Please use scholarly references
Purpose
This exercise will give you practice in developing an EFE matrix. An EFE Matrix summarizes the results of an external audit. This is an important strategic-planning tool widely used by strategists.
Instructions
1. Step 1Join with two other students in class, and jointly prepare an EFE Matrix for Hershey. Refer to the Cohesion Case. www.hershey.com, to identify external opportunities and threats. Make sure the factors you include are both specific and actionable. Use the online sources listed in Table 3-8. Be sure not to include strategies as opportunities, but do include as many monetary amounts, percentages, numbers, and ratios as possible.
Table 3-8 Great Online Sources of Company and Industry Information
IBISWorld—Provides online USA Industry Reports (NAICS), U.S. Industry iExpert Summaries, and U.S. Business Environment Profiles. A global version of IBIS is also available.
Lexis-Nexis Academic—Provides online access to newspaper articles (including New York Times and Washington Post) and business information (including SEC filings).
Lexis-Nexis Company Dossier—Provides online access to extensive, current data on 13 million companies. It collects and compiles information into excellent documents.
Mergent Online—Provides online access to Mergent’s (formerly Moody’s/FISOnline) Manuals, which include trend, descriptive, and statistical information on hundreds of public companies and industries. Company income statements and balance sheets are provided.
Regional Business News—Provides comprehensive full-text coverage for regional business publications; incorporates coverage of more than 80 regional business publications covering all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States.
Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage—Provides online access to Standard & Poor’s Industry Surveys, stock reports, corporation records, The Outlook, mutual fund reports, and more.
Value Line Investment Survey—Provides excellent online information and advice on approximately 1,700 stocks, more than 90 industries, the stock market, and the economy. Company income statements and balance sheets are provided.