Assignment 2: External Environmental Scan In order to develop effective strategies, it is critical to understand the marketplace environment. In this assignment you will explore the relationship between marketplace positioning based on environmental factors. Throughout this capstone course, you will work on a strategy audit for a selected organization. In Module 1 , you selected an organization for your course project activities. So far you have completed a market position analysis for your organization. In this module you will conduct a comprehensive external environmental scan of your business unit, including a Five Forces analysis, to identify the relevant trends that pose opportunities or threats to your business. These will serve as inputs into a final SWOT analysis that will be due in Module 4: Assignment 2 . There are many elements that can go into an environmental scan, and your analysis will depend on the nature of your business unit, product portfolio, target market, and other factors related to the scope of your business. Your environmental scan should include some or all of the following elements: Economic factors and trends Political factors and trends Regulatory and legal factors and trends Societal factors and trends Technological factors and trends Geographic factors and trends Porter’s Five Forces that consists of the following aspects: Threat of new competition Threat of substitute products or services Bargaining power of customers (buyers) Bargaining power of suppliers Intensity of competitive/industry rivalry Although your analysis will be tailored to your specific business, be sure to cover the following: A thorough Five Forces analysis of your industry The key factors and trends in any other areas affecting your industry A preliminary classification of the external factors and trends as either opportunities or threats which will be the inputs for the final SWOT analysis Write a 3-page report in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc. By Wednesday, January 30, 2013 , deliver your assignment to the M3: Assignment 2 Dropbox . Assignment Component Proficiency Maximum Points Conduct a Five Forces analysis of your industry. The Five Forces analysis is complete and clear. 28 Summarize the key factors and trends in any other areas affecting your industry. Key factors and trends in other areas affecting the industry are clearly identified and concisely summarized. How they affect the industry is briefly explained. 24 Create a preliminary classification of the external factors and trends as either opportunities or threats (inputs into a SWOT) analysis. Classification of external factors and trends is clear and accurate. It specifically identifies and labels the factors and trends as opportunities or threats. 20 Write using ethical scholarship and proper grammar and mechanics. Writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner; demonst.

1. Assignment 2: External Environmental Scan
In order to develop effective strategies, it is critical to
understand the marketplace environment. In this assignment you
will explore the relationship between marketplace positioning
based on environmental factors.
Throughout this capstone course, you will work on a strategy
audit for a selected organization. In
Module 1
, you selected an organization for your course project activities.
So far you have completed a market position analysis for your
organization.
In this module you will conduct a comprehensive external
environmental scan of your business unit, including a Five
Forces analysis, to identify the relevant trends that pose
opportunities or threats to your business. These will serve as
inputs into a final SWOT analysis that will be due in
Module 4: Assignment 2
.
There are many elements that can go into an environmental
scan, and your analysis will depend on the nature of your
business unit, product portfolio, target market, and other factors
related to the scope of your business.
Your environmental scan should include some or all of the
following elements:
Economic factors and trends
Political factors and trends
Regulatory and legal factors and trends
Societal factors and trends
Technological factors and trends
Geographic factors and trends
Porter’s Five Forces that consists of the following aspects:
Threat of new competition
Threat of substitute products or services
Bargaining power of customers (buyers)
Bargaining power of suppliers

2. Intensity of competitive/industry rivalry
Although your analysis will be tailored to your specific
business, be sure to cover the following:
A thorough Five Forces analysis of your industry
The key factors and trends in any other areas affecting your
industry
A preliminary classification of the external factors and trends as
either opportunities or threats which will be the inputs for the
final SWOT analysis
Write a 3-page report in Word format. Apply APA standards to
citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention:
LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc.
By
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
, deliver your assignment to the
M3: Assignment 2 Dropbox
.
Assignment Component
Proficiency
Maximum Points
Conduct a Five Forces analysis of your industry.
The Five Forces analysis is complete and clear.
28
Summarize the key factors and trends in any other areas
affecting your industry.
Key factors and trends in other areas affecting the industry are
clearly identified and concisely summarized. How they affect
the industry is briefly explained.
24
Create a preliminary classification of the external factors and
trends as either opportunities or threats (inputs into a SWOT)
analysis.
Classification of external factors and trends is clear and
accurate. It specifically identifies and labels the factors and
trends as opportunities or threats.
20

3. Write using ethical scholarship and proper grammar and
mechanics.
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.
8
Total:
80