1. Corporate Strategy – Virgin Group Assignment Overview For this assignment, you are to write a 4–6 page business analysis to the vice president of corporate strategy at the company's headquarters that describes key elements of the corporate strategy of the firm you selected. Include key findings for the firm's level of diversification (product scope), geographical and vertical scope, and the overall fit with the business strategy or strategies identified in Unit 1 of the course.   By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assignment criteria: Competency 1 – Apply strategic theories, models and tools to distinguish an organization's strategy. Analyze the corporate strategy of the selected firm, including product, geographical, and vertical scope in which it operates . Competency 5 – Analyze the strategic fit of an organization's structure and business systems. Analyze the firm's overall corporate structure and key management systems. Competency 6 – Evaluate an organization's strategic fit with the external industry environment. Analyze the strategic fit between the business and corporate strategies of the selected firm. Competency 7 – Communicate in a manner that is professional and consistent with expectations for members of the business professions. Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional. Assignment Preparation For your selected firm (Ford, Proctor and Gamble, or Virgin Group), research the firm's corporate strategy, including its level of diversification, corporate structure, extent of vertical integration, and global scope. Use the Capella University Library, Internet, your text case studies, or the firm research information in the Assignment Resources to find at least four current, scholarly, or professional resources for this assignment. Assignment Requirements For this assignment, use headings and subheadings to help organize the key points of your 4-6 page business analysis and include the following: Analyze the corporate strategy of the selected firm, including product, geographical, and vertical scope in which it operates. Has the firm expanded from its initial product line or field of operation? Does the firm own vertically related activities along the value chain for its products? Analyze the firm's overall corporate structure and key management systems. Does the firm employ any of the following three elements of corporate strategy: diversification, vertical integration, or globalization? Are global alliances an overall part of the corporate strategy? Analyze the strategic fit between the business and corporate strategies of the selected firm. Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional. Then 2. Assignment Overview – The Virg.

1. 1.
Corporate Strategy – Virgin Group
Assignment Overview
For this assignment, you are to write a 4–6 page business
analysis to the vice president of corporate strategy at the
company's headquarters that describes key elements of the
corporate strategy of the firm you selected. Include key findings
for the firm's level of diversification (product scope),
geographical and vertical scope, and the overall fit with the
business strategy or strategies identified in Unit 1 of the course.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assignment criteria:
Competency 1 – Apply strategic theories, models and tools to
distinguish an organization's strategy.
Analyze the corporate strategy of the selected firm, including
product, geographical, and vertical scope in which it operates
.
Competency 5 – Analyze the strategic fit of an organization's
structure and business systems.
Analyze the firm's overall corporate structure and key
management systems.
Competency 6 – Evaluate an organization's strategic fit with the
external industry environment.
Analyze the strategic fit between the business and corporate
strategies of the selected firm.
Competency 7 – Communicate in a manner that is professional
and consistent with expectations for members of the business
professions.
Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA
format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as
expected of a business professional.

2. Assignment Preparation
For your selected firm (Ford, Proctor and Gamble, or Virgin
Group), research the firm's corporate strategy, including its
level of diversification, corporate structure, extent of vertical
integration, and global scope. Use the Capella University
Library, Internet, your text case studies, or the firm research
information in the Assignment Resources to find at least four
current, scholarly, or professional resources for this assignment.
Assignment Requirements
For this assignment, use headings and subheadings to help
organize the key points of your 4-6 page business analysis and
include the following:
Analyze the corporate strategy of the selected firm, including
product, geographical, and vertical scope in which it operates.
Has the firm expanded from its initial product line or field of
operation? Does the firm own vertically related activities along
the value chain for its products?
Analyze the firm's overall corporate structure and key
management systems. Does the firm employ any of the
following three elements of corporate strategy: diversification,
vertical integration, or globalization? Are global alliances an
overall part of the corporate strategy?
Analyze the strategic fit between the business and corporate
strategies of the selected firm.
Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA
format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as
expected of a business professional.
Then
2.
Assignment Overview – The Virgin Group
For this assignment, the vice president of strategy for Virgin
Group has asked you to prepare an objective review of the

3. internal strengths and weaknesses of the firm. Your leaders are
hoping to use this understanding to plan for the future direction
of the organization. Prepare a 4–6 page
executive briefing report
identifying not only internal strengths and weaknesses, but also
a rationale that addresses why your analysis pointed to a
particular strength or a weakness. Also be sure to focus on
strategic elements (capabilities) of the firm and on how the
strategic elements fit into the strategic position of the company.
Assignment Preparation
Use the Internet, your text case studies, or the firm research
information in the Assignment Resources to find at least four
current, scholarly, or professional resources for this
assignment.
Assignment Requirements
For this assignment, an Executive Briefing Report template is
available in the Assignment Resources. Use headings and
subheadings to help organize the key points of your 4-6 page
executive briefing report and include the following:
·
Evaluate how the selected firm leverages its resources and
capabilities to execute the business strategy. Are the firm's
capabilities found in its functions or the value chain, or both?
Does the strategy give coherence to decisions about allocation
of resources?
·
Evaluate the effectiveness of the organizational structure and
management system design. Include the firm's ability to support
the key resources and capabilities that execute the business
strategy. Is the organizational structure suited for the particular
tasks and particular business environment of the firm?
·
Explain possible ethical dilemmas and governance issues. These

4. issues may include shareholders and stakeholders, distribution
of excess profits, and top management's pay.
Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA
format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as
expected of a business professional.
Submission Requirements
·
References
: Support your
executive briefing report
with at least four academic resources from the Capella
University Library. You must use proper APA style and format
for citations and references.
·
Length
: The body of the
report
must be 4–6 double-spaced, typed pages, not including the
references list.
·
Written communication
: Demonstrate graduate-level writing skills through accurate
communication of thoughts that convey the overall goals of the
analysis and do not detract from the message.
·
Font
: Times New Roman, 12 point.
3.
External Analysis – The Virgin Group
Assignment Overview

5. You will use two external analysis frameworks, PEST and
Porter's Five Forces Model, to support a 4–6 page summary
report of the external environment and industry influences that
could impact the strategy of the Virgin Group.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assignment criteria:
·
Competency 1 – Apply strategic theories, models and tools to
distinguish an organization's strategy.
§
Explain the key findings from PEST analysis.
§
Explain the key findings from Five Forces analysis.
§
Summarize the key finds for both strategic models.
·
Competency 3 – Analyze the strategic fit of the goals and values
of the organization.

6. §
R
ecommend organizational strategies for leadership based on the
external analysis.
·
Competency 7 – Communicate in a manner that is professional
and consistent with expectations for members of the business
professions.
§
Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA
format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as
expected of a business professional.
Assignment Preparation
For this assignment, review the organization and the industry
before applying the strategic models below to your selected
firm. You will need at least five current, scholarly or
professional resources to complete this assignment. Follow
these steps:
1.
Complete a PEST analysis for the selected firm. Be sure that
this is based on research of the organization, not conjecture or
opinion.
2.
Complete Porter's Five Forces Model for the selected firm. Pay

7. particular attention to the relationships of elements from both
models.
Assignment Requirements
Using the results from both PEST and Porter's Five Forces
models, write a 4-6 page executive briefing report to
organizational leadership that outlines the key findings for an
external analysis of environmental and industry influences that
could impact the strategy of your selected firm. An Executive
Briefing Report template is available in the Assignment
Resources. Support your report with at least five academic
resources and include the following:
·
Title with introduction.
·
An explanation of key findings from PEST analysis.
·
An explanation of key findings from Five Forces analysis.
·
A summary of key findings/results for both models.
·
Recommendations for leadership as a result of your external
analysis.
·
Reference page.
Note
: Title and reference pages are NOT counted in the overall page
count.
Your summary should be written clearly and be communicated
effectively to organizational leadership in a business

8. environment.
3.
Using a SWOT Analysis for Strategic Thinking – The Virgin
Group
Assignment Overview
You will synthesize your internal and external analyses for the
Virgin Group) into a PowerPoint presentation of 8-12 slides
(with speaker's notes), including a SWOT table and potential
strategic actions the company could take to address the issues
raised by the analyses.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assignment criteria:
·
Competency 2 – Analyze the strategic fit of an organization's
business model.
§
Illustrate the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats using a SWOT table.
§
Relate the SWOT analysis to key strategic actions for the
selected firm.
·
Competency 4 – Analyze the strategic fit of organizational
resources and capabilities.
§
Examine the internal resources, capabilities and competencies
of the selected firm.
·

9. Competency 6 – Evaluate an organization's strategic fit with the
external industry environment.
§
Analyze the firm's external environment including its general
environment, industry, and competitive position.
·
Competency 7 – Communicate in a manner that is professional
and consistent with expectations for members of the business
professions.
§
Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA
format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as
expected of a business professional.
Assignment Preparation
If necessary, familiarize yourself with Microsoft's PowerPoint
program and a SWOT analysis format. Both will be required in
this assignment. To explain and support your internal and
external analyses, five current, scholarly, or professional
resources are needed.
Assignment Requirements
Develop a PowerPoint presentation of 8-12 slides (with
speaker's notes) that synthesizes the internal and external
analyses for your selected firm. Your presentation is to include
a well-developed SWOT analysis, a summary of potential
strategic actions and the following:
Summary of SWOT Analysis
·
Examine the internal resources, capabilities and competencies
of the selected firm using key strategic management tools and
models such as the VIRO Framework and Value Chain.
§

10. Look specifically for capabilities that are required for the
company's competitive advantage.
§
Be specific about the firm's resources (both tangible and
intangible) that seem most strategically important, now and in
your vision of the company's future strategic development.
§
Cleary state where firm
S
trengths and
W
eaknesses are found.
·
Analyze the firm's external environment including its general
environment, industry, and competitive position. Choose a
strategic management model such as PEST analysis or Porter's
Five Forces Model to use in this analysis. Clearly state where
external
O
pportunities and
T
hreats are found.
·
Illustrate the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats using a SWOT table. You might also develop a SWOT
figure that depicts your findings in a way that allows for more
effective integration and synthesis of your key ideas.
Strategic Actions Based on SWOT Analysis

11. ·
Relate the SWOT analysis to the key strategic actions the
selected firm could take to further its alignment and long-term
success.
§
How can you relate internal strengths and weaknesses with
opportunities and threats in the external environment? Are there
capabilities that need to be enhanced in order to capitalize on
opportunities or reduce threats? Are there capabilities that can
be divested because they no longer are need in the current or
projected environment?
§
What are the strategic actions that would align specific
strengths and weaknesses with specific opportunities and
threats?
Your presentation should be written clearly and be
communicated effectively to organizational leadership in a
business environment. Keep in mind that the audience is an
upper level leadership audience, so formatting your content to
appeal to that audience will help your presentation be on point.
4.