Assignment 1: Discussion—Supply Chain

Understanding supply chain and how the consumer can play a critical role in the supply chain is an important part of developing and implementing a strategy. In this assignment you will explore the concept of the supply chain in business and the role of the customer in the supply chain.

There are many products and services today where the target customer is part of the supply chain. Wikipedia, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and Craig’s List are just a few examples.

Using the module readings, University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:

• Give an example of a product or service where the target customer is part of the supply chain.
• Describe the types of innovations or improvements that have come from involving the target customer in the supply chain.
• Describe the types of information technology mechanisms that have been used to involve the customer in the supply chain.

Write your initial response in approximately 400 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

By Sunday, May 27, 2013, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area.

Assignment 2: LASA 1—Preliminary Strategic Audit

The end result of this course is developing a strategic audit. In this module you will outline and draft a preliminary framework for your final product. This provides the student with the opportunity to get feedback before a final submission.

In Module 1, you reviewed the instructions for the capstone strategic audit assignment and grading rubric due in Module 7. By now you have completed the following steps:

• Identified the organization for your report
• Interviewed key mid-level and senior level managers
• Created a market position analysis
• Conducted an external environmental scan in preparation of your final report and presentation

In this assignment, you will generate a preliminary strategy audit in preparation for your final course project.

Directions:

1. In preparation for your course project, prepare the preliminary strategy audit using the tools and framework you have focused on so far including:
   1. Analysis of the company value proposition, market position, and competitive advantage
   2. External environmental scan/five forces analysis
2. Identify the most important (5–7) strategic issues facing the organization or business unit.

1. 1. You may modify the strategic issues in your final report based on the additional analysis you will conduct in the next two modules as well as the feedback you receive on this paper from your instructor.
   2. Keep in mind it is important to look at the strategic issue(s) from more than just one perspective in the business unit or company—speak to or research the issue from more than one angle to offer a 360° approach that doesn’t cause more problems/issues.
   3. Strategic issues arise from a mismatch between internal capabilities and external trends such that important opportunities are not being pursued or significant external threats are not being addressed under the current strategy.
2. Include a preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your company’s strategic alignment and operating performance.

1. 1. You may modify these recommendations in your final report based on the additional analysis you will conduct in the next two modules as well as the feedback you receive on this paper from your instructor.
   2. Keep in mind that recommendations can include but are not limited to tactics in marketing, branding, alliances, mergers/acquisitions, integration, product development, diversification or divestiture, and globalization. If you recommend your company to go global, you must include a supply chain analysis and an analysis of your firm’s global capabilities.
2. Write your report as though you are a consultant to your company and are addressing the executive officers of this company.
3. Make sure your writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner; demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Write an 8 pages report as though you are a consultant to your company and are addressing the executive officers of this company in Word format.

Use the following format:

• Cover page
• Executive Summary / Abstract
• Table of Contents
• Introduction to Company (each subsection should be an assessment)
  • Value proposition
  • Market position
  • Competitive advantage
• External Environmental Scan/Five Forces Analysis
  • Current environment
  • Assessment of external factors applying five forces
• Strategic Issues
  • Label each issue and provide a header and the reason for why it is an issue
• Summary / Key Findings and Recommendations

Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M4_A2.doc.

Module 4 Overview

This module is designed to help you understand the consumer perspective in driving business results including the concept of creating a “raving fan” (Blanchard & Bowles, 1993). The importance of understanding the marketplace and consumer satisfaction is critical as an underlying theme in strategy development and execution. Key concepts in this Module · Customer Value Chain—The premise is that delivering a mix of services and products to the customer will create different economic factors. By doing so, each business manages its own value chain. · Customer Intimacy—The premise focuses on the relationship that is built between the vendor or supplier and the customer. Through marketing and acceptance, the supplier becomes increasingly aligned with what the customer wants and needs, thus becoming a part of the customer’s circle and creating an intimate-like relationship. · Customer-Driven Innovation—This strategy invites the customer into the process of product and service development by being an active contributor to the innovation process as opposed to being a passive customer. This is related to the perspective of taking a look from the outside versus believing it all has to come from within the organization. More often than not, your organization is not the only one in the marketplace offering a specific service or product. Therefore, understanding what creates and keeps a satisfied customer is essential. It should be built into the strategy process and not an afterthought. Too many organizations tend to make it secondary. Blanchard, K., & Bowles, S. (19 Retaining Customers       Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles said it best in Raving Fans: “If you really want to ‘own’ a customer, if you want a booming business, you have to go beyond satisfied customers and create Raving Fans.” The raving fan approach in tandem with Porter’s Five Forces can help business managers and leaders develop an effective approach. This element reminds us that you can get business and that is no inexpensive endeavor. However, keeping business and growing it is just as important. In fact, new customer acquisition is often more costly than keeping and growing a current customer. Business Referrals Some business experts espouse a method of gathering customer satisfaction information. Although asking a variety of questions to better understand what’s working and what’s not in terms of customer satisfaction, there is only one question that needs to be asked: “Would you refer our business to someone else?” The proposition is that if the answer is “Yes,” then it covers almost everything at a fundamental level. In addition, satisfaction with the service or product is high enough that the customer would refer your business to others. Ultimately, this is what it boils down to: satisfaction supports growth. In this module, you will examine customer satisfaction and growth and acquire a better understanding of how supply chain management works. Walmart’s success in managing its supply chain has enabled it to dominate its competition, maintain an inventory, and meet customer demand without oversupply costs and consequences (Accounting Software Advisor [ASA] Research, n.d.). As you work through the assignments in this module consider this and how it influences or drives business. ASA Research (n.d.). Supply chain. Retrieved fromhttp://www.asaresearch.com/ecommerce/supplychain.htm Blanchard, K., & Bowles, S. (1993). Raving fans. New York, NY:William Morrow and Company.   93). Raving fans. New York, NY: William Morrow and Company. Course Project Task: Preliminary Strategic Audit       You will also submit your preliminary strategic audit as part of LASA 1 by the end of this module. Those with significant business experience understand the value of this assignment—that it is an important process related to business review and assessment and potential strategic realignment. For those with less experience, one way to approach this aspect of the course and the development of this project is to equate it to building a house. The land is always graded and essential plumbing and other internal organs that come from the outside to support the house have to be in place prior to laying the foundation and framing the house. The reason builders build in phases is exactly why successful businesses: (1) create a vision, (2) develop strategies around their vision, (3) plan for implementation or execution, and (4) assess. This methodical sequencing prevents problems. Review your preliminary strategic audit and make sure you have covered all the required elements for this phase of the project. You could also use a checklist, and possibly have someone review and ask them to question what you have presented or developed thus far.

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