Business Article Analysis Assignments (10 %) – To encourage you to read the popular business press and apply the concepts of the course, you will be responsible for two article analyses write-ups. In each of these write-ups you will complete an analysis, using a specified tool from one of the chapters, from information contained in the business press article about a specific company. Publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Week, New York Times, etc. are excellent sources. If you use an article found on the Internet, print it out before you begin work on the assignment. Each write-up is to be submitted as a word document via email and must not exceed three pages in length. The first assignment requires the use of the 5 Forces tool and is due on March 07, 2022 . Choose an article about a company or industry (depending on the tool), other than one that we have analyzed for cases or that you have chosen for your group project. In your write-up, use the specified tool to analyze the company, its resources, or its environment. Explain the purpose of the tool and offer a conclusion based on your analysis. What strategic recommendations would you offer to executives at that company? You may use other strategic tools as necessary. You must attach a copy of the article with your write-up (not a link to the article). Cutting and pasting the text at the end of the document is fine.
Threat of New Entrants Is Low
When: High Low Justification
Economies of scale are X
Product differentiation is X
Capital Requirements are X
Switching costs are X
Incumbents control of
distribution channels is
X
Incumbents proprietary
knowledge is
X
Incumbents access to raw
materials is
X
Incumbents access to
government subsidies is
X
Power of Buyers Is Low When: High Low Justification
Concentration of buyers relative
to suppliers is
X
Switching costs are X
Product differention of suppliers
is
X
Threat of backward integration is X
Extent of buyers profits is X
Importance of the supplier’s
input to the quality of the
buyer’s final product is
X
Threat of Substitute Products Is
Low When: High Low Justification
Number of substitutes is X
The liklihood that consumers will
switch to a substitute
X
Analyzing the Five Forces
Power of Suppliers Is Low When: High Low Justification
Concentration relative to buyer
industry is
X
Availability of substitute supplies
is
X
Importance of the customer to
the supplier is
X
Differentiation of the supplier’s
products and services is
X
Switching costs of the buyer are X
Threat of forward integration is X
Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
is low When: High Low Justification
Number of competitors is X
Industry growth rate is X
Fixed costs are X
Storage costs are X
Product differentiation is X
Switching costs are X
Exit barriers are
X
Strategic stakes are
X
