Strategic Management Competitiveness & Globalization

Instructions and essay questions provided in module 3 exercise 2 essay file….this essay has 3 story parts so it has 3 supporting stories

Section Check-Box

Section 01 (MW 8:00-9:20 am)
Section 02 (MW 9:30-10:50 am)
Section 03 (MW 12:30-1:50 pm)

Module 3 Essays (Coral Divers Resorts) & Exercise 2 Essays

Instructions
Craft a series of short essays that answer the following questions or essay prompts. These essays should use the strategic management process and strategic management concepts to analyze:
1.   The Coral Divers (Revised) Case (95 points)
2.   The CPDN mini case (15 points), and
3.   The Folly exercise (15 points)

Strategic Management Competitiveness & Globalization

Be sure to answer the questions asked. Part of your grade will be based on the effectiveness of your written communications. Proof-read your essays before submitting them. You may use this document as a template for your answers, however please save the file with a different file name.

The Use of Outside Materials

You are permitted to discuss the case with other students but your writing must be your own. You are permitted to use the following outside materials when completing both the in-class and take-home portions of the exam:
1.   Coral Divers (revised) case
2.   Course handouts
3.   Your course notes detailing our in-class discussion
4.   The assigned textbook

You may use the above sources without documentation. You do not need outside sources, but should you use them, you must provide references. I strongly discourage you from searching for materials discussing Coral Divers.

Essay Questions

Questions 1-5 relate to the Coral Divers (Revised) Case

Question 1. What is Coral Divers’ mission (10 points)

Strategic Management Competitiveness & Globalization

Question 2: As part of an external analysis of Coral Divers’ industry, analyze the General Environment for the scuba diving resort industry using information provided in the Coral Divers Resorts (Revised) case. Identify the conditions in this industry that signal opportunities and threats to the occupants of this industry. Make some attempt to estimate the total aggregate profit for diving resorts in the Caribbean area. What do the trends suggest about the future of this industry? Please do not attempt to analyze the Industry or Competitive Environments in this question (10 points).

Question 3a: Define core competencies. (5 points)

Question 3b: Describe how core competencies create competitive advantage. (5 points)

Question 3c: What is Coral Divers’ core competency? (10 points)

Question 3d: Evaluate Coral Divers’ core competency using the sustainability criteria of Valuable, Rare, Costly to Imitate, and Difficult to Substitute? (10 points)

Question 4a: List and briefly describe the two generic Business Level Strategies (5 points)?

Question 4b: Referring to the Coral Divers (Revised) Case, discuss the strategy Coral Divers uses as the case starts and why it is performing poorly? What can be done to correct this poor performance (15 points)?

Strategic Management Competitiveness & Globalization

Question 5: List and evaluate the alternatives that are available to Coral Divers in terms of the costs and benefits of each alternative, as well as any relevant qualitative criteria. Craft a logical argument for the alternative you think would best help Coral Divers improve its performance. State any assumptions you make in selecting your alternative. (25 points)

Questions 6 and 7 relate to the two discussion exercises conducted in class: the Canadian Pharmaceutical Distribution Network (CPDN) mini case, and “The Folly of Rewarding A While Hoping for B” discussion.

Question 6: Referring to the CPDN mini case exercise discussed in class, compose a one page double spaced reflective essay explaining how you intend to use the lessons learned from the exercise in your professional or personal life, to be a more effective manager in the future. Be sure you focus on the future by applying the lessons of CPDN in new situations or under conditions different from those in the case. Assume that your reader is familiar with the concept of organizational performance measures, organizational controls, and CPDN. Avoid a simple review or summary of the CPDN exercise or the lessons learned. (15 points)

Strategic Management Competitiveness & Globalization

Question 7: Referring to the Steven Kerr paper, “On the Folly of Rewarding A While Hoping for B” compose a one page double spaced essay addressing the issue posed by the following questions: Why does the folly occur? What is its cause? Why do managers leave the problem uncorrected? What can managers do to fix the problem? (15 points)