Strategic Planning Assignment
You may choose to work in pairs OR do the assignment on your own. NO groups of 3!
If you choose to work in pairs, you only get marked for what YOU complete (which must be clearly
indicated). If you work in pairs, I also expect FAR more research and detail than someone who works
on their own- be warned!
Assignment Information
You will be picking a company from ONE of the following industries to do strategic planning:
*energy drinks (example: Monster)
*movie theatres (example: Famous Players)
*cell phone (example: Apple)
*breakfast cereal (example: Nabisco)
*your own suggestion- must be approved by Ms. Boseovski
*You may choose to present your information in any format you want- report, presentation –
Prezi/Power Point, website, video, etc. Remember- it is the content, not the format that is important!
Oral Presentations & Video lengths: 8 – 12 min
Section 1- Part 1 of the Strategic Planning Process- Mission and Objectives
*If you are working in pairs, you must split the 4 sections up- 2 sections each!
1. What is the company’s mission statement? Evaluate it based on all of the criteria for a mission
statement- refer to note about what a mission statement needs to be.
2. Re-write the company’s mission statement. How did you improve upon the mission
statement? Give two criteria that you improved upon it and how you did this.
3. Find the company logo. Do you feel that the logo fits with the mission statement? Explain.
Would you improve it anyway to make it align better?
4. (Do NOT do this section if you are working ALONE). See if you can find any financial or
strategic objectives for the company. If you find them, explain how they fit with the mission and
vision of the company. If you can’t, make up one financial and one strategic objective and
explain how they fit with the mission and vision of the company.
Section 2- Environmental Scanning Part 1- SWOT Analysis
Complete a full SWOT analysis of your company- refer to your notes and homework on how to
complete this. If you are working in groups, you are to divide it so that one person does two sections
of the SWOT (example- strengths and opportunities) and the other partner does the remaining two
sections.
Section 3- Environmental Scanning Part 2- PEST Analysis
a) Complete a full PEST analysis of your company- refer to your notes and homework. If you are
working in groups, you are to divide it so that one person does two sections of the PEST
(example- political and social) and the other partner does the remaining two sections.
b) Complete a Competition analysis.
a. If you are working on your own, find ONE direct competitor and fully analyze them.
b. If you are working in pairs, find TWO direct competitors, each of you will choose one
and fully analyze them.
Section 4- Environmental Scanning Part 3- Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
Complete a Five Forces analysis. One partner will complete: buyer power, supplier power, and threat
of new entrants. One partner will complete: competitive rivalry and threat of substitutes.
Section 5- Strategy Decisions
*Everyone completes this section INDIVIDUALLY.
a) What generic strategy do you feel this company is following? Why do you think this is the
strategy they chose?
b) Does the strategy they chose fit with their strengths? Explain.
c) Is there another strategy that would work better? Why?
d) Give at least THREE suggestions as to how to support and implement their strategies to
ensure success.
Timelines and Due Dates:
Class Periods to work on project (3.5 periods):
Wednesday November 11th – Assignment Overview & Work Period
Tuesday, November 17th – Work Period
Wednesday, November 18th & Thursday, November 19th – Work Periods
**Will review progress & provide feedback to individuals/pairs in 5-10 minute meetings.
This is what class time allows, however please notify me if you would like additional time outside of
class to discuss assignment**
Please confirm report format in our meeting.
DUE DATE: Monday, November 23rd
Rubric:
Knowledge/Understanding:
SWOT
Knowledge/Understanding:
PEST
Knowledge/Understanding:
Five Forces
Thinking/Inquiry:
Communication:
Application:
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Excellent knowledge
and usage of the
SWOT analysis.
Excellent knowledge
and usage of the
PEST analysis.
Excellent knowledge
and usage of the
Five Forces
analysis.
Excellent ability to
critically evaluate
the mission and
objectives of a
company.
Excellent ability to
communicate their
results using
research.
Statements are
backed up and
explained fully.
Excellent ability to
apply the generic
strategies and make
suggestions.
Good knowledge
and usage of the
SWOT analysis.
Good knowledge
and usage of the
PEST analysis.
Good knowledge
and usage of the
Five Forces
analysis.
Good ability to
critically evaluate
the mission and
objectives of a
company.
Good ability to
communicate their
results using
research. Most
statements are
backed up and
explained fully.
Good ability to
apply the generic
strategies and
make suggestions.
Some knowledge
and usage of the
SWOT analysis.
Some knowledge
and usage of the
PEST analysis.
Some knowledge
and usage of the
Five Forces
analysis.
Some ability to
critically evaluate
the mission and
objectives of a
company.
Some ability to
communicate their
results using
research. Some
statements are
backed up and
explained fully.
Some ability to
apply the generic
strategies and
make suggestions.
Little knowledge
and usage of the
SWOT analysis.
Little knowledge
and usage of the
PEST analysis.
Little knowledge
and usage of the
Five Forces
analysis.
Little ability to
critically evaluate
the mission and
objectives of a
company.
Little ability to
communicate their
results using
research. Very
few statements
are backed up and
explained fully.
Litte ability to
apply the generic
strategies and
make suggestions.
**You must submit a list of ALL websites used in the
completion of your project**
Suggested Links to help find information:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/index.html - local region newspaper- economy, political, current events
The company’s website- obviously this will help you with the SWOT information
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=11-008-X&CHROPG=1&lang=eng – social
trends
Statistics Canada- general information about demographics
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2826 - Canadian economic factors
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/fallstatement/2012/ecotables.html - Ontario economic factors
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2855 - regulations that relate to businesses and industries
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/h_07063.html - industry information, competitor research,
economy information
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ - lots of business information and articles
https://news.google.ca/ - you can search your company to see all published news articles