STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OUTLINE
Paper: 15-25 pages (Body) single spaced to also include Appendices and Bibliography
NOTE: Make sure to utilize Credibility Killers Rubric as your team writes your paper. Failure to do so will negatively impact your grade.

I. Executive Summary
Briefly describe the current challenges facing the firm as well as the analytical work you have completed to assess strategic alternatives. Preview your recommended strategies; identify how they leverage the firm’s core competencies and improve the firm’s competitive advantage.
II. Introduction
A. Very Brief History of Organization
B. Summary Statement of “Current Organizational Challenges” and cite Current Strategies
III. Strategy Formulation
A. Vision and Mission Statements
B. Evaluation of “Current Situation” (include current Long-Term Goals, Objectives, Strategies)
• Stakeholder Analysis – Analysis of Demands of Relevant Stakeholders
• External Analysis – Analysis of Opportunities and Threats in the External Environment; typical tools which may be used include:
a. General Environment
b. Industry Environment (Five Forces Model)
c. Competitive Environment (Rivalry, Resource Similarity, Market Commonality)
d. Identify Key Success Factors
e. External Factor Evaluation Matrix
f. Competitive Profile Matrix
• Internal Analysis – Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses Inside the Firm; typical tools which may be used (your team chooses most relevant tools) include:
a. Management Team – what skills/competencies possessed?
b. Board of Directors – what skills/competencies possessed?
c. Value Chain Analysis of Functional Areas (Operations, Marketing, Finance, HR, IT, R&D, Customer Service, etc.)
d. Identify Key Resources, Core Capabilities (VRIO/VRINE Analysis)
e. Identify How Firm Creates & Sustains Unique Value (what are current/potential sources of Competitive Advantage?)
f. Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix
• Financial Analysis – Quantitative Analysis of Firm’s Current Situation (Based on last five years of financial data; to include company financial ratio analysis with comparison to major competitors AND industry averages)
a. Determine and analyze the firm’s current financial position
b. Conduct a thorough Financial Ratio Analysis
1. Assess the firm’s financial health using indicators of Liquidity, Profitability, Efficiency
2. Compare company performance to past periods
3. Compare company performance to at least two major competitors
4. Compare company performance to industry averages
C. Establish Long-Term Objectives (what needs to be done metrically to achieve Vision and Mission)
D. Analysis of Strategic Alternatives (to determine the best strategic plan for achieving Long-Term Objectives) based on your prior analyses with tools such as (examples only, teams determine which tools are most useful):
• External Factor Evaluation Matrix
• Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix
• SWOT Matrix
• Competitive Profile Matrix
• Other analytical tools
E. Strategy Recommendation – explicitly state how you expect the new strategy improves the firm’s Competitive Advantage
• NOTE: this section should be substantial, not just a couple paragraphs; typically expect minimum of 1 page of explanation
IV. Strategy Implementation
A. Establish Annual Objectives (Financial, Functional/Operational, Market)
B. Determine Organizational Issues Which Need to be Addressed to Implement Your Recommendations
• Corporate Culture
• Corporate Governance
• Organizational Structure
• Organizational Performance Systems
• Organizational Controls
C. Establish Supporting Programs
D. Determine Contingency Plans with Decision Trigger Points
V. Strategy Evaluation and Control
A. Standards/Targets Used as Guidelines (3-year projections for Financial, Functional/Operational, Market objectives)
B. Methods for Monitoring the Recommended Strategies with Decision Points for Intervening Corrective Action & Contingency Plans
VI. Conclusion
Explicitly state how recommended strategies are expected to leverage the firm’s core competencies and improve the firm’s competitive advantage.