Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2

Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2
Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. RetrievedSept. 7, 2008, from Purchasing.com. Also, please read the following article: Nadarajah, S. & Kotz, S. (2009). Models for purchase frequency. European Journal of Operational Research, 192(3), 1014-1026. Case Assignment Turn in a paper of one to two pages (page count does not include cover or reference list) and include the following components: What kind of products or service does Fastenal offer? In each store, what are the key facilities or equipment needed for Fasternal to operate efficiently? Relating to the case study on Page 260 in Chapter IX, what are the key problems/solutions you envision for Fastenal? Assignment Expectations  Answer questions with clarity. Show depth and breadth in your paper to enhance the quality of your paper. Try your best to search in the Trident online library to find some papers/articles to support your argument and show them in the reference list. Turn in your answers by the module due date.
Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2
Module 4 – SLP INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION  Store Management **This SLP has two parts Part 1 Relating to the organization you chose for Module 1, discuss: In your organization (individual stores if possible), what are the key facilities or equipment needed for everyday operations? Was any safety issue involved and how was it solved? Part 2 Please locate and review the following article: Li, Z, Ryan, J., & Sun, D. (2015). Multi-attribute procurement contracts. International Journal of Production Economics, 159, 137-146. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2014.09.032 Please submit a 1-2 page critique of the article mentioned above. Please summarize the article and also state how the information can be applied by you.  Turn in your paper (Part 2) by the module due date. SLP Assignment Expectations Answer questions with clarity. Show depth and breadth in your paper to enhance the quality of your paper. Try your best to search in the Trident online library to find some papers/articles to support your argument and show them in the reference list. Turn in your 1- to 2-page paper by the module due date.
Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2
Module 3 – SLP GRAND STRATEGY SELECTION For purposes of the Module 3 SLP, you are a Strategic Management consultant. Your client is a major competitor in one of the following industries: Amusement Parks in the U.S. Golf Centers and Country Clubs in the U.S. Concert and Event Promotion in the U.S. Jewelry Stores in the U.S. Nursery and Garden Stores in the U.S. Department Stores in the U.S. Women’s Clothing Stores in the U.S. Furniture Stores in the U.S. New Car Dealers in the U.S.  Fast Food Restaurants in the U.S. Your client has an extensive number of strengths (indeed, these are SCAs): A solid image, the top market share in the industry, excellent cash flow, and a very low long-term debt to equity ratio. Because your client’s company is renowned in the industry (which you have selected from the list above), the organization has also managed to attract – and retain – the most talented people working in the industry. Finally, the company’s approach to marketing is second to none. While your client is clearly aware of its internal strengths, the organization is still unclear relative to whether the company should pursue a “Grow” (a more aggressive) strategy, or a “Hold” (a more passive) strategy. Your client has engaged you to do some research on the industry (use IBISWorld and other current publications in the library). In IBIS, be sure to review the sections: “Industry Questions” and “Industry Issues” in addition to other key information and industry data. Assess the opportunities and threats facing the company, and determine the relative attractiveness of the industry as a whole. Then using the GE/McKinsey Matrix, decide whether your client should pursue a “Grow” or a “Hold” strategy. Because you already know that your client’s business strength is “strong,” your task is to determine the attractiveness of the industry/market.  After performing some research on the client’s industry using IBISWorld, write a 2-3 page memorandum to your client in which you discuss the key threats and opportunities in the industry’s operating environment. Next, dependent on the attractiveness of the industry/ market, advise your client as to whether the company should pursue a “Hold” or “Grow” strategy. Finally, use the Model of Grand Strategy Clusters to recommend a grand strategy that your client should pursue. Be sure to justify your choice.   SLP Assignment Expectations Your SLP assignment should be a minimum of 2-3 pages in length.  At a minimum, you should include the following section headings to organize the memo to your client: Introduction Opportunities and Threats in the _______ Industry The GE/McKinsey Matrix Applied to the ________ Industry Model of Grand Strategy Clusters Applied to the _______ Industry Conclusion You are required to use APA formatting and you are required to cite and reference your sources. Please be sure to review the assignment rubric prior to writing your assignment. 
Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2
Module 3 – Case GRAND STRATEGY SELECTION Assignment Overview The Module 3 Case assignment requires that you use the various Grand Strategy selection matrices to select the grand strategy (or strategies) that the Coca-Cola Company should follow.   Case Assignment List the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the Coca-Cola Company that you identified in the Module 2 Case assignment. Review the SWOT Analysis Diagram (Slide 4 of the Grand Strategy Selection Matrices PowerPoint presentation). In which cell do you believe Coca-Cola Company belongs? Defend your answer. Next, using the Grand Strategy Selection Matrix (Slide 7), determine the grand strategy (or grand strategies) that should be pursued by Coca-Cola. Discuss the assumptions you have made in applying the Grand Strategy Selection Matrix (i.e., explain why you chose “overcome weaknesses” vs. “maximize strengths” and why you chose “internally-directed” vs. “externally directed”). Next, apply the Model of Grand Strategy Clusters (Slide 8) to the Coca-Cola Company. Discussion the assumptions you made in applying the Model of Grand Strategy Clusters to the Coca-Cola Company (i.e., rapid vs. slow growth; weak vs strong competitive position). Finally, apply the BCG Matrix (Slide 10) to Coca-Cola’s core strategic choices. Again, discuss your assumptions for choosing, e.g., high versus low market share). Is Coca-Cola a Dog, Cash Cow, Star, or Question Mark? Compare your results from the Grand Strategy Selection Matrix (Step 2), the Model of Grand Strategy Clusters (Step 3), and the BCG Matrix (Step 4). How do your results compare? Conclude your written analysis by stating which grand strategy (or strategies) Coke should follow and why. Defend your answer! Assignment Expectations Your Case Assignment should be a minimum of 5-6 pages in length.  You are required to use APA formatting and you are required to cite and reference your sources. Please make sure you review the assignment rubric prior to writing your assignment. Be sure to use section headings to organize your paper, for example: Introduction Coca-Cola Company SWOT Application of the Grand Strategy Selection Matrix Application of the Model of Grand Strategy Clusters Application of the BCG Matrix Comparison of Results The Grand Strategy Coca-Cola Should Choose Conclusion  
Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2
Module 4 – Case STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING Assignment Overview In the Module 4 Case, we will investigate the control systems at the Coca-Cola Company.   Case Assignment Visit the website of the Coca-Cola Company: http://www.coca-colacompany.com/, and go to the Investors page. Look around at this page (there is a lot of excellent information here), and search for information related to the organization’s structure and controls. Then, locate the company’s most recent Annual Reports and 10-K filings. After completing some research at Coke’s website, in the library, and on the internet, please address the following: Describe the organizational structure at the Coca-Cola Company (what form of structure does the company have?). Include any information you can find regarding the company’s Board of Directors and the company’s committees. Describe the organization’s culture. How well does the company’s Values statement align with its culture? Do some research at the Coca-Cola Company website and in the library (be sure to look at trade magazines and newspapers as well) and find as much information concerning the company’s control systems as you can (budgets, inventory control, annual objectives, functional strategies, policies and procedures, personnel evaluation systems, or other). Describe these controls, and discuss how they assist in keeping Coca-Cola’s strategies on-track. In the Module 3 Case, you identified a grand strategy (or grand strategies) that the company should follow. Do the company’s organizational structure, culture, and control systems align well with this strategy? Explain.   Assignment Expectations Your Case Assignment should be a minimum of 5 pages in length.  You are required to use APA formatting and you are required to cite and reference your sources.  There should be a minimum of three (3) reputable sources cited and referenced in your paper (your sources must be different from the sources provided you in the Background materials). Please make sure you review the assignment rubric prior to writing your assignment.  
Module 4 – Case INTEGRATION AND REFLECTION Assignment Overview Review the following article from Purchasing.com: Staff (2002). Fastenal adds inventory to stores, enhances service. Retrieved Sept. 7, 2
Module 4 – SLP STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING The Module 4 SLP requires that you run a simulation entitled: “The Platform Wars: Simulating the Battle for Video Game Supremacy.” Visit the Forio site, and access the simulation here: https://forio.com/simulate/mit/video-game/simulation/ Click on “Play as an individual.” Enter your first name as the “Screen ID,” then click “Login.” In this web-based simulation, you are a senior manager of a video game hardware platform producer. Each year, you have three decisions to make: Determine the price of the video game console; Determine the number of video games that your company will subsidize to enhance the development of new video games (and that can be played on your company’s video game console); be sure to note that the subsidy of each new game costs you $16.2M each year; and Determine the royalty percentage you will require game makers to pay you (the higher the royalties, the more revenue you earn on new games, but the less inclined game makers are to develop new games). At the start of the simulation, your market share is 50%. The price of your video game console is $250.00 (note that your competitor’s market share is 50%, but your competitor’s console price is $370.00 (hint: you are vastly underpriced to begin the simulation). As the CEO, it is your task to make decisions one year at a time. As you do so, note how key data are changing, and take note of how your pricing, changes made to royalties, and new game subsidies change your profits and your market share. You may need to go through at least one practice run of the simulation in order to become familiar with it. One way of becoming familiar with the simulation is to change only value, leaving the others constant. This will isolate the impact of one variable, and will give you a sense of how the change in a single variable impacts revenue, market share, etc. (use the Dashboard and the financial statements to determine this). For example, if I leave all variables unchanged in Year 1 (price = $240; Game titles to subsidize = 3, and Royalties = 15%), my market share becomes 69% at the end of Year 1 (and my net profit is $48.0M). In contrast, if I reduce the console price to $230, my market share becomes 71% at the end of Year 1 (and my net profit is $33.6M). Importantly, if I increase my console price to $330, my market share at the end of Year 1 is 58%; however, my net profit is $140.8M! As the CEO, your task is to find the best combination of changes in the three variables that both increases your market share and earns a maximum net profit. Remember that the changes are relative; there are no right or wrong answers. Your goal is to use the knowledge you have acquired from previous courses (Accounting, Marketing, Finance, etc.), and allow the various statements and the Dashboard to guide you in your analysis, accumulating high market share and revenue. Be sure to take note of how the statements may be used to “control” your strategy! Remember that you need to cover your costs, while simultaneously turning a profit and increasing your market share. SLP Assignment Expectations As the CEO, you are asked to run the simulation a minimum of three (3) times, noting the changes made each year, as well as your final results. Then, write a 2- to 3-page memorandum to your Board of Directors, informing them of how changes in the variable (e.g., the price of the console; royalties paid by the game maker; and changes in the number of game titles subsidized) affect total market share, revenue per year, and net profit per year. Be creative, and include some tables and graphs in your written analysis to show your changes and/or results.