Mitchells/Richards - 2005
Case Questions
1. Market
A. Clearly and specifically define this business as it now exists and its market in one clear and specific sentence. This must be a complete definition (customer, product/service, level in chain, and geographic area at a minimum).
B. Provide full support as to why this is the best definition. Address each part of the definition separately.
2. Mission statement
A. Write a new mission statement for the company, using the information from the case as needed. It must be clear, complete, and concise and cannot be more than 75 words long. Make this specific to this company - no generic missions are acceptable.
B. Support the new mission statement fully by showing how it contains the four required components (customers, etc.). Address each component separately.
C. The class handout gives four major purposes of a mission statement (define, etc.). Support your new mission statement by showing how it meets each of the four purposes. Address each purpose separately.
3. Current Business/Corporate Strategy
Analyze and discuss fully what overall Business/Corporate level strategy the company is currently pursuing. Be specific, not generic. You must support your position with facts. Be sure to differentiate between business strategies and functional strategies.
4. Rumelt
Relate each of Rumelt's four criteria to your answer in #3. Answer the following questions for EACH criterion. You must be complete in your answers. Arrange your answer as: 1. Consistency, then A through D, etc.
A. Does the strategy meet the criteria?
B. To what extent?
C. Does it fall short? How?
D. Could the strategy have been modified to better meet these criteria? How? Support.
5. Recommendation:
A. What one major strategy should they pursue now? You must be specific (not generic) and support fully. Support for your choice being the most appropriate choice is critical. Use the following outline to answer this question. You must address all detail items within 3 & 4 fully.
1. State your recommended strategy.
2. Explain your strategy.
3. Support why your strategy is appropriate.
4. Support why your strategy is the best strategy.
B. Clearly relate and justify your proposed strategy to each tool above.
1. Relate to GE recommendation in #2D.
2. Relate to each of the four factors in Rumelt in #4.
See FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions about this case.
- Q2 – 8/15/2010 -