Week 2 Discussion 1 "Union Pacific Corporation" Please respond to the following: · Perform an analysis of the social / demographic, technological, economic, environmental / geographic, and political/legal / governmental segments to understand the general environment facing Union Pacific.  · Describe how Union Pacific will be affected by each of these external factors. Week 2 Discussion 2 "Five Forces of Competition Model" Please respond to the following: · From the e-Activity, analyze the industry you selected using the Five Forces of Competition Model to determine the impact of each of the five forces. · Based on your analysis, determine if the industry is attractive or unattractive. Explain your rationale. Week 3 Discussion 1 "Strong Brands" Please respond to the following: · Several companies use their brand as a competitive advantage. Given your knowledge about the global economy, identify three brands you believe have the strongest likelihood of remaining a source of advantage in the 21st Century and explain why.  · Explain the effects you believe the Internet’s capabilities will have on the brands you identified in the previous discussion and what the owner of the brand should do in light of them. Week 3 Discussion 2 "Internal Environment" Please respond to the following: · From the e-Activity, analyze the internal environment of the company you researched to determine that company’s strengths and weaknesses. · Based on the strengths and weaknesses you discovered, determine what steps the company could take to positively impact the company’s competitiveness. Explain your rationale. Week 4 Discussion 1 "Business-Level Strategy" Please respond to the following: · From the first e-Activity, assess your satisfaction with the company you researched and make recommendations about how that company could modify its business-level strategy to both increase your overall level of satisfaction and to attract new customers. Provide specific examples to support your response. · Analyze the five business-level strategies discussed in Chapter 4 to determine which strategy the company you researched most likely applies. Determine how your experience with that company might change if it switched to one of the other four strategies (your choice). Explain your rationale. Week 4 Discussion 2 "Apple, Inc: Keeping the “I” in Innovation” Please respond to the following: · From the second e-Activity and the case study, determine how market commonality and resource similarity impact Apple’s competitive standing in terms of its main rivals. Provide specific examples to support your response. · Determine what additional steps Apple's competitors are likely to take and how Apple will most likely respond. Explain your rationale. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Social Mobility For this assignment, you will trace your own family’s history of social mobility. Consider various types of social .

1. Week 2 Discussion 1
"Union Pacific Corporation" Please respond to the following:
· Perform an analysis of the social / demographic,
technological, economic, environmental / geographic, and
political/legal / governmental segments to understand the
general environment facing Union Pacific.
· Describe how Union Pacific will be affected by each of these
external factors.
Week 2 Discussion 2
"Five Forces of Competition Model" Please respond to the
following:
· From the e-Activity, analyze the industry you selected using
the Five Forces of Competition Model to determine the impact
of each of the five forces.
· Based on your analysis, determine if the industry is attractive
or unattractive. Explain your rationale.
Week 3 Discussion 1
"Strong Brands" Please respond to the following:
· Several companies use their brand as a competitive advantage.
Given your knowledge about the global economy, identify three
brands you believe have the strongest likelihood of remaining a
source of advantage in the 21st Century and explain why.
· Explain the effects you believe the Internet’s capabilities will
have on the brands you identified in the previous discussion and
what the owner of the brand should do in light of them.
Week 3 Discussion 2
"Internal Environment" Please respond to the following:
· From the e-Activity, analyze the internal environment of the
company you researched to determine that company’s strengths
and weaknesses.
· Based on the strengths and weaknesses you discovered,
determine what steps the company could take to positively
impact the company’s competitiveness. Explain your rationale.

2. Week 4 Discussion 1
"Business-Level Strategy" Please respond to the following:
· From the first e-Activity, assess your satisfaction with the
company you researched and make recommendations about how
that company could modify its business-level strategy to both
increase your overall level of satisfaction and to attract new
customers. Provide specific examples to support your response.
· Analyze the five business-level strategies discussed in Chapter
4 to determine which strategy the company you researched most
likely applies. Determine how your experience with that
company might change if it switched to one of the other four
strategies (your choice). Explain your rationale.
Week 4 Discussion 2
"Apple, Inc: Keeping the “I” in Innovation” Please respond to
the following:
· From the second e-Activity and the case study, determine how
market commonality and resource similarity impact Apple’s
competitive standing in terms of its main rivals. Provide
specific examples to support your response.
· Determine what additional steps Apple's competitors are likely
to take and how Apple will most likely respond. Explain your
rationale.
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3. Bottom of Form
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Social Mobility
For this assignment, you will trace your own family’s history of
social mobility. Consider various types of social mobility,
including intragenerational mobility, intergenerational mobility,
and status attainment.
You should examine at least three generations of your family
and think about their achievements and ascriptions and whether
people climbed upward, slid downward, or remained the same.
Be sure to think about race and gender and their role in mobility
and social status. You should also make predictions about your
own social mobility and your children’s (real or imagined)
future mobility.
To complete this assignment, perform the following tasks:
1. Describe your family’s history of social mobility through at
least three generations. Types of social mobility to discuss
include intragenerational mobility, intergenerational mobility,
and status attainment.
2. Explain the role of race and gender in the discussion on
mobility and social status.
3. Explore and then explain why each generation achieved
different levels of social mobility.
4. Predict your own social mobility and if you have children,
their mobility.
5. Support your work with the text readings, lectures, and
appropriate outside resources.
Name your file LastnameFirstInitial_M4_A2.doc and submit it
to the M4: Assignment 2 Dropbox by Wednesday, April 19,
2017.
Assignment 2 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Described at least three generations of family’s history of social

4. mobility, considering intragenerational mobility,
intergenerational mobility, and status.
20
Explained the role of race and gender in the discussion on
mobility and social status.
16
Explained why each generation achieved different levels of
social mobility.
20
Predicted own social mobility and that of children, if
applicable.
12
Supported work through appropriate resources.
12
Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated
ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of
sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
20
Total:
100