OCTOBER 2015

October
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednes

11

12

13
1. Pretest Ch. 5 (group)
2. UNDERARMOUR CASE
- report: gr. 1
- critique: gr. 5

14

18

19

20
1. GOOGLE CASE
- report: gr. 3
- critique: gr. 7

21

25

26

27
1. Pretest Ch. 8
2. HERMAN MILLER CASE
- report: gr. 5
- critique: gr. 1

28

By group
Individual

October 2015
Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

8 FREECUT

10

15
1. Pretest Ch. 6
2. "Blue Ocean Strategy"
reflection
paper
3. CHIPOTLE
CASE
- report: gr. 2
- critique: gr. 6

16

17

22
1. Pretest Ch. 7
2. NUCOR CASE
- report: gr. 4
- critique gr: 8

23

24

29
1. Pretest Ch. 10
2. TATA MOTORS CASE
- report: gr. 6
- critique: gr. 2

30

31

Saturday

NOVEMBER 2015

Novemb
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday
3
1. WALT DISNEY CASE
- report: gr. 7
- critique: gr. 3

Wednesd

15

16

22

23

24
1. FINAL PAPER REPORT
- reporters: gr. 4, 5, 6

29

30

Notes:
1. FINAL PAPER PRESENTATION: 45mins. max
2. CAPITALISM 2

10
1. Capitalism 2 Group Pic
2. Roadmap for Cap. 2

17

-competition TBA

11

18

25

By group
Individual
November 2015

ON: 45mins. max

Wednesday

Thursday
5
1. FROG'S LEAP CASE
- report: gr. 8
critique: gr. 4

12
1. Deadline: 2 case analysis
2. FINAL PAPER REPORT
- reporters: gr. 1, 2, 3

19

Friday
6

13 MAKE UP CLASS (tba)

1. Pretest Ch. 9

Saturday
7

14

20

21

27

28

NO CLASS: APEC

26 LAST DAY!
1. FINAL PAPER REPORT
- reporters: gr. 7 & 8

Saturday

UNDERARMOUR
reporters: gr. 1
critics: gr. 5

a) How strong are the competitive forces confronting UA? Provide a 5 forces analysi
b.) Does UA have any core competencies? If so, what are they?
c.) What are the key elements of UA's core strategy?

d.) Which one of the 5 generic competitive strategies most closely approximates the

e.) What 3-4 priority issues do Kevin Klank & top manangement need to address? W

de a 5 forces analysis to support your answer

ely approximates the approach that UA employs?

need to address? What do you recommend they should do?

CHIPOTLE
reporters: gr. 2
critics: gr. 6
a.)DoesChipotlehave any core competencies and, if so, what are they?
b)What are the primary and secondary components ofChipotles value chain?

c)What are the chief components ofChipotles strategy? Which one of the five g
most closely approximate the competitive approach thatChipotleis empl

d)What does an analysis of the data in case Exhibit 1 reveal aboutChipotles fina

e) What action recommendations would you make toChipotles top executives to

t are they?

tles value chain?

hich one of the five generic competitive strategies

hatChipotleis employing?

aboutChipotles financial and operating performance?

es top executives to strengthen growth and profitability?

GOOGLE
reporters: gr. 3
critics: gr. 7
a)What is your assessment of the overall industry attractiveness? Why so?
b)What forces are fast shaping the search industry?

c)DescribeGoogles business model? What strategies hasGooglerelied upon to

d)What are the companys chief SWOT?

e) What recommendations would you make toGoogles top-management team to

How should it best capitalize on its strategic initiatives in smartphones and

ness? Why so?

ooglerelied upon to build competitive advantage? Did the business model and strategy prove success

management team to sustain its competitive advantage in the search industry?

in smartphones and other ventures?

strategy prove successful? How?

NUCOR
reporters: gr. 4
critics: gr. 8

a)What are the primary competitive forces impacting U.S. steel producers in gen
steel products via recycling scrap steel in particular? Please do a five-forc

b)What driving forces do you see at work in this industry? Are they likely to impa

c)How attractive are the prospects for future profitability of U.S. steelmakers? Sh

d)What type of strategy has Nucor followed? Which of the five generic strategies
Is there any reason to believe that Nucor has achieved a sustainable com
If so, what type of competitive advantage does Nucor enjoy?

e)What specific factors account for why Nucor has been so successful over the p
great strategy execution, or great leadership?

eel producers in general and the producers like Nucor that make new
Please do a five-forces analysis to support your answer.

e they likely to impact the industrys competitive structure favorably or unfavorably?

U.S. steelmakers? Should Nucor consider expanding in this type of industry environment? Why or why

e generic strategies discussed in Chapter 5 is Nucor employing?

d a sustainable competitive advantage over many of its steel industry rivals?

uccessful over the past several decades? Do these factors have more to do with great strategy,

ronment? Why or why not?

great strategy,

HERMAN MILLER
reporters: gr. 5
critics: gr. 1

a) Describe Herman Millers strategy. Is there evidence it has produced a competitiv

b)

How you describe HMIs financial situation? How does its performance compare

c)

Until 2003, HMI offered lifelong employment. How did this practice affect the c
capable of executing the strategy? How did this practice build the organizational

d)
e)

Do non-monetary incentives facilitate strategy execution at HMI? Explain.

Describe the culture at HMI. Would you characterize HMIs culture as healthy an

produced a competitive advantage and good financial performance? Explain.

performance compare to prior years? The competition?

is practice affect the companys ability to staff the organization with managers and employees

build the organizational capabilities required for successful strategy execution?

n at HMI? Explain.
s culture as healthy and largely supportive of good strategy execution? Explain.

and employees

TATA MOTORS
reporters: gr. 6
critics: gr. 2

a)What are the key success factors for a successful firm in the global motor vehic

b)Would you describe Tata Motors international strategy as global, transnational,

c)What are the driving forces in the global motor vehicle industry?
d)What is the financial condition of Tata Motors, given Exhibits 3 and 4?

e)What do you think are Tata Motors top issues and how do you recommend the

the global motor vehicle industry?

s global, transnational, or multidomestic strategy? Why?

bits 3 and 4?

o you recommend they address these?

WALT DISNEY
reporters: gr. 7
critics: gr. 3

a)What is Walt Disney Companys corporate strategy?

b)What is your assessment of the long-term attractiveness and competitive stren

c)Does Walt Disney Companys portfolio exhibit good strategy fit? What value ch
What opportunities for skills transfer, cost sharing, and brand sharing do y

d)What is your assessment of Walt Disney Companys financial and operating pe

What is your assessment of the financial strength of Disney based on the 2

e)What actions do you recommend that Walt Disney Companys management ta

Your recommended actions must be supported with a convincing, analysis

nd competitive strength of Walt Disney Companys different business units?

gy fit? What value chain match-ups do you see?

d brand sharing do you see?

ial and operating performance in fiscal years 2009-2011?

isney based on the 2010 and 2011 fiscal year financial data?

nys management take to improve the company and shareholder value?

convincing, analysis-based argument.

FROG'S LEAP
reporters: gr. 8
critics: gr. 4

a)Whats going on at Frogs Leap Winery? Have its efforts to become sustainable

b)How would you go about measuring Frogs Leaps efforts to become sustainab

c)Is Frogs Leap a social responsible enterprise? How does it compare against pe

d)Evaluate Frogs Leaps strategy. Use financial ratios and VRIO analysis to suppo

e) What should Frogs Leap do in the short term, mid-term, and long-term as it pu

become sustainable been thus far successful?

o become sustainable?
compare against peers?

RIO analysis to support your evaluation. What is working well and what could be improved?

nd long-term as it pursues sustainability?

improved?