Individual Assignment, Word.
This document has no page requirements, but it is expected that the length will be about 10 pages or so. More pages is not better, but structured analysis to support a recommendation is expected. While the focal questions for this assignment will not be given until March 7th, your should expect that your analysis will draw from the questions that organize this class: 1) Why Go Global? 2) What is Global? 3) Where and When to Locate? 4) How to Execute? 5) How to Organize? and 6) Who to Develop?–and of course the discussion of the impact of globalization from Day 1.
No outside data should be needed for this assignment—just the tools you have gained through your experiences, your time in the VT EMBA program, and through this course. Do not be a “cheer leader”—analyze, don’t just think everything they did was great and super and oh so cool. Strategy is about making tradeoffs in uncertainty. There are no “facts”, only evidence to support a perspective. There are no best strategies—only decisions consistent with a perspective. Think and analyze, don’t go with cliché-ridden jargon-tossing fluff (even if this is the norm in what passes for acceptable practice on the cable news). Draw conclusions from your analysis, and make a recommendation based upon the analysis. Show what you understand about Global Strategic Management.
Key Rubric Elements:
Slide Style & Clarity: How impressive are the visuals, and the logical flow of the document? Is there a clear and obvious problem statement? Is there a table of contents which gives insight or is it just a list of general topics? Was there an executive summary, an introduction, and a conclusion? Has thought been given to the design of the paper? Were the visual impact of the exhibits appealing, or cluttered? Did the document say what they were going to say, say it, and then summarize what they said {it isn’t a mystery novel, don’t wait to tell your recommendation}?
Analytical Rigor–Breadth & Depth: (Was there a motivation for that problem statement? Did the analysis go beyond description? Did the analysis apply key frameworks building towards understanding of possible alternatives? Did the presentation toss in information without analytic purpose (did they waste time by reading the case material to us without adding value to it)? Were the issues discussed key/important to the case? Was there several frameworks used—breadth of analysis—to gain more perspectives? Was at least one of the frameworks used deeply in the analysis—covered in detail?) Were the frameworks the best ones for the goal of this consulting report?
Recommendations: Are there alternatives considered on specific criteria for a clear problem (not just a list of other ideas, but clear alternatives)? Does the recommendation consider what rivals/partners might do? Have costs & benefits been identified (qualitative and quantitative)? Is there a timeline (milestone) for the recommendation? Has potential risks of the recommendation been consider, and ways to mitigate these risks? Are the implementation steps clear?
Creativity: Outstanding insight or perspective. Interesting approach. Very difficult to obtain these points. Was material brought in from experience, other courses, or other materials (for example: books, websites). Consideration of other cases, and unique aspects of this case might also be considered creative. The WOW factor–what differentiates your analysis from everyone else’s?
Use three strategy tools in the research paper two are below and others in the excel sheet attached.
Porter’s Diamond Model
CAGE Distance