Format: Submit as a .docx or PDF file, approximately 5 pages long.
  • Notebook Link: Share a read-only link to your NotebookLM notebook with me.
  • Deadline: March 20th
  • Points: 100 points

Grading Rubric:

Rubric for Business Strategy Analysis Project (100 points)

Criteria Excellent Good Fair Needs Improvement
SBU Identification Clearly and accurately identifies the company’s key strategic business units (SBUs) or product categories. Identifies SBUs, but the list may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. Attempts to identify SBUs, but the selection is unclear or lacks focus. Fails to identify the company’s key SBUs.
Competitive Advantage Analysis Provides a thorough and insightful analysis of the “customer willingness-to-pay” and “supplier-opportunity-cost” drivers of the company’s competitive advantage. Analyzes the drivers of competitive advantage, but the analysis may lack depth or clarity in some areas. Attempts to analyze the drivers of competitive advantage, but the analysis is superficial or incomplete. Fails to analyze the drivers of competitive advantage.
Activity Analysis Clearly identifies and analyzes the specific activities in the value chain that contribute to the company’s competitive advantage. Identifies relevant value chain activities, but the analysis may lack depth or clarity. Attempts to analyze the value chain, but the analysis is superficial or incomplete. Fails to analyze the value chain or identify relevant activities.
Sustainability & Durability Provides a well-reasoned discussion of the factors that sustain the company’s competitive advantage and their likely durability. Discusses the sustainability of the competitive advantage, but the analysis may lack depth or clarity. Attempts to discuss the sustainability of the competitive advantage, but the discussion is superficial or incomplete. Fails to discuss the sustainability or durability of the competitive advantage.
Innovation Analysis Provides a detailed and insightful analysis of the company’s innovation efforts (process, product, or technology) to protect and enhance its future competitive advantage. Analyzes the company’s innovation efforts, but the analysis may lack depth or clarity in some areas. Attempts to analyze the company’s innovation efforts, but the analysis is superficial or incomplete. Fails to analyze the company’s innovation efforts.
Clarity & Presentation Analysis is well-written, logically organized, and easy to follow. Presents information in a clear and concise manner. Analysis is generally well-written and organized, but may have some minor issues with clarity or conciseness. Analysis lacks clarity or organization, making it difficult to follow. May have significant writing or presentation issues. Analysis is poorly written and presented, with major issues in clarity, organization, and overall quality.

Total Points: 100