Course Project Strategic Management © 2015. Any .docx

Course Project
Strategic Management
© 2015. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
material is prohibited without
express written permission. Students are expected to maintain
the integrity of the assignment by
refraining from reproducing or posting the assignment or their
completed work where it can be
viewed by current or future students.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be
able to:
1. Use strategic management tools to evaluate an organization’s
strategic position
2. Evaluate the role strategic management plays in
organizational performance
3. Assess the elements of the strategic management process
including formation,
implementation, and evaluation
BACKGROUND INFORM ATION
You are employed by Strategic Management Consultants
(SMC), an international firm that
specializes in conducting analyses for public, private, non-

profit, and entrepreneurial ventures
(recent start-ups). SMC has been hired to initiate a review of
each of the organizations noted
below. This review will include a full analysis of the
organization along with recommendations
for how to proceed, presented in a report and presentation for
the clients.
Your manager has offered you the opportunity to choose which
of these organizations you wish
to work with. When your analysis is completed, SMC has
promised the client that you will
present your findings and offer recommendations for future
direction that the organization may
wish to consider to help achieve growth and other strategic
goals.
PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
Report
Select one of the organizations from the list below. The
organization you analyze can be a
publicly traded company or an entrepreneurial venture (start-
up).
Public
Entrepreneurial Ventures
• Google
• Amazon
• Zappos

• GoPro HD Cameras (portable sports and
activity camera systems)
• Jambox (wifi speakers)
• Tesla Motors (electric cars)
After selecting your organization, write a 20-page company
analysis that includes all of the
following sections:
Course Project
1. Company History and Current Overview
In this section, include the background of the organization
based on your research. This will
include basic information such as product, organization size,
years in existence, and any
other foundational information a person would need to know to

understand your analysis of
the organization.
2. Evaluation of the Mission, Vision, and Value Statements
Include the organization’s mission, vision, and value statements
along with your evaluation
of them. If the organization is missing any of these statements,
then draft the missing
statement(s) for the company. (You may consider explaining to
the CEO why it’s crucial to
have each of these statements during your presentation.)
3. SWOT Analysis
Include at least three strengths and weaknesses and three
opportunities and threats, as well
as your analysis as to why something is a strength/weakness or
opportunity/threat. Be sure
to also assess how each strength relates to potential
opportunities and how each weakness
relates to potential threats.
4. Industry and Competitive Analysis
Identify and describe the organization’s industry, which will
include a comparison between
the organization and at least two major direct competitors, as
well as an identification of any
indirect competitors. Also include industry history and current
trends, current and potential
customer profiles, and the organization’s differential advantage.
5. Organizational Growth Strategies

Based on your analysis throughout the report, present three
growth strategies that the
organization might consider. Be sure to explain why you think
each strategy is appropriate
for the organization.
6. Strategic Recommendations and Implementation
Beyond growth, what strategies would you recommend the
organization implement? Give
the organization three strategies based on your research, explain
why you think it should
implement these strategies, and provide guidance on how the
organization could implement
your strategic recommendations.
Research the organization you have chosen by thoroughly
reviewing its website for any
information that will help you understand the nature of the
business and answer many of the
questions posed above (vision, mission, value statement,
finances, competitive advantage,
etc.). Use additional resources to obtain marketing, financial,
industry, and company information
that will inform your analysis. You may want to conduct
interviews with people who work at this
company or in the industry as well as review articles from
reputable news sources, trade
industry magazines (if available) and financial reporting and
news sources. Use your best
search techniques to find sufficient information about the
organization to prepare your report

Course Project
and presentation. SMC is counting on your excellent strategic
analysis skills to impress the
client. They know that you will exceed their expectations!
The 20-page report must be written using APA style and should
use six external reputable
resources (the textbook can count as one).
Presentation
Once you have completed your analysis and prepared your
recommendations, SMC has
scheduled a presentation for the client that you will be expected
to lead. Because the client
organization’s headquarters is located in another city, you will
not give your presentation in
person. Instead, record yourself giving the presentation. Your
presentation must include a 15-
slide PowerPoint that provides highlights of your report and
covers each of the topic areas noted
above.
USEFUL RESOURCES

Business and Scholarly Research Sites
• 10K Wizard: http://www.tenkwizard.com/
• Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com
• Business and Industry (Dialog File 9):
library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0009.html
• Competitive Intelligence Center (Factiva and Fuld &
Company):
http://www.factiva.com/cicenter/
• DefenseData: http://www.defensedata.com
• Directory of Open Access Journals: http://www.doaj.org/
• Dow Jones Business Directory: www.bd.dowjones.com
• Dow Jones Interactive: http://www.djinteractive.com
• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): http://www.dnb.com
• Edgar: edgar.sec.gov
• FreeEdgar: www.FreeEdgar.com
• Gartner: http://www.gartner.com
• Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/
• Guidestar: www.guidestar.org
• Hoovers: http://www.hoovers.com
• Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/
• Michael Porter: ils.unc.edu/daniel/237/Competition.html
• Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) EDGAR database:
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm
• Standard & Poor's: www.standardpoor.com
• SWOT: www.marketing-
intelligence.co.uk/aware/services/swot.htm
http://www.tenkwizard.com/
http://www.bloomberg.com/
http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0009.html

http://www.factiva.com/cicenter/
http://www.defensedata.com/
http://www.doaj.org/
http://www.bd.dowjones.com/
http://www.djinteractive.com/
http://www.dnb.com/
http://edgar.sec.gov/
http://www.freeedgar.com/
http://www.gartner.com/
http://scholar.google.com/
http://www.guidestar.org/
http://www.hoovers.com/
http://www.ipl.org/
http://ils.unc.edu/daniel/237/Competition.html
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm
http://www.standardpoor.com/
http://www.marketing-
intelligence.co.uk/aware/services/swot.htm
Course Project
• Wall Street Journal: public.wsj.com or www.wsj.com

PROJECT SUBMISSION
1. A title page is not required for project submissions. Because
evaluators do not see student
names when reviewing student work, it is important that
students not include any personal
identifiers in their project submissions.
2. If your project requires a video, you should post the video to
a free video hosting site
like www.youtube.com, www.photobucket.com, or another free
web hosting site. The
following website maintains a list of video hosting sites:
http://www.videohostings.com. In
the written materials that you submit as part of the assignment,
you should include the title
of the video and a link for the evaluator to use to grade your
submission. Please make sure
that the privacy settings on your video are set to allow third
parties to view it.
3. When you are ready, click on the Upload Files button in the
Project tab of your course to
submit your assignment. Your project should be graded within 7
days. Please contact your
instructor if this is not the case.
4. Your assignment will not be returned to you, so keep a copy
for your files.
http://public.wsj.com/
http://www.wsj.com/
http://www.youtube.com/

http://www.photobucket.com/
http://www.videohostings.com/Course ObjectivesBackground
InformationProjecT instructionsUseful resourcesProjecT
submission
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).
Running head-SANDISK
SANDISK 2
SanDisk general performance
Name
Affiliated institution
General information about SanDisk
There are many companies including Toshiba, Apple, Intel,
among many others that have continued to evolve over the years

since more and more people are adopting to these technologies.
The industry has continued to grow with the immense growth of
technologies and immense need for storage devices. SanDisk,
(2016) argues that since its establishment, the companies has
been selling to customers in USA and more than a half of its
sales being made outside the country. It has established more
than 260,000 retail locations in more than 200 countries, and it
also manufactures its products in China and Japan. The
company is very creative in the way it designs, developments
and makes its storage devices. Some of the products that keeps
it ahead of its competitors include products like flash drives,
caching software for laptops, USB flash drives, memory cards
which are used in smartphones and those in cameras, embedded
flash drives, PCs applications and enterprise applications.
However, like other companies who are doing remarkably well,
they also face immense challenges and competition like
Samsung and Apple Inc.
Financial record of its performance
In 2013, the company performed very well because its revenues
were increased by 22% from 5.05 billion dollars in 2012 to 6.18
billion dollars in 2013. These increased revenues have been
attributed to an increased use of USBs, U3, Central management
and control, SanDisk Sansa, start key, Eye-Fi, FlashCP and
ULLtraDIMM, SSDs and memory chips from its customers who
are firmly adopting these technologies. The company’s cash and
short-term investment account to 2.91 billion dollars as per the
year 2013. It is also important to note that in the same year, the
company generated 616.8 million dollars from other operating
activities. It was also able to purchase 150 million stocks and
also pay a dividend of 50.6 million. Properties that the company
has acquired include Fusion-io in 2014, Smart Storage in 2013
which produces SSDs, Schooner Information Technology, and
flash soft, Pilant technology in 2012M-Systems in 2006 and
2005; it acquired Matrix Semiconductor (SanDisk, 2016).
Competition
According to SanDisk, (2016), SanDisk has continued to face

competition from various semiconductor manufacturers and
those that manufacture and resale flash memory cards, USB
drives digital audio players among many others. San Disk faces
competition on its flash memory card and USB drive
manufacturers from companies like A-Data Technology,
Fujifilm Corporation, Hagiwara, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and
Verbatim Corporation. Apple Inc. is its main competitor in
digital Audio and video player while semiconductor
manufacturer competitors include Hynix, IM Flash
Technologies, Samsung and Micron. Intel is also one of the
primary competitors which designs, manufactures and sells its
integrated technology which is also digital. It also distributes its
products on a worldwide scale, just like San Disk.
How SanDisk manages to stay ahead of its competitors
However, the company has continued to stay ahead of its
competitors because according to Hoovers, (2016), they have
always had a tradition of innovation and high standard
creativity. This has enabled the company to grow its market
share as its flash memory is always on demand. They have also
had flash ventures with Toshiba which provides the company
with low costs of production. They have a large variety of card
formats compared to other forms from other competitors
companies making SanDisk remain ahead of others. By
establishing retail shops around the world and also having
developed a global retail distribution system has helped them
acquire a significant market share. Their removable flash cards
and USB flash drives are unique and were well accepted in the
market.

References
Hoovers. (2016). Retrieved from
http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-
profile.SanDisk_Corporation.aa3e40e9230ec935.html.
SanDisk . (2016). Retrieved from https://www.sandisk.com/.
SanDisk. (2016, April). Retrieved from
https://datafox.com/competitors/sandisk.
Running head: swot analysis 1
swot analysis 5
SWOT Analysis
SanDisk Company

Introduction
SanDisk as one of the leading providers of the flash memory
products like the PCI flash, SSDs, server solutions, mobile
storage, MP3 players and removable memory cards and USB
drives has grown tremendously in the last twenty seven years.
In the digital world today, they have a vast market segment
ranging from individual and business corporate solutions. Any
individual with an electronic gadget is likely to be their client.
The target age group ranges from as young as four years of age
old children who play video games to adult aged. Anybody with
a mobile or cell phone device, laptop, tablets or computers are
their target market. Anybody on the Internet is also a potential
client. The demographic coverage for their products is the entire
world. Every country, every nation, all cultures, religious
sectors, age groups, genders amongst other groups who have
embraced technology are potential clients for their products.
The Internet has led to globalization which makes the world a
small large market place. Individuals and companies can source
electronic devices from anywhere in the world and SanDisk can
supply their products to all as well (Fujita & Thisse, 2013).
Social media and social sites and applications have led to a
behavioural change where everybody relies on electronic
gadgets and the internet to communicate, share data whether
audio, video or text, learn, campaign amongst other things
people may need to share or exchange. Electronic storage
devices thus become a necessity to store, backup, transfer and
exchange data.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Like every other organisation, the SanDisk Company has its
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It could
therefore utilise the SWOT analysis to uncover an exploit

available opportunities by maximising its strengths, work on
reducing its weaknesses as well as understanding risks to the
business in order to protect the organization against potential
threats (Fleisher & Bensoussan, 2003).
Strengths
Weaknesses
· There are no barriers to market entry because the Internet has
an already open market online purchases increase daily.
· High growth rate due to the rise in users of their SSD and
storage devices both individual and businesses.
· High profitability and continuous revenue growth due to the
growing increase in customers.
· Good credibility hence has access to monetary assistance that
can improve their product range and coverage thus growth in
business.
· They have an innovative and highly skilled technical and
managerial workforce.
· Their productivity is at times lower than the demand.
· The cost of production is high.
· There has to be continuous investment in research and
development to keep up with technology changes.
· The tax structure is high for their products.
· They have to produce in small batches to avoid wastage due to
dynamic technology.
· Access to monetary assistance may lead to large loans.
Opportunities
Threats
· New Markets emerge each day as new technology in software
and devices evolve
· New products and services due to market demand.
· Growing demand as the world becomes digitalised especially
in terms of communication, storage, transfer of data and data
recording.

· Growth in demand and products leads to growth in revenue
and profitability
· Growth in revenue and profitability leads to growth in
economy
· Rise in competition due to proof that the demand is high and
rate of success in continuous profitability.
· Cash flow may be an issue due to loans and high production
levels especially when demand overwhelms supply.
· Increasing interest rates in those they borrow money from.
· High tax rates
References
Fleisher, C. S., & Bensoussan, B. E. (2003). Strategic and
competitive analysis: Methods and techniques for analyzing
business competition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Fujita, M., & Thisse, J.-F. (2013). Economics of agglomeration:
Cities, industrial location, and globalization (2nd ed.).
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing).
Running head: pest analysis 1
pest analysis 5
PEST Analysis

SanDisk Company
An overview of SanDisk Company
According to SanDisk, (2016), over the last twenty-seven years,
SanDisk has continued to innovate and develop devices which
have transformed the storing of information on digital
platforms. Their flash memory innovations and inventions have
grown beyond imagination, and they have been adopted by the
world’s leading data centers. It has its headquarters in
California and it manufactures products like memory cards,
readers, USB flash drives and solid state drives. Their devices
have also been embedded in various devices like smart laptops,
phones, tablets. Even though they have acquired a considerable
share of this market, this company vows to go yonder and be
more creative in providing hi-tech storage devices. They have
manufactured flash storage facilities which suit their client’s
uses at home, or even for business. Their products have
acquired a bigger market share because they are of superior
quality, and their performance is impressive. Their products are
also very affordable and therefore can be accessed by everyone.
For instance, regarding costs, their flash memory was reduced
by 50,000 times and it has increased its performance 30,000
times. Their creativity and innovation have earned them the
recognition of being a number one company in storage
facilities. More and even more resources are being used by the
company in research and experimentation to make sure that they
meet the future demands of their customers. Their devices can

either be embedded in hardware, or they can be removable. The
company also ensures that the society can trust them to keep
their valuable memories using their affordable storage flashes.
This company has thousands of stores all around the world,
meaning that their products can easily be accessed.
PEST analysis
Political
· The EU regulation governing Privacy Act was released to
encourage data security especially when it comes to legal data
security issues. These problems are making the company be
more creative and produce technologies which are capable of
securing and protecting data. However, when breaches occur on
data security, it becomes a real issue, and which negatively
impacts the company. These legislations place the business in
an impossible position.
· The ability of government to access data is also another
political issue. There are some countries where this practice is
encouraged while in others, it is not encouraged.
Economic
· SanDisk ensures that they have created flash storage facilities
that are 50,000 times cheaper and 30,000 times more effective
compared to other storage facilities from other companies.
· Their products are pocket friendly
· SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), NAICS Codes
334112, 541711, 2016 Revenue 5,564,872,000 with over 8,000
employees.
Social
· San disk provides support when their clients need it. This
support can be accessed quickly from their robust website
resources. They also have knowledgeable agents who work 24
hours around the clock to ensure that they attend to all their

clients.
· They have a collaborative approach where they collaborate
with the device manufacturer, OS vendors, mobile network
operators, design firms, chipset providers, application
developers and system integrators to ensure that their customers
enjoy their experience when working with their devices.
· Their devices are highly trusted by over millions of people and
organizations because of its quality and reliability. Their
products can store relevant information in the form of photos
which most likely stores in the form of a technology.
Technological
· They work tirelessly, invest a lot of money and resources in
research to make sure that they meet the future storage needs of
their clients.
· They have first class engineering teams and a rigorous quality
control team which ensure that their customers can trust the
products they deliver.
· Even though their devices are cheaper compared to the same
products from other companies, SanDisk devices are more
efficient, superior performance and of high quality.
References
SanDisk. (2016). Retrieved from
https://www.sandisk.com/about/company
SanDisk Corporation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2016,
from http://www.zoominfo.com/c/SanDisk-
Corporation/214679943

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