Question 1: Strategic choice

Part A). On the basis of your SWOT matrix from assignment 1, conduct a TOWS matrix (see page 108 of the text) to determine a list of strategic options. From that list, select the top five most

viable options.
Note: Please note that the page number has shifted in the 9th edition to Page 108.

Part B). For each of the five most viable options, discuss each of the strategic options in terms of achieving a sustainable competitive advantage.
Note: Discuss in a paragraph each of the five strategies you have selected. Discuss each strategy from the perspective of why it is important for the company going forward (e.g. justifying

market share, launching into new markets, need to compete based on industry success factors, some other reason etc). So, select one strategy and discuss it, a second strategy and discuss it

etc etc….(500-1000 words for this section).

If you have selected a range of business-level strategies (e.g. cost leadership, differentiation, focus) in your TOWS matrix, you may include (although not compulsory) a business-level matrix

similar to slide 4 in Lecture 5 in Part A of your answers.

Generic Strategies  (slide 4 in Lecture 5)

If you have selected a range of corporate level strategies (e.g. market penetration, new product development, joint venture, market development etc), in your TOWS matrix, you may include

(although not compulsory) the Product/Market Matrix (P232 of the 9th edition; see also Lecture 6) in Part A of your answer.
If you have decided to use a combination of both business-level and corporate-level strategies in your TOWS matrix, you may include (although not compulsory) both the Product/Market Matrix

and the Business-level matrix in Part A of your answer.

Corporate strategy directions (P232 of the 9th edition)

That is, either one or both of these matrix will help you to make sense of the Part B discussion of the 5 most viable options. If you choose not to include either one of these matrix in Part A of

your answer, then you must discuss why the business-level and/or corporate –level strategy was an important inclusion in your TOWS matrix in the discussion section of the five strategies.

Part C). From the five options, choose a single strategy based on its suitability, acceptability and feasibility.

Question 2: Implementation issues: 1-1500 words (approximately)

Part A). Discuss the issues associated with the implementation of your chosen strategy with a focus on culture and/or structure.

Note: You can write up to 1700 words if you wish.
Also, please note that in both the lecture on culture (Lecture 4) and structure (Lecture 7) both culture and structure are integrated. Structure needs culture as much as culture needs structure.

Thus, if you choose to focus mainly on culture, then you must also discuss how various structural components (e.g. control systems on P445 of the 9th edition, or structural types on P432 to 442

of the 9th edition) influence the culture of your chosen organisation.
Content pages from 432 to 445

If you choose to focus mainly on structure, then you must also discuss cultural components (e.g. the cultural web on P176 of the 9th edition or which aspects of culture) influence the structure of

your chosen organisation.

Also, implementation issues are quite broad. So, in addition to culture and structure, you should also demonstrate how/why strategy methodologies (Chapter 15 of the 9th edition) are

important and which aspects of leadership and strategic change (Chapter 14 of the 9th edition) will be required. A key part of your implementation discussion should be context-specific to your

organisation. That is, don’t repeat or regurgitate the theory mentioned in these chapters. Rather, discuss why or how some of these theories will be relevant in implementing strategies in your

chosen organisation. Note: you are not trying to include the whole chapter(s) in your answers. You are however trying to work out which parts of implementation are required and make sense

for putting your chosen strategy into action.