...Environmental Scanning Kendra McQueen MGT/498 March 14, 2016 Amy Novoa Environmental Scanning Environmental scanning is an overarching term encompassing the monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of information relevant to the organizational development of a strategy (Wheelen, Hunger, & Hoffman, Bamford, 2015,). The use of an environmental scan can analyze the competitive advantage of a company, evaluate the strategies a company uses to gain an advantage over their competitors and create value and examine the measurement guidelines and the effectiveness of those guidelines to authenticate strategic effectiveness. Researchers have found a definite connection between profits and environmental scanning. Internal and External Environments Because a company has little to no control over external issues, it is important to monitor continuously for changes so that corrections can be made promptly. PEST is an acronym for political, economic, social, technological problems that may affect an external environment, and companies use this tool for external environmental scanning. The political factor looks at how legal issues and government regulations impact a company’s ability to gain profits and success. Walmart and Dollar General both will have to contend with tax guidelines, trade regulations, employment laws, environmental and social policies, and safety regulations. Both companies should consider federal and local power structures, and strategize for how a shift in power...
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...DEVELOPING A MARKETING PLAN: A Template for Analysis and Strategy This template is designed for the analysis and planning phases of global marketing strategy development. Students must conduct “real” research for completing a substantial and coherent marketing plan. First, you will develop a comprehensive customer, competitor, organizational and environmental analysis. This entails the next stage for an effective marketing mix strategy followed by implementation and control. The marketing plan should be fully justified, which means students must explain why a particular method, tactic, or strategy is chosen in comparison to many other alternatives. Cross-cultural analyses and discussions of global consumer culture are required components of the final marketing plan. DEVELOPING A MARKETING PLAN: A Template for Analysis and Strategy Executive Summary (done last – two page summary of entire project; use persuasive language...
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...Environmental Scan Paper MGT/498 July 22, 2015 Environmental Scan Paper The evaluating, monitoring, and disseminating of information from internal and external environments to key people within the corporation is called environmental scanning. (Wheelen and Hunger. 2010) Environmental scanning helps an organization identify relevant factors and use those factors to obtain a competitive advantage within the environment. The author will discuss how an organization creates value and sustains a competitive advantage through strategies. How an organization measures success to identify the effectiveness of a strategy. The author will identify the strategies of various companies and identify tactics that make the company successful. Competitive Advantage An organization that has a strategic advantage over its competitors that enables the organization to have greater sales and retain more customers is believed to have a competitive advantage. Many organizations have a competitive advantage within technological industries to include: Google, Apple, and Amazon. Each organization creates value in its products and services to stay ahead of the competition. Google is considered the industry leader when it comes to search and has 65% of the search market, according to Hit Wise. The company maintains its competitive advantage by developing a diversified infrastructure that gives them the ability to provide high-speed searches and branch out into other industries. Goggles infrastructure...
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...Running Head: ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN Yolanda Galvan Melany Felton July 9, 2013 Strategic Management 498 Introduction Environmental scanning is an important part of all the organizations in order to compete in the market effectively, especially with a multinational approach to get a competitive advantage over others in the global environment. Competitive analysis is an important component in environmental scanning. In this paper, the internal and external environments of three popular companies will be studied and contrast the ways in which companies analyze their internal as well as external environment and the strategies formed accordingly to get a competitive edge over others. Three popular companies selected in this paper are Coca Cola, Proctor, and Gamble (P&G), and Apple Inc. All three organizations are related to different industries and carry out different businesses. The competitive strategies and their measurement guidelines will evaluate their internal and external environmental perspective. Determine what competitive advantages each company has and what strategies each company is using. Coca Cola Company is known in the beverage industry, P&D is known in the consumer product industry and Apple Inc. is known for their technology. All three organizations are one of the top market giants in their respective industries and have...
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...Environmental Scan Paper Kenneth Anderson MGT / 498 November 10, 2014 Rodney Greene Abstract In business, it is important to gauge internal business with external business. This process will provide an advantage for shaping the future of business. For that reason, the procedure of creating strategies will help by conducting environmental scans. Environmental Scan Designing and building on core values is a required strategy when an organization wants to keep a competitive edge over the competition. There are numerous strategies to pick from in business; a significant strategy is keeping an eye on needed changes and financial trail of record keeping. Furthermore, it is necessary for organizations to keep an outlook on what external sources are doing. It is imperative when acquiring information that defines what other organizations are doing to be conducted in an ethical matter. Committing unethical deception will cause organizational anarchy. The reason long surviving companies like Smart and Final last; is by removing possible dangers so change for the better will be obvious. Ultimately, legacies are built, and the organization’s reputation utilizes power and self-reliance. A thorough global analysis assessment must be completed during an environmental scanning of any organization. This assessment includes businesses, clients, markets, and industries in the same industry. The objective of this paper is to examine the organization and conduct an environmental scan...
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...Environmental Scan Jeffery McDonald MGT/498 Professor Thomas Hughes April 20, 2013 University of Phoenix Environmental Scan Environmental scanning is the monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of information from the external and internal environments to key people within the corporation. A corporation uses this tool to avoid strategic surprise and to ensure its long-term health (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010, p. 254). When scanning the external environment a company looks for opportunities and threats. The external environment involves natural factors, societal factors, and industry factors. These variables must first be examined. The internal environment is an organizational analysis of a company’s strengths and weakness. Understanding strength and weakness will allow a company to determine the opportunities they can take advantage of. The internal environment consists of structure, culture, and resources. Gathering information is the first process in strategic planning. It allows a firm to create value, and sustain a competitive advantage. Firms measure their strategic effectiveness by using measurement guidelines. This paper will examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer. Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is a multinational retail chain headquartered in the Bentonville, Arkansas. The company was founded by business man Sam Walton in 1962. It quickly grew and by 1967 Walton owned 24 stores doing $12.7 million...
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...Family Dollar Marketing Plan Shelley Hines King University Principles of Marketing BUSA 3240-0502 Executive Summary Family Dollar was founded by Leon Levine in 1959 (History). He wanted to create a discount store for what at the time was design for people looking for quality products at reasonable prices. Since the first store in Charlotte North Carolina, the chain has grown to over 8,000 locations across 45 states. He designed a floor plan that all the stores used as a main setup with an only a few modifications. Leon believed back then as any good manager will tell you “customers are boss, and you need to keep them happy” (History).This sentiment is still in place today. With the stores layout the same, customers can go to any location and easily find what they need. The philosophy that he started with the first store is just as strong today as it was then. Environmental Analysis External Environmental Forces One of the biggest forces Family Dollar must deal with is competition. They are in constant rivalry with competitors such as Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Wal-Mart (Family Dollar Stores, Inc. Competition). Their strongest rival would be Dollar General with much of the same products and similar pricing. Therefore, it is becoming more and more important for Family Dollar to keep its competitive advantage with offering products the other competitor doesn’t or products at a lower price. Another factor that benefits Family Dollar is demography. Family Dollar...
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...Ryanair Strategic Analysis And Recommendations For The Future Ryanair is the first budget airline in Europe. Based on the case study of Ryanair by Eleanor O’Higgins, a role of a management consultant is assumed to conduct a strategic analysis on the company. The report consists of the initial Environment Analysis conducted on Ryanair prior to the detailed strategic analysis that will be conducted in the future in order to provide the company with strategic recommendations for the future. The Environmental Analysis conducted consists of both an extensive analysis on the external environment and the internal environment. The external environment analysis is conducted in order to identify the nature of the environment Ryanair operates in and its impact on the strategic situation of the company. Through PESTEL, External factor and Industry analysis conducted, rejection of Aerlingus offer and rules and regulations imposed by governments etc. are recognized as the critical external environmental factor affecting Ryanair’s strategy. An analysis of the internal environment through Value Chain model and SWOT analysis reveals the key issues hindering the strategic success of the firm; poor customer service and human resource problems. While this initial environmental analysis is used to assist the strategic analysis that is to be conducted on Ryanair, the importance of taking necessary actions regarding the critical issues is highlighted, CONTENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 CONTENT 2 1INTRODUCTION...
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...Executive Summary: In the report, we addressed the Nintendo's external and internal analysis. We analyzed the years from 2010 to 2014. First, we briefly introduced the company and the most notable events. In the external analysis, we applied some of the most-known applications to evaluate the external environment of any given company. That includes PESTEL, Michael Porter's five forces model and SWOT analysis. We also evaluated the internal factors of Nintendo taking into account its financial statements through the past four years. In addition to some financial ratios such as net profit margin, current ratio, debt ratio, inventory turnover and assets turnover. Finally, recommendations have been placed based on the internal/external analysis from our perspective as a Chief Operating Officer of Nintendo. Introduction: Nintendo is a multinational consumer electronics company located in Kyoto, Japan. It is considered as the world's largest video game company by the value of its revenue. Fusajiro Yamauchi founded it on1889; where it originally produced handmade playing cards. In 1963, the company was trying several small niche businesses, including cab services and love hotels. The company relinquished the previous ventures in favor of toys in the 1960s, Nintendo. In the 1970s, it developed into a video game company, substantially becoming one of the most effective in the industry and Japan's third most-valuable listed company with high market value. Nintendo of America is also...
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...Teaching Notes – Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream, as of October, 2004 Case Uses & Objectives This case can be used to augment discussions of strategic analysis, specifically both internal and external environmental analysis (Chapters 2 & 3 in Dess, Lumpkin & Eisner); and strategic formulation, specifically business level strategy (Chapter 5), with an additional focus on strategic implementation, specifically entrepreneurial development (Chapters 12 & 13). The case is written in a style that overviews the situation but intentionally avoids guiding students through any analytical framework or specific application question. In so doing, it provides the instructor with the latitude to adjust class discussion and thereby accommodate the abilities of a wide-range of students. Specifically, the instructor can invite students to reason through a situation where uncertainty exists and speculation may be required. In terms of environmental analysis, this case connects a discussion of external environmental forces and Porter’s five-force model, and how such forces affect the opportunities for growth in an industry (referencing concepts covered in Chapter 2). In terms of internal analysis of the firm, (referencing Chapter 3), the value-chain and resource-based VRIN analysis provides a case for how distribution challenges across the value-chain activities could affect value. The stakeholder perspective can also be analyzed using the balanced scorecard. As a business-level strategy...
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...Teaching Notes – Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream, as of October, 2004 Case Uses & Objectives This case can be used to augment discussions of strategic analysis, specifically both internal and external environmental analysis (Chapters 2 & 3 in Dess, Lumpkin & Eisner); and strategic formulation, specifically business level strategy (Chapter 5), with an additional focus on strategic implementation, specifically entrepreneurial development (Chapters 12 & 13). The case is written in a style that overviews the situation but intentionally avoids guiding students through any analytical framework or specific application question. In so doing, it provides the instructor with the latitude to adjust class discussion and thereby accommodate the abilities of a wide-range of students. Specifically, the instructor can invite students to reason through a situation where uncertainty exists and speculation may be required. In terms of environmental analysis, this case connects a discussion of external environmental forces and Porter’s five-force model, and how such forces affect the opportunities for growth in an industry (referencing concepts covered in Chapter 2). In terms of internal analysis of the firm, (referencing Chapter 3), the value-chain and resource-based VRIN analysis provides a case for how distribution challenges across the value-chain activities could affect value. The stakeholder perspective can also be analyzed using the balanced scorecard. As a business-level strategy case, (referencing...
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...environment, the company faces some challenging decisions. Currently, the company employs 100 workers and produces 6000 pies per month. Each of the two factories is running at only 40% capacity, and the company has had to lay off 25 workers in the last 6 months. The firm’s fixed costs are high enough that they have caused total cost to currently exceed total revenue. The company must make a decision on whether to continue or cease operations. The first step in analyzing Simple Simon’s financial situation is to do an environmental scan of their operations. An environmental scan refers to patterns, trends, and relationships within an organization’s internal and external environment. The scan will help identify threats and opportunities existing in the organization’s environment. It helps managers and decision-makers decide the future path of the organization (Environmental Scanning, p, 2). Internal analysis of the environment is the first step of environmental scanning. The internal organizational environment consists of things such as management, organizational...
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...that one of those businesses turns into a huge corporation or is able to add a sister company in a another city. For the ones that do make it big to have multiple stores across the world leave it to each person’s imagination on how they were able to be so successful, but to the people in the business world it is know that those companies had a strategic plan and strategy that was followed for the company to be so successful. Walmart which runs as a cost leadership strategy and Home Depot which runs as a service focused strategy are two very good examples of companies that have made it big and are their strategies are easily visible and explained. Walmart seems like an everyday trip to some families around the world because it has become so big that everyone has someone in their family that dreads hearing the famous phrase “We need to go to Walmart today” in their home. Walmart is a cost leadership strategy because they are the lowest cost producer that can sell at or below industry prices and by doing this they gain a bigger market share. This gives Walmart the competitive advantage in many different areas of the market and helps to control pricing.When we look at Walmart’s internal environment we look at their strengths which include the consumer’s knowledge and understanding of low prices, their market clout, their competence in information technology, and their wide range of stores across the world. Customers know that by going to Walmart is going to save them money because...
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...Organizational Theory and Readiness for Change Assignment II: Force Field Analysis Denisha Hightower Morgan State University SOWK 608.185 Professor Sandra Austin The Human Service agency that will be described in this paper will identify the organizational issue, pin point a solution, strategize how to implement the solution and lastly determine how to assess if there was a change in the issue. This paper will also provide an analysis chart on the organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) and an appendix of both the SWOT analysis and an Organizational chart will be provided. The agency that was selected to be analyzed is a public governmental agency which was established in 1975 to aide families and persons who experience financial hardships and need assistance in obtaining basic necessities such as food and shelter to become self-sufficient. The organization also administers federally funded programs to aid individuals in obtaining medical assistance, financial stability through Family Investment Services and Nutritional needs through a food funding program. The organization further delegates other state programs for homeless people, child and adult protection and investigation, as well as programs extended for women victims of domestic violence. The organization’s mission is to aid and pursue those who are struggling economically, provide preventative services and protect defenseless children and adults. The organization’s governance...
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...______________________________________________ Page 6 Findings/Results ________________________________________ Page 7 – 16 Conclusion/Recommendation _________________________________ Page 17 References _________________________________________________ Page 18 List of Tables and Diagrams Table 1: “Key Financials and Employees” (FAME database) ___________________________ page 7 Table 2: “Number of passengers travelled through UK airports for the years 2007 till 2011” ______________________________________________________________________________ page 9 Table 3: “Interest Rates” _____________________________________________________ page 10 Table 4: “Estimated increases in rate of APD paid by a family of four” __________________ page 11 Table 5: “Percentage of people aged 65 and above”__________________________________ page 11 Table 6: “Change from a year earlier in visits abroad by UK residents” __________________ page 12 Table 7: “Overweight or obese population in percentage”_____________________________ page 13 Table 8: “Unemployment”______________________________________________________ page 13 Table 9: “Flybe Employees and costs”___________________________________________ page 14...
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