External Analysis

by | Feb 7, 2023 | Writing

External Analysis

  • Overview

    Write a 4–6-page executive briefing report outlining the key findings of an external analysis of environmental and industry influences that could impact the strategy of the firm. You are to use two external analysis frameworks—PEST and Porter’s Five Forces Model—to support your report.As a business professional, you may be asked to complete an external analysis of a firm using a PEST analysis and/or a Five Forces analysis, and to report on your key findings and make recommendations to leadership based on those findings through an executive briefing report. This assessment allows you to practice implementing both types of analysis, summarize your key findings, and make recommendations to leadership in an executive briefing report.SHOW LESSBy successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

    • Competency 1: Apply strategic theories, models, and best practices to understand and explain an organization’s strategy.
      • Explain key findings from PEST analysis.
      • Explain key findings from Five Forces analysis.
      • Summarize key findings for the PEST and Five Forces models.
    • Competency 2: Analyze the fit of the internal elements (resources, capabilities, goals, structures, systems, and values) with the organizational strategy.
      • Recommend organizational strategies based on the external analysis.
    • Competency 4: 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.
    Competency Map

    CHECK YOUR PROGRESSUse this online tool to track your performance and progress through your course.

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    Context

    In this assessment, we focus on the strategic fit with the industry environment, including corporate strategies to expand the scope of the firm to succeed in the current environment. The Wall Street Journal is a particularly good source for understanding how the strategic position of the firm within the industry environment is critical to assessing competitive advantage and an integral component of strategic analysis. This analysis helps drive strategic decisions determining the direction of the firm. Key points of analysis address corporate diversification, vertical integration, or internationally expansion.

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    Questions to Consider

    As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your assessment.

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    Resources

    REQUIRED RESOURCES

    Use the Assessment 4 Executive Briefing Report Template to complete the assessment.

  • Capella Resources

    Click the link provided for more background on your selected firm:

    Internet Resources
    Capella University Library Resources
    Harvard Business Review Articles

    The following readings are available from the Harvard Business Review. Search for the article by following the instructions in the Library Guide:

    • Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (2004). Blue ocean strategy. Harvard Business Review, 82(10), 76–84.
    • Martin, R. (2002). The virtue matrix: Calculating the return on corporate responsibility. Harvard Business Review, 80(3), 68–75.
    • Porter, M. E. (1987). From competitive advantage to corporate strategy. Harvard Business Review, 65(3), 43.
    • Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2006). Strategy and society: The link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility. Harvard Business Review, 84(12), 78–92.
    Bookstore Resources

    The following resources are available for purchase from the Capella University Bookstore.

    • Grant, R. M., & Jordan, J. (2012). Foundations of strategy. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons.
      • Chapter 2, “Industry Analysis.”
      • Chapter 3, “Identifying the Organization’s Resources and Capabilities,” page 89 only.
      • Chapter 7, “Corporate Strategy.”

  • Assessment Instructions

    OVERVIEW

    The organizational leadership of your selected firm has requested that you provide them with an executive briefing report outlining the key findings of an external analysis of environmental and industry influences that could impact the strategy of the firm. You are required to use two external analysis frameworks, PEST and Porter’s Five Forces Model, to support your report.

    PREPARATION

    Review the organization and the industry before applying the strategic models below to your selected firm. You will need to use at least five current scholarly or professional resources for this assessment. 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 particular attention to the relationships of elements from both models.

    REQUIREMENTS

    Using the results from both PEST and Porter’s Five Forces models, write a 4–6-page executive briefing report for organizational leadership. An Executive Briefing Report template is available in the Required Resources. As noted above, support your report with at least five academic resources. Your report should 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 page and reference page(s) are NOT included in the overall page count.Use clear headings and subheadings to organize the key points of your report.Your report should be clearly written and communicate effectively to organizational leadership; use correct grammar, spelling and mechanics as expected of a business professional. Cite and reference all sources using current APA style.

    Additional Requirements
    • References: Support your executive briefing report with at least five academic resources from the Capella University Library.
    • APA Style: Use proper APA style for all citations and references.
    • Length: The body of the report must be 4–6 double-spaced, typed pages, not including the title page and reference 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.

    External Analysis Scoring Guide

    CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED
    Explain key findings from PEST analysis. Does not identify key findings from PEST analysis. Identifies but does not explain key findings from PEST analysis. Explains key findings from PEST analysis. Analyzes key findings from PEST analysis using model data.
    Explain key findings from Five Forces analysis. Does not identify key findings from Five Forces analysis. Identifies but does not explain key findings from Five Forces analysis. Explains key findings from Five Forces analysis. Analyzes key findings from Five Forces analysis using model data.
    Summarize key findings for the PEST and Five Forces models. Does not articulate key findings for the PEST and Five Forces models. Articulates but does not summarize key findings for the PEST and Five Forces models. Summarizes key findings for the PEST and Five Forces models. Summarizes key findings for the PEST and Five Forces models and compares and contracts findings.
    Recommend organizational strategies based on the external analysis. Does not analyze organizational strategies based on the external analysis. Analyzes but does not recommend organizational strategies based on the external analysis. Recommends organizational strategies based on the external analysis. Recommends organizational strategies and analyzes each of the environmental and industry influences found in the external analysis.
    Write coherently to support a central idea (in appropriate APA format) with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional. Writing does not support a central idea in appropriate APA format. Does not use correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional. Writing supports an idea. APA format is inconsistent, contains major errors of grammar, usage, and/or mechanics. Writing coherently supports a central idea in appropriate APA format, with few errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Writing is coherent, using evidence to support a central idea in a consistently appropriate APA format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional.

    External Analysis

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