GHRM 528

Assignment 2
24/26 September 2016

Being in the right location is a key

ingredient in any business's success. If
a company selects the right location, it
may

have

customers,

adequate
workers,

access

to

transportation,

materials, etc.
Consequently, location often plays a significant role in a company's profit and overall
strategic success. A location strategy is a plan for obtaining the optimal location for a
company by identifying company needs and objectives, and searching for locations with
offerings that are compatible with these needs and objectives. Generally, this means the firm
will attempt to maximize opportunity while minimizing costs and risks. A company's location
strategy should conform with, and be part of, its overall corporate strategy.

This is a group assignment. Remember to list all of the group members (with student
numbers) which have contributed on the cover page of the assignment.
Also add the assignment rubric to the reverse side of your cover page, because
without that your assignment cant be assessed.
Assignment
Part A:
As a group you must identify and choose a/any business in your community and evaluate
the businesss strategic importance pertaining to its location. Why is the location for that
specific business important ?
Possible points for discussion:

Neighbourhood/Demographics/Infrastructure/Buying power

Customer convenience/Profile/Foot traffic

Parking/Access/Transport facilities

Product/good or service orientated company?

Competitors/Substitutes/other business services

Political/social/economic/applicable municipality by-laws

Rent/taxes/security/hidden costs?

Also list any problematic factors to the specific businesss location, and provide possible
suggestion.

Important (5 8 pages in length, which incorporates pictures and graphical

illustrations)
Part B:
You as a group must think entrepreneurial. You have been granted ownership of a business
(you can choose your specific business type, unfortunately Tiger Wheel & Tiger has already
been chosen).You need to develop a location strategy for your business in your community.
Use the headings in Part A to assist you in creating a strategic location plan for the investors.
Please be innovative and creative in your thinking.
Important (5 8 pages in length, which incorporates pictures and graphical
illustrations)
For any further reading on the topic please visit the prescribed textbook (Heizer, J. &
Render, B. 2014. Operations Management 11th Edition. Pearson:New Jersey) chapter
8 on page 361 388

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Part A:
Strategic importance of location
- Ability to identify and discuss the factors which affect the location decisions of a

10

business
Factors that affect location decisions
- Evaluating the different factors which negatively/positively impacts the business

10

location and providing possible solutions to the problem

Part B:
Strategic location
- Building and applying new ideas for developing a strategic location plan for a

10

business
Business idea
- Application of creative and innovative location strategies

10

(What, where, why, product....)

Overall presentation
- Table of content, technical presentation, referencing, lay-out, language

10

correctness, bibliography, cover page, pictures, graphical illustrations)

TOTAL:

/50