Case Analysis for Columbia Sportswear

Case Analysis for Columbia Sportswear

Subject: Business    / Management
Question
CASE ANALYSIS FOR COLUMBIA SPORTWEAR
Case needs to include answers to all of the below 10 questions (may be bullet
pointed)
1) What are the most important general environment factors to be considered for
the industry and the company and what is their effect (positive-negative-neutral)?
What is your evidence for the importance of these factors?
2) What are the most important of the five industry forces affecting the industry
and the company and what is their effect (high-moderate-low)? What is your
evidence for the importance of these forces? Is the industry attractive for new
entrants AND for incumbents? Why?
3) List two major competitor(s) and briefly predict the significant future action(s)
of each competitor. What is your evidence for their importance?
4) What are the most important of the eight value chain areas for the company?
What is your evidence for their importance? Are they superior, inferior or neutral
vs. each of the two major competitors and why (be specific but concise)?
5) Discuss the most significant financial factor(s) (be specific, calculating and
presenting the most important ratios in the profitability, leverage and/or activity
areas compared to competitors and /or the industry) and non-financial (leadership,
culture, ethics/social responsibility) factor(s) for the company? What is your
evidence for their importance?
6) INTEGRATE the SWOT analysis to discuss how major strengths pursue
opportunities and limit threats and how major weaknesses limit opportunities and
enhance threats.
7) Using your analysis above, briefly state what you believe to be the company’s
major core competencies (if any) and assess their ability to create a sustainable
competitive advantage by explaining each of the VRIN criteria for each
competency. Be sure to state the results of the VRIN analysis (i.e. competitive
disadvantage, competitive parity, temporary competitive advantage or sustainable
competitive advantage).
8) In light of your analysis above, what are the company’s current strategy types
(i.e. type of business level, corporate level, cooperative and international strategy
the company is pursuing)? What is your evidence for your assessment? Do they
fit with your analysis above? Why or why not?
9) Briefly, based on your above analysis, what are the firm’s main problems and
what is your suggested solution(s)? Which 7S implementation factors are most
important? Why?
10) Finally, based on your analysis, create two questions for the presenter.