Individual Case Analysis Guidelines

Read the assigned case and prepare answers to ALL of the following:

1. What is the company’s major problem (e.g., what decision must be made? what choice must be faced?)? Justify why you believe this is the major problem (e.g., what are some of the symptoms that you believe attribute to the major problem)
2. What is the company’s current overall objective(s)?
3. What are the current strategies to help the organization achieve its current objective(s)?
4. Using the company’s mission statement, identify which components were utilized
5. Create your “improved” mission statement utilizing all components and identify each component in your “improved” mission statement
6. How attractive is the industry (e.g., size, growth rate, profitability, competitive intensity, Porter’s 5 forces) to companies currently in the industry? And to companies who would like to enter the industry? (FYI. When you finish answering this question, you should know: 1) if you are considering entering in this industry, do you want to enter in to this industry or 2) if you are currently in this industry, do you want to stay in this industry.)
7. Conduct a Situation/SWOT Analysis (internal and industry analyses)
1. Conduct an industry analysis (external audit)

                                                              i.      What are the company’s external opportunities and threats?

                                                            ii.      Develop an External Factor Evaluation (EFE) Matrix, explain what the company needs to improve on externally, and justify why it needs to be improved

                                                          iii.      Identify the company’s major competitors, develop a Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM), explain what the company needs to improve on competitively, and justify why it needs to be improved

1. Conduct internal analysis

                                                              i.      What are the company’s internal strengths and weaknesses?

                                                            ii.      Develop an Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) Matrix, explain what the company needs to improve on internally, and justify why it needs to be improved

1. Given the IFE, EFE, and CPM, is the company stronger internally, externally, competitively, or some/all?
2. Conduct a financial ratio analysis on the company. Calculate the ratios shown in the table below and compare them with the industry. Based on your comparison, is Microsoft a healthy company performing well on financial ratios?

1. Develop two of the five matrices for the company: SWOT Matrix, SPACE Matrix, IE Matrix, and Grand Strategy Matrix. Highlighting each of your strategies listed

9.      Utilizing the strategies developed from your matrices, develop a QSPM AND explain your recommendations/findings for the company’s problem. Then, provide justifications of your recommendation [In your explanation, please demonstrate how this/those strategy(ies) will rectify the major problem that you identified and explain why should they use that/those strategy(ies)?]

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APA and Specifics

You should properly cite your work and use APA style citations. If you are not familiar with plagiarism or APA, make sure to watch the videos available on Blackboard under “course info”.

Use headings, bold font, and white space where appropriate to make your brief easy to follow. Please use 12-point font and one-inch margins. Cover pages are necessary. Please proofread carefully.