Goals:
- Locate an existing public corporation that operates within the scope identified by your team and analyze their position relative to external environment constraints, internal environment, and strategic approach.
Steps:
- Select a publicly traded corporation that your team believes has potential within an industry as regards the scope identified in Part 1. Firms who have underperformed relative to industry leaders or whose potential appears unrealized are preferred. Consider firms you know little or nothing about, in order to maximize your learning. Company selection is subject to instructor approval.
o In exceptional circumstances, a private firm may be used, if a team is able to secure access to a local firm who would benefit from a strategic analysis of their business and is willing to share internal information (NDA required).
- Explore the corporate website. How is it laid out? What are your first impressions of the company? Where is the company headquartered? Write down their HQ address info. Become familiar with the location of the important information you will be searching throughout your project (e.g., investor relations and other sections).
- Consult major databases available on campus along with high quality business publications to learn about the company
- Identify the company’s mission, vision, goals, and relevant stakeholders and write them down. How clear are their mission and vision? Are they well communicated?
- Become acquainted with the company’s products and services and draw up the company’s corporate structure. How diversified are they?
- If a business unit, conduct a value chain analysis of the target company:
- Define the company’s strategic business units (if any)
- Identify the company’s critical value-creating activities
- Explore the international reach of the company. What is their global footprint? How many countries? How much revenue do they derive from domestic vs. foreign markets? (see financials) 7. Identify the company’s executive officers and draw up the executive structure.
- Identify the company’s board of directors and learn about their background. How many directors on the board? How many insiders/outsiders/related? Who holds the key functions on the board? Are there any subcommittees overseen by the board?