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How has the company’s strategy changed from the original generic strategy that was applied?

Assignment 2: Discussion—Crafting a Strategy to Fit the Business
must be 100% orginal will be ran through a checker
All the attachements are connected to M1A3 Capstone posted homework

The Web site Amazon.com once aimed to be the world’s largest bookseller. Now the company offers a wide range of products and services to consumers, operating online retail storefronts for partners and developing and selling its own manufactured products (such as Kindle).
Can a company like Amazon.com have a strong business model but a weak strategy? Using the Internet, find Amazon’s most recent annual report and peruse its main sections.
Based on your analysis of the report, respond to the following:
How has the company’s strategy changed from the original generic strategy that was applied?
How would you describe the central elements of Amazon’s strategy?
In your opinion, what elements are involved in implementing the following business strategies?
A low-cost provider strategy
Differentiation
Diversification
Market timing
Write your initial response in approximately 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Explain what you find to be the most helpful advice and why you would consider it a possible best practice.
Amazon. (2012). http://www.amazon.com
Class the easiest way to obtain the company’s insight would be to-
1) Go to yahoo finance

http://finance.yahoo.com/
2) Type in the name of the company in the box next to the “Look Up”
3) From there go to the link located on the left titled “SEC Filings”
4) Scroll down until you find 10-K and click on the link “Full Filing at Edgar
5) Go to Item 7 on Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources
Enjoy

Assignment 1: Discussion—Factors and Trends that Influence Strategy Development

In this module, you will explore how businesses react to changing economic times and the influence this has on product and service positioning in the market place. You will also learn about the different approaches an organization may take such as a retrenchment approach, an investment approach, or an ambidextrous approach to provide a foundation for opportunity and risk in recessionary times.
Consumer spending habits have undergone dramatic and enduring change with the slowed economy in the United States.
Using the module readings, Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:
What are the factors that are key for establishing product differentiation in the new post-recession consumer environment especially as it relates to economic indicators?
What is a luxury good and should marketers of luxury goods abandon their efforts to establish premium pricing?
How do changes in societal attitudes toward companies and products affect the way marketers of consumer goods think about the customer value chain? Provide examples of companies that have changed their approach to marketing in response to a shift in consumers’ value in changing economic times.
Write your initial response in approximately 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Assignment 1: Discussion—Key Performance Measures and the Business Culture

Business culture is the context in which the measures exist. They are bound to each other in terms of context and environment. Understanding business metrics as key performance measures is an important part of business strategy and management. In this assignment, you will look at financial performance measures.
Financial performance measures are vitally important to assessing corporate performance. However, financial measures are primarily backward looking in that they measure the results of past actions, and do not always give a reliable indication of future direction.
Using the module readings, Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following for your own organization:
Give three examples of key performance measures that are forward looking and more predictive.
What aspect of the value chain are they measuring?
How do these measures tie to specific strategies in your business unit?
Does the business’ culture enable or block its business strategy and/or does it have an effect on financial performance in the value chain? Provide a rationale in support of your answer.
What are cultural norms that govern the organization, and what types of behaviors does the culture promote or punish?
Write your initial response in approximately 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
By review and comment on at least two peers’ responses.
Consider the following when you respond to your peers’ posts:
Comment on which you found most helpful and the reasons you found them helpful. Provide a citation or resource to each response based on your learning or research.
Comment on one of the measures described in your peers’ posts about how their organizations are alike or different from your own organization.
Explain how your organization might benefit from considering the measures stated by your peers.

Assignment 1: Discussion—Supply Chain

Understanding supply chain and how the consumer can play a critical role in the supply chain is an important part of developing and implementing a strategy. There are many products and services today where the target customer is part of the supply chain. The Web sites Wikipedia, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and Craig’s List are just a few examples.
Using the module readings, Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:
Give an example of a product or service where the target customer is part of the supply chain.
Describe the types of innovations or improvements that have come from involving the target customer in the supply chain.
Describe the types of information technology mechanisms that have been used to involve the customer in the supply chain.
Write your initial response in approximately 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Assignment 1: Discussion—RAEW Analysis

There are a variety of tools available for organizations to use to assess process. In this assignment you will learn how to apply a tool to a process situation.
RAEW is an acronym for responsibility, authority, expertise, and work. Responsibility denotes ownership, authority involves decision making, expertise involves skill or knowledge, and work is the task assigned either to a group or an individual.
Analyzing a process using the RAEW tool can help identify structural misalignments that impede strategy execution. These misalignments include the following:
Authority with no responsibility
Responsibility with no authority
Responsibility with no expertise
These misalignments can impede strategy execution by slowing decision-making, disempowering teams when there is responsibility without authority, or depriving processes of key skills when there is responsibility without expertise.
Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research the RAEW analysis technique. Based on your research, respond to the following:
Select an important process in your business unit that is performing poorly and perform a simple RAEW analysis.
What is the process you analyzed?
How is it performing poorly?
Can you find any structural misalignments using the RAEW tool?
Describe the misalignment and the consequences of it.
How would you fix this misalignment?
Write your initial response in approximately 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Leadership Development Report

Assessment Task 1: Leadership Development Report

This assessment task is a REPORT.

This requires you to use a particular style of writing which involves both the way the report is structured and the way that you acknowledge other people’s ideas used in your work.

Your second step should be mastering the art of referencing. There are many styles of referencing in use in different disciplines and geographical locations.

HARVARD REFERENCING is required.

Remember: this current assessment task is a REPORT not an ESSAY.

The critical thinking element

We want you to be very comfortable with questioning everything you read and hear.
Anyone can remember facts and state other people’s views but a far more useful skill is to critically review what you read and hear and decide for yourself how reliable, accurate, applicable, contemporary, objective and fair it is.

In this report, your assessor will value the fact that you are able to see both benefits and deficiencies in a particular theory. Make sure you look through the critical thinking exercises in the course site to get a clear understanding of critical thinking!

How many references should I cite?

There is no right answer to this question because it all depends on what you write in your report. Some statements you make in your report will certainly need a reference to support them.

So, to determine how many references you need to cite, first (as described in the report writing tutorial) draw a mind map of ideas to go into your report and for each idea try to link it to a reference source.

How will the report be marked?

Your lecturers have already created a marking rubric that will be used to award you a mark out of 50 as the report comprises 50 of the overall 100 marks available in this course.

The rubric is reproduced over the page and will be used as a way of providing feedback to you on how you performed.

The most important thing about the rubric is that it DEFINES what you will be marked on. If you include additional material that is not mentioned in the rubric it will not attract any marks, if you forget to write about something listed in the rubric, you’ll lose marks.

So the rubric is like a “contract” between you and your lecturer. Following the rubric clearly is your best strategy for a good result

THE TASK

1. Explore the Central Michigan University competencies model (5 clusters eg. Self-Management, Leading others, Task management, Innovation and Social Responsibility)
2. Identify your current strengths and weaknesses as a leader (or potential leader) within the context of the CMU (eg. Create a clear vision of yourself in approx. 5-10 years time – only then will you be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses)
3. Review the leadership theories explored in this course and describe how they relate to you and your leadership development (again in the context of the CMU model eg. Blake and Mouton model grid)
4. Create a leadership development plan (*Starting point – Action plan eg. For future job/ self-improving etc.)
5. Seek feedback on your plan from an established leader. This leader can be anyone you know who holds a leadership position in an organisation. (And be anyone even your father or mother)
6. Describe how you have incorporated this leader’s feedback into your plan (whether you agree with the advice given or not)
7. Describe how you will achieve the developments set out in your plan (eg. Volunteering to help out with people with disabilities etc.)
8. Describe how you will evaluate whether or not you have reached the level of development set out in your plan (Set a timeline/dateline and a goal – eg. I used to be late on 9 out of 10 times for appointments but after goal should be ON TIME 9 out of 10 times)

Word limit: 2000 words (not including your reference list or any appendices you may wish to attach)

Some important key points:

· Write in First Person’s Writing and this assignment includes reflection on the past and must follow up with clear vision!
· Do not explain theory and ‘waste’ words – just apply and use them to describe yourself

Can use tables to explain plan – counts in the word count

Please refer to the attachment below – FULL details are found in the attachment, including important things such as marking criteria.

Think of a brand that you believe connects well with its customers and communicates the value proposition effectively through a variety of venues. Explain your rationale with a detailed look at the customer value proposition and the marketing strategies used.

Unit III Case Study Case studies are an important learning strategy in business classes as they provide an opportunity for you to critically analyze events that have taken place in real-life businesses. This develops your critical thinking and research skills as you research the competition and industry in which your business resides with an end goal of formulating a recommendation for the challenges faced by the company. Select one of the three case studies listed below, which can be found in your textbook. Evaluate the case of your choice, and respond to each of the questions below using both theory and practical managerial thinking as well as supporting research. Option 1: Microsoft (pp. 94–95) 1. Evaluate Microsoft’s product and marketing evolution over the years. What has the company done well, and where did it falter? 2. Through the application of a political, economic, social, and technological (PEST) analysis, what are the current MBA 5501, Advanced Marketing 3 environmental factors impacting Microsoft? 3. Who are the top three competitors of Microsoft, and what are their advantages/disadvantages with respect to satisfying the value proposition of their customers? 4. Evaluate Microsoft’s recent expansions into areas such as search engines and smartphones. Do you think these are good areas of growth for Microsoft with a focus on customer value, satisfaction, and loyalty? Option 2: Tesco (pp.154–155) 1. Evaluate Tesco brand’s product and marketing evolution over the years. What’s most important to the Tesco brand with respect to changes in how consumers shop for automobiles? 2. Through the application of a PEST analysis, what are the current environmental factors impacting Tesco? 3. Who are the top three competitors of Tesco, and what are their advantages/disadvantages with respect to satisfying the value proposition of their customers? 4. How will Tesco grow without losing focus on its core customer as they look to maintain customer value, satisfaction, and loyalty? Option 3: IKEA (pp.185–186) 1. Evaluate IKEA’s business model concept and how it has evolved through the years. It has been stated that they have essentially changed the way people shop for furniture. What are the pros and cons of this type of strategy for IKEA? 2. Through the application of a PEST analysis, what are the current environmental factors impacting IKEA? 3. Who are the top three competitors of IKEA, and what are their advantages/disadvantages with respect to satisfying the value proposition of their customers? 4. As IKEA looks to maintain markets in the United States as well as expand to areas such as Asia and India, what would you recommend to maintain customer value, satisfaction, and loyalty? In formatting your case analysis, do not use the question-and-answer format; instead, use an essay format with subheadings. Your APA-formatted case study should be a minimum of 500 words in length (not counting the title and reference pages). You are required to use a minimum of three peer-reviewed, academic sources that are no more than 5 years old (one may be your textbook). All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased material must have accompanying in-text citations.

principles of Marketing (Must use Walmart as the example)

Unit IV Research Project
Marketing Plan

This week you will continue your comprehensive marketing plan researching the SAME company that you researched in previous units. Again, utilizing the CSU Online Library, you will research the various elements of the marketing plan as it relates to this company. In Unit IV you will provide a comprehensive discussion of the products and/or services provided by your organization.

Product

This section will provide a comprehensive look at the products, product lines, and services that are offered by your company. This will include discussions about the quality of the product/service and other additions such as warranties, installation, service plans, or unique packaging features that are included with the product (if pertinent). Include a discussion of whether your company’s products/services would be considered business-to-consumer (B2C) or business- to-business (B2B).Branding is also considered a part of the product offering, thus a discussion of the branding efforts associated with your company and the importance of said branding in the overall product offering should be included. Within this discussion, review the positioning strategy of your company.

Competitive Advantage

A competitive advantage is an important goal of every company, address whether your company has a competitive advantage WITH RESPECT TO PRODUCT. The idea is to discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to their product offering and the attributes associated with product as discussed above. Competitive advantage with respect to promotion, place, and pricing will be discussed in later sections of the marketing plan. Once you have stated your position, remember to include your rationale.
BBA 3201, Principles of Marketing 3
Your submission should be a minimum of two pages in length, double-spaced with a reference page and title page. References should include at least one additional, credible reference beyond the textbook. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations and cited per APA guidelines. Include the use of subheadings (this week consider using Product and Competitive Advantage in Product).
Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Unit V Research Project
Marketing Plan

This week you will continue your comprehensive marketing plan researching the SAME company that you researched in previous units. Again, utilizing the CSU Online Library, you will research the various elements of the marketing plan as it relates to this company. In Unit V you will provide a comprehensive discussion of place or distribution strategies of your company.

Place

This section will provide a comprehensive look at the distribution strategy of your organization. Begin with an identification of the distribution channels that should include the entire path that the products travel from the “manufacturer” to the final consumer. This might involve manufacturing plants, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and various other intermediaries. Why and how does your company use these intermediaries? Many companies use multiple channels, particularly with the advent of the internet (which is considered a direct channel). Another element to include is a description of a physical facility. This might include a manufacturing plant, bottling plant, retail location, or even a unique merchandising effort.

Competitive Advantage

Because competitive advantage is an important goal of every company, address whether your company has a competitive advantage WITH RESPECT TO PLACE. The idea is to discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to how they distribute their products. This should discuss their distribution channel and maybe a unique retail location (if pertinent). Again, this section should only discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to place (product, price and promotion are discussed in other sections). Once you have stated your position, remember to include your rationale.

Your submission should be a minimum of two pages in length, double-spaced with a reference page and title page. References should include at least one additional, credible reference beyond the textbook. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations and cited per APA guidelines. Include the use of subheadings (this week consider using Place and Competitive Advantage in Place).
Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Unit VI Research Project
Marketing Plan

This week you will continue your comprehensive marketing plan researching the SAME company that you researched in previous units. Again, utilizing the CSU Online Library, you will research the various elements of the marketing plan as it relates to this company. In Unit VI you will provide a comprehensive discussion of the promotion strategies of your company.

Promotion

This section will provide a comprehensive look at the promotional strategies of your organization. Begin with a look at the promotional objectives or themes used by your company. From there, review the promotional mix, this should include a preliminary discussion of the importance of IMC to your company. Promotion methods such as personal selling mass selling (advertising and publicity) and sales promotion should all be addressed in detail.

Competitive Advantage

Competitive advantage is an important goal of every company, so address whether your company has a competitive advantage WITH RESPECT TO PROMOTION. The idea is to discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to how they promote their products. Again, this section should only discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to promotion (product, price and place are discussed in other sections). Once you have stated your position, remember to include your rationale.
BBA 3201, Principles of Marketing 4

Your submission should be a minimum of two pages in length, double-spaced with a reference page and title page. References should include at least one additional, credible reference beyond the textbook. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations and cited per APA guidelines. Include the use of subheadings (this week consider Promotion and Competitive Advantage in Promotion).
Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Unit VII Research Project
Marketing Plan

This week you will continue your comprehensive marketing plan researching the SAME company that you researched in previous units. Again, utilizing the CSU Online Library, you will research the various elements of the marketing plan as it relates to this company. In Unit VII you will provide a comprehensive discussion of the pricing strategies of your company.

Pricing

This section will provide a comprehensive look at the pricing strategies of your organization. Begin with a look at the overall pricing objectives used by your company. This might include profit orientation, sales orientation, or status quo orientation. From there, review the pricing policies and include a look at the flexibility of the pricing structure, prices over the product life cycle, and discounts or allowances. Review Chapter 16 in the textbook for a complete understanding of how companies utilize pricing strategies.

Competitive Advantage

Does your company has a competitive advantage WITH RESPECT TO PRICING? The idea is to discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to how they price their products? Again, this section should only discuss whether your company has a competitive advantage with respect to price (product, promotion and place are discussed in other sections). Once you have stated your position, remember to include your rationale.

Your submission should be a minimum of two pages in length, double-spaced with a reference page and title page. References should include at least one additional, credible reference beyond the textbook. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations and cited per APA guidelines. Include the use of subheadings (this week consider Pricing and Competitive Advantage in Pricing).
Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Wicks and More have been in business for quite a few years now, and the company believes a more effective marketing program might help them build a stronger company

I need answer question related to this case :
In 2007, Beckey Neal and Kim Neal opened a candle and gift shop in Tupelo, MS, selling their hand-poured candles. Over the course of seven years, Wicks and More grew to a multi-million dollar company, selling candles in more than 3000 boutiques and fine department stores throughout the United States. Wicks and More candle shop features a wide variety of candles, from simple scented candles to highly ornate candles that are used for decorations. Wicks and More shop also features candleholders, incense, and candle-lighters of all kinds.
There are four major uses for candles. The first is to serve a functional purpose, providing light when the electricity goes out. Many people keep stocks of candles on hand just for those times. Second, candles are used for decorations. Third, candles can be burned to provide a romantic environment. Scented candles add to the experience of the warm glow of a candlelit bedroom. Other candles provide the perfect light for a romantic dinner. Fourth, candles are used as part of religious ceremonies.
The owners of Wicks and More have just contacted a marketing consulting firm. They wanted to know if there is a way to make the store’s marketing program more effective. Thus far, they had run ads in the newspaper and occasional spots on local radio. Most of the store’s radio advertising has been during the Christmas holiday season. Newspaper ads run all year.
The company provides the demographic information for Wicks and More’s current target market. Far more women buy candles than men. A typical customer is at least 20 years old. In terms of psychological characteristics, candle buyers tend to have a strong sense of fashion and decor. Many enjoy home decorating. Wicks and More’s customers have enough disposable income to shop for nicer home decorations. Many are affluent, though it is not unusual for a middle class income shopper to come into the store. People with lower incomes who want candles for power outages tend to buy them at Wal-Mart or a discount store.
Wicks and More have been in business for quite a few years now, and the company believes a more effective marketing program might help them build a stronger company.
the question is :
Wicks and More need your help in making decision with regard to marketing communication campaign. The company would like to start with sales promotion campaign but doesn’t have sufficient information to proceed. Would you please introduce sales promotions tools that fit well with the company, and the potential advantages and disadvantages associated with sales promotion? (Your answers are expected to incorporate the discussion on Groupon case.)

Factors and Trends that Influence Strategy Development

In this module, you will explore how businesses react to changing economic times and the influence this has on product and service positioning in the market place. You will also learn about the different approaches an organization may take such as a retrenchment approach, an investment approach, or an ambidextrous approach to provide a foundation for opportunity and risk in recessionary times.
Consumer spending habits have undergone dramatic and enduring change with the slowed economy in the United States.
Using the module readings, Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:
What are the factors that are key for establishing product differentiation in the new post-recession consumer environment especially as it relates to economic indicators?
What is a luxury good and should marketers of luxury goods abandon their efforts to establish premium pricing?
How do changes in societal attitudes toward companies and products affect the way marketers of consumer goods think about the customer value chain? Provide examples of companies that have changed their approach to marketing in response to a shift in consumers’ value in changing economic times