Strategic Management and Competitive Forces Essays

Strategic Management and Competitive Forces Essays Strategic Management and Competitive Forces Paper Strategic Management and Competitive Forces Paper COMPETITION IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY (WEEK 7) What is competition like in the golf equipment industry? What competitive forces seem to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness? How is the golf equipment industry changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those driving forces change the industry? What does your strategic group map of the golf equipment industry look like? Which strategic groups do you think are in the best positions? Which are in the worst positions? What recommendations would you make to Callaway Golf to improve the company’s competitive position in the industry and its financial and market performance? NINTENDO (WEEK 7) What is competition like in the video game console industry? Do a five-forces analysis to support your answer. Which of the five competitive forces is strongest? Which is weakest? Would you characterize the overall strength of competition in video game consoles as fierce, strong, moderate to normal or weak? Why? What is Nintendo’s strategy? Which of the five generic strategies discussed in Chapter 5 is Nintendo using? Is it fair to characterize Nintendo’s introduction of the Wii as a blue ocean strategy? Why or why not? What recommendations would you make to Nintendo to improve its competitiveness in the video game console industry and to maintain its favorable positioning vis-a-vis Microsoft and Sony? GOOGLE (WEEK 8) Discuss competition in the search industry. Which of the fi ve competitive forces seem strongest? weakest? What is your assessment of overall industry attractiveness? What are the key factors that define success in the industry? What are the key competencies, capabilities, and resources of successful search engine companies? Have Google’s business model and strategy proven to be successful? What are the company’s key resource strengths and competitive capabilities? What competitive liabilities and resource weaknesses does it have? What recommendations would you make to Google’s top-management team to sustain its competitive advantage in the search industry? How should it best capitalize on its strategic initiatives in mobile search, cloud computing, and its auctioning system for traditional media ads? RESEARCH IN MOTION (WEEK 8) What is competition like in the wireless phone industry? Which of the five Competitive forces is strongest? Which is weakest? What competitive forces seem to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness? What strategic approach has Research in Motion chosen to employ in international markets? Would you characterize its strategy as a global strategy or a localized multicountry strategy? How has it utilized location to build competitive advantage? How important is it for Research in Motion to increase the size of its pool of software developers? What are the different options for substantially increasing its RD staff? Which option for increasing the number of software developers should Research in Motion pursue? Explain how your recommended course of action is consistent with Research in Motion’s resources, organizational capabilities, and management preferences. APPLE (WEEK 9) What are the chief elements of Apple’s overall competitive strategy? How well do the pieces fi t together? What does a competitive strength assessment reveal about Apple’s computer business, as compared to the leaders in the personal computer industry? Does it appear that the company’s competitive positions in personal media players and smartphones or stronger or weaker than its position in computers? Does it make good strategic sense for Apple to be a competitor in the computer, personal media player, smartphone, and tablet computer industries? Are the value chain activities that Apple performs in computers, personal media players, tablet computers and smartphones very similar and â€Å"compatible† or are there very important differences from product to product? What recommendations would you make to allow Apple to strengthen its position in its most important markets? KOMATSU (WEEK 9) Briefly identify the various strategies that Komatsu used in the different stages of their internationalization process. What were the implications for Komatsu’s management policies as they responded to changing domestic and global market conditions? To what extent the leadership and management of Komatsu responsible for its success or failures? Why? What strategic action should Komatsu take to bring back an sustain the leadership position of Komatsu? ADIDAS (WEEK 10) What is Adidas’ corporate strategy? Was there a common strategic approach utilized in managing the company’s lineup of sporting goods businesses prior to its 2005-2006 restructuring? Has the corporate strategy changed with restructuring? What does a 9-cell industry attractiveness/ business strength matrix displaying Adidas’ business units look like? Does Adidas’ business line-up exhibit good strategic fit? What value-chain match-ups exists? What opportunities for skills transfer, cost sharing, or brand sharing are evident? Based on your analysis of adidas businesses, did the restructuring undertaken in 2005 and 2006 make sense? Does it appear the acquisition of Reebok International will produce higher returns for shareholders? PEPSICO (WEEK 10) What is PepsiCo’s corporate strategy? Briefly identify the business strategies that PepsiCo is using in each of its consumer business segments in 2008. What is your assessment of the long-term attractiveness of the industries represented in PepsiCo’s business portfolio? What is your assessment of the competitive strength of PepsiCo’s different business units? Does PepsiCo’s portfolio exhibit good strategic fit? What value-chain match-ups do you see? What opportunities for skills transfer, cost sharing, or brand sharing do you see? What strategic actions should Indra Nooyi take to sustain the corporation’s impressive financial and market performance?

Major General John Newton in the Civil War

Major General John Newton in the Civil War Early Life Career Born at Norfolk, VA on August 25, 1822, John Newton was the son of Congressman Thomas Newton, Jr., who represented the city for thirty-one years, and his second wife Margaret Jordan Pool Newton.   After attending schools in Norfolk and receiving additional instruction in mathematics from a tutor, Newton elected to pursue a military career and obtained an appointment to West Point in 1838. Arriving at the academy, his classmates included William Rosecrans, James Longstreet, John Pope, Abner Doubleday, and D.H. Hill.   Graduating second in the Class of 1842, Newton accepted a commission in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Remaining at West Point, he taught engineering for three years with a focus on military architecture and fortification design. In 1846, Newton was assigned to construct fortifications along the Atlantic coast and Great Lakes. This saw him make various stops in Boston (Fort Warren), New London (Fort Trumbull), Michigan (Fort Wayne), as well as several locations in western New York (Forts Porter, Niagara, and Ontario).  Newton remained in this role despite the start of the Mexican-American War that year.   Antebellum Years Continuing to oversee these types of projects, Newton married Anna Morgan Starr of New London on October 24, 1848. The coupled would ultimately have 11 children. Four years later, he received a promotion to first lieutenant. Named to a board tasked with assessing the defenses on the Gulf Coast in 1856, he was promoted to captain on July 1 of that year. Heading south, Newton conducted surveys for harbor improvements in Florida and made recommendations for improving the lighthouses near Pensacola. He also served as superintending engineer for Forts Pulaski (GA) and Jackson (LA).    In 1858, Newton was made the chief engineer of the Utah Expedition. This saw him travel west with Colonel Albert S. Johnstons command as it sought to deal with rebellious Mormon settlers. Returning east, Newton received orders to serve as superintending engineer at Forts Delaware and Mifflin on the Delaware River. He also was tasked with improving the fortifications at Sandy Hook, NJ. As sectional tensions rose following the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860, he, like fellow Virginians George H. Thomas and  Philip St. George Cooke, decided to remain loyal to the Union.    The Civil War Begins Made Chief Engineer of the Department of Pennsylvania, Newton first saw combat during the Union victory at Hokes Run (VA) on July 2, 1861. After briefly serving as  Chief Engineer of the Department of the Shenandoah, he arrived in Washington, DC in August and aided in constructing defenses around the city and across the Potomac in Alexandria. Promoted to brigadier general on September 23, Newton moved to the infantry and assumed command of a brigade in the growing Army of the Potomac.   The following spring, after service in Major General Irvin McDowells I Corps, his men were ordered to join the newly-formed VI Corps in May. Moving south, Newton took part in Major General George B. McClellans ongoing Peninsula Campaign. Serving in Brigadier General Henry Slocums division, the brigade saw increased action in late June as General Robert E. Lee opened the Seven Days Battles. During the course of the fighting, Newton performed well at the Battles of Gaines Mill and Glendale.   With the failure of Union efforts on the Peninsula, VI Corps returned north to Washington before taking part in the Maryland Campaign that September. Going into action on September 14 at the Battle of South Mountain, Newton distinguished himself by personally leading a bayonet attack against a Confederate position at Cramptons Gap. Three days later, he returned to combat at the Battle of Antietam. For his performance in the fighting, he received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the regular army. Later that fall, Newton was elevated to lead VI Corps Third Division.   Courting Controversy Newton was in this role when the army, with Major General Ambrose Burnside at the head, opened the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13.   Positioned towards the southern end of the Union line, VI Corps was largely idle during the fighting. One of several generals who was unhappy with Burnsides leadership, Newton traveled to Washington with one of his brigade commanders, Brigadier General John Cochrane, to voice his concerns to Lincoln. While not calling for his commanders removal, Newton commented that there was a want of confidence in General Burnsides military capacity and that the troops of my division and of the whole army had become entirely dispirited. His actions helped lead to Burnsides dismissal in January 1863 and Major General Joseph Hookers installation as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Promoted to major general on March 30, Newton led his division during the Chancellorsville Campaign that May.         Remaining at Fredericksburg while Hooker and the rest of the army moved west, Major General John Sedgwicks VI Corps attacked on May 3 with Newtons men seeing extensive action. Wounded in the fighting near Salem Church, he quickly recovered and remained with his division as the Gettysburg Campaign commenced that June. Reaching the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, Newton was ordered to assume command of I Corps whose commander, Major General John F. Reynolds, had been killed the previous day. Relieving Major General Abner Doubleday, Newton directed I Corps during the Union defense of Picketts Charge on July 3.   Retaining command of I Corps through the fall, he led it during the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.  The spring of 1864 proved difficult for Newton as a reorganization of the Army of the Potomac led to I Corps being dissolved. Additionally, due to his role in Burnsides removal, Congress refused to confirm his promotion to major general. As a result, Newton reverted to brigadier general on April 18.         Ã‚  Ã‚   Ordered West Sent west, Newton assumed command of a division in IV Corps.   Serving in Thomas Army of the Cumberland, he took part in Major General William T. Shermans advance on Atlanta. Seeing combat throughout the campaign at places such as Resaca and Kennesaw Mountain, Newtons division distinguished itself at Peachtree Creek on July 20 when it blocked multiple Confederate assaults.   Recognized for his role in the fighting, Newton continued to perform well through the fall of Atlanta in early September. With the end of the campaign, Newton received command of the District of Key  West and Tortugas.   Establishing himself in this post, he was checked by Confederate forces at Natural Bridge in March 1865. Remaining in command for the rest of the war, Newton then held a series of administrative posts in Florida into 1866. Leaving the volunteer service in January 1866, he accepted a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Corps of Engineers. Later Life Coming north in the spring of 1866, Newton spent the better part of the next two decades engaged in a variety of engineering and fortification projects in New York. On March 6, 1884, he was promoted to brigadier general and made Chief of Engineers, succeeding Brigadier General Horatio Wright.   In this post two years, he retired from the US Army on August 27, 1886. Remaining in New York, he served as Commissioner of Public Works of New  York City until 1888 before becoming President of the Panama Railroad Company.   Newton died in New York City on May 1, 1895 and was buried at West Point National Cemetery.