Activity #2: Porter’s Industry Analysis (100 points)
For this activity, you must analyze General Electric (GE) using Porter’s approach to industry analysis (p. 82 of your text). Obtain annual reports and financial reports from public sources as well as trade, business, and journal articles for information. Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document in a bibliography using APA style. (100 points) (A 3-page response is required.)
Part A Describe GE, what the company stands for (its slogan), what makes it unique, the direction of its market, its products, and the ways in which the company’s products and strategy are integrated. Include a bibliography of at least six (6) trade or journal sources that you use for your description and the analysis which follows. (20 points)
Part B Discuss Porter’s approach to industry analysis in relationship to GE using the six (6) forces listed in the figure on page 82 of your text. (42 points)
Part C Provide one (1) suggestion for each of the following as it relates to the future of GE: what to watch closely (threats and weaknesses), what to assess for change (opportunities), and what to maintain and build upon (strengths). Then make one (1) recommendation for GE’s next strategic move. (38 points)
******************
Explain how a firm that does not hold a competitive advantage (called a “late-mover”) may establish one by attempting to imitate a firm that holds a competitive advantage and the five (5) ways in which this may be done. For each of the five (5) ways discussed, explain what it would take to be successful in carrying out each of them. (25 points) (A 1½-page response is required.)
***************************************
Describe the SWOT analysis and the VRIO model and compare them. Highlight their main similarities and differences. (25 points) (A 1½-page response is required.)
Instructions
*****************Activity Description: Coca-Cola Analysis
Your assignment is to analyze the Coca-Cola Corporation and its economic performance over the last five (5) years. You should begin with the last available reference year. Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document in a bibliography using APA style. (100 points) (A 3-page response and a table are required.)
Part A Your paper should begin with a description of Coca Cola. Describe the company’s main competitors. Assess the company’s performance over the past five years and document Coke’s profit and market share position. (20 points)
Part B Identify which resources, core competencies, and distinctive competencies have allowed Coke to reach its level of success. Be sure to consider different measures of performance in your analysis and to compare (benchmark) the results you highlight with those of Coke’s competitors. (24 points)
Part C Using a VRIO framework, build a table that addresses the value, rarity, limitability and organization for each of the items you have identified above. Be very explicit in your explanations. (36 points)
Part D Last, analyze whether the items discussed are likely to continue to yield a competitive advantage for Coke. Why or why not? (20 points)
Answer will be sent by email as attachment.
