Synthesizing the various business strategy theories, principles and concepts you have learned thus far, evaluate the strategy of an award winning organization by choosing an “Award Application Summary” from the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program website. You will evaluate the “Award Application Summary” as a business case.

Course Outcomes

MT460-1: Assess business strategy using a variety of seminal theories, principles, and concepts.

GEL-1.2: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original

materials in Standard English.

Choose an award winning company from the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program website to study. You will evaluate the “Award Application Summary” as a business case. Use the following criteria to evaluate your chosen award winning organization to determine how its business strategy positions the company to achieve competitive advantage over its competitors:

Provide background information about your chosen company to include the company name, industry sector in which the company operates, products, and target market.

Critically evaluate the strategic decisions that led to the organization winning the Baldrige Performance Excellence award.

What is your chosen company’s business model and why is it important?

Explain the organization’s type of competitive advantage.

Explain how your chosen company develops a sustainable competitive advantage?

Critically evaluate the vision, mission, and values of your chosen company.

Critically evaluate the award winning company’s strategic objectives.

Explain how your chosen company’s strategy is proactive and/or reactive.

Explain strategic management hierarchy and how it is used by your chosen company to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

What makes you chosen company’s strategy a winner?

Explain the future strategic direction of the organization by analyzing key decisions in the business case.

Use creative desktop publishing skills to create the title page and layout of your business report.

Use a minimum of three peer-reviewed academic research resources (library resources, textbooks, books) to help substantiate your position.

Apply proper APA style format. Be sure to use headings and subheadings to create a flow of ideas and topics within your writing.

Write in third person to develop your business report.

Use as many concepts from Chapters 1 and 2 of your textbook to complete this Assignment as possible.

Here is the Unit 2 Assignment grading rubric.

Directions for Submitting Your Assignment

Before you submit your Assignment, you should save your work on your computer in a location and with a name that you will remember.

Make sure your Assignment is in the correct file format (Microsoft Word .doc or .docx).

Submit your completed document to the Unit 2 Assignment Dropbox.

Instructions

Case Study

Read the above case study and prepare the necessary documents as explained below.

Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:

The World Factbook

In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this project.

Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into:  India

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory International (RMCF) has hired your consulting firm to outline an organizational plan and design which clearly details the reporting structure from the perspective of the franchisee to corporate within the country/region of your choice. Prepare a report to the Vice President of Human Resources with your organizational plan and design for the entrance of RMCF into the country/region that you have chosen. Read the above case study and any additional research needed to create your analysis. In your analysis, be sure to include the following:

1. Introduction to your findings.
2. Analyze which international organizational design, product, area, functional or customer meets the specific goals and fits into the strategic plan of the company.
3. Identify the various techniques for control within the organization and determine how these techniques tie to the company’s strategy for expansion of their franchises.
4. Based on your analysis, detail the organizational design with how the control function ties into the company’s strategy, and prepare a report to the Vice President of Human Resources of RMCF.
5. Conclusion of your findings.

 Marketing Analysis Research

This is the second part of a three-part assignment. The other two parts are the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Product Selection and List of Sources, completed in Topic 1, and the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Final Draft, due in Topic 7. Refer to “Marketing Analysis Research Report Overview” for directions for successful completion of the three-part Marketing Analysis Research Report assignment.

For this assignment, begin working on the rough draft of your Marketing Analysis Research Report.

Create your rough draft including all of the following:

1. Executive Summary
2. Marketing Mix
3. Environmental Scan
4. Marketing Segmentation
5. Ethical Issue
6. Social Responsibility Issue
7. Global Marketing and the Internet
8. Recommendation

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Details:

This is the second part of a three-part assignment. The other two parts are the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Product Selection and List of Sources, completed in Topic 1, and the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Final Draft, due in Topic 7. Refer to “Marketing Analysis Research Report Overview” for directions for successful completion of the three-part Marketing Analysis Research Report assignment.

For this assignment, begin working on the rough draft of your Marketing Analysis Research Report.

Create your rough draft including all of the following:

1. Executive Summary
2. Marketing Mix
3. Environmental Scan
4. Marketing SegmentationaA project plan is based on research and organizational goals. To see an exemplar project plan, review the Project Plan Example.

   Use the Project Plan Template and the business needs identified in your Week 3 Balanced Scorecard to:

   • Develop the project objectives.
   • Explain what operational steps will be taken to achieve your stated objectives.
   • Identify the responsible person(s) for each operational step.
   • Outline a timeline for each operational step.

   Justify the choices you made in your project plan in a 525- to 700-word response on the Project Plan Template.

   Note: Review Strategic Management-8 Most Popular Cases in Connect. Access the case studies from the folder on the main course page in Blackboard.

   Cite any sources according to APA guidelines.

   Submit your assignment.

   A project plan is based on research and organizational goals. To see an exemplar project plan, review the Project Plan Example.

   Use the Project Plan Template and the business needs identified in your Week 3 Balanced Scorecard to:

   • Develop the project objectives.
   • Explain what operational steps will be taken to achieve your stated objectives.
   • Identify the responsible person(s) for each operational step.
   • Outline a timeline for each operational step.

   Justify the choices you made in your project plan in a 525- to 700-word response on the Project Plan Template.

   Note: Review Strategic Management-8 Most Popular Cases in Connect. Access the case studies from the folder on the main course page in Blackboard.

   Cite any sources according to APA guidelines.

   Submit your assignment.

5. Ethical Issue
6. Social Responsibility Issue
7. Global Marketing and the Internet
8. Recommendation

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 Marketing Analysis Research

This is the second part of a three-part assignment. The other two parts are the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Product Selection and List of Sources, completed in Topic 1, and the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Final Draft, due in Topic 7. Refer to “Marketing Analysis Research Report Overview” for directions for successful completion of the three-part Marketing Analysis Research Report assignment.

For this assignment, begin working on the rough draft of your Marketing Analysis Research Report.

Create your rough draft including all of the following:

1. Executive Summary
2. Marketing Mix
3. Environmental Scan
4. Marketing Segmentation
5. Ethical Issue
6. Social Responsibility Issue
7. Global Marketing and the Internet
8. Recommendation

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Details:

This is the second part of a three-part assignment. The other two parts are the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Product Selection and List of Sources, completed in Topic 1, and the Marketing Analysis Research Report: Final Draft, due in Topic 7. Refer to “Marketing Analysis Research Report Overview” for directions for successful completion of the three-part Marketing Analysis Research Report assignment.

For this assignment, begin working on the rough draft of your Marketing Analysis Research Report.

Create your rough draft including all of the following:

1. Executive Summary
2. Marketing Mix
3. Environmental Scan
4. Marketing Segmentation
5. Ethical Issue
6. Social Responsibility Issue
7. Global Marketing and the Internet
8. Recommendation

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Assignment 2: Part B: Your Marketing Plan

From the start of this course, you have accessed the Interactive Marketing Plan tool and used the step-by-step guide to complete Part B of your marketing plan. You are required to submit a marketing plan for a hypothetical product-based company. Your plan must include the company’s mission, introduction and branding, and information collected from Step 5 of the Interactive Marketing Plan, located in the course shell. Note: Some elements may not be covered in the Interactive Marketing Plan and will require additional research.

Note: You may create and /or make all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:

1. Develop a branding strategy for your product that covers the brand name, logo, slogan, and at least one (1) brand extension.
2. Assemble a marketing strategy for your product, and determine an appropriate time table to implement your plan). Provide a rationale for your response.
3. Prepare a positioning statement. Include a perceptual map that shows your company’s position against its competitors. From this map, create a statement that depicts your position. For example, “Our product is the fastest in its class for half the price.” Note: See pp. 54 – 55 in the textbook for examples of perceptual maps. You may use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or other equivalent software to create your perceptual map.
4. Examine the relevant consumer behavior for your target market. Explain the main reasons why the brand name, logo, slogan, brand extension, as well as the positioning statement and marketing strategy are right for the identified target market.
5. Develop your company’s mission statement and company introduction.
6. Use at least three (3) academic resources as quantitative marketing research to determine the feasibility of your product / service. These resources should be industry specific and relate to your chosen product / service. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze the marketing framework including the concepts of the 5Cs, STP, and 4Ps.
• Examine the marketing science of customer behavior and products in the marketing exchange process and create dynamic strategies for competing.
• Evaluate the basis for market segmentation and approaches to segmentation.
• Evaluate target customer segments and positioning products within these segments.
• Examine the marketing science of customer behavior and products in the marketing exchange process and create dynamic strategies for competing.
• Develop branding strategies for existing and new products.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in marketing management.
• Write clearly and concisely about marketing management using proper writing mechanics.

Bus:336

Final Paper:

Read Case 1-3 and case 6-6, focusing on the Coca-Cola company. Assume the role of a management consultant reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors at Coca-Cola. In your report, address the following points:

1.      Define the marketing problems and opportunities.

2.      Analyze Coca-Cola’s marketing and innovation strategy transformation designed to position the company on the cutting edge of consumer trends.

3.      Evaluate Coca-Cola’s product strategy of developing healthy beverages.

4.      Explain the underlying logic of Mary Minnick’s emphasis on understanding why people consume beverages.

5.      Discuss the underlying logic of the non-carb drinks strategy.

6.      Compare and contrast the performance of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

7.      Provide recommendations to management.Pepsi.

Please use the Ashford University Library’s Mergent database in your research. Mergent offers detailed company reports and other company information that will be useful in writing your Final Paper.

Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:

1.      Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

2.      Must include a title page with the following:
a. Title of paper
b. Student’s name
c. Course name and number
d. Instructor’s name
e. Date submitted

3.      Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.

4.      Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.

5.      Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.

6.      Must use at least six scholarly sources, including a minimum of three from the Ashford Online Library, in addition to the text.

7.      Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

8.      Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.