This document outlines the requirements for a preliminary strategic audit report for a course project. It provides guidelines for students to analyze a company's value proposition, market position, competitive advantage, external environment using five forces analysis, identify 5-7 strategic issues, and make preliminary recommendations. The report should follow an essay sample format, be 7-10 pages, cite sources using APA style, and will be graded on a 140-point rubric focusing on strategic analysis, recommendations, and writing quality.

1. Type
Objective of Communication
Medium
Frequency
Audience
Owner
Deliverable
Planning of strategies
Marketing Strategies
Face to face
Weekly
Stakeholders and management
Project Manager
Agenda
PowerPoint
Strategic Objectives
IT strategies
Measure
Monitor & Control
Targets

2. Recommendations
Ethical Issues
Legal Issues
Regulatory Issues
Company Name
LASA 1—Preliminary Strategic Audit
Unsatisfactory
70 - 77%
(C- to C)
Emerging
78 – 82%
(C+ to B-)
Proficient
83 – 89%
(B to B+)
Exemplary
90 – 100 %

3. (A- to A)
Score
To calculate score:
(% / 100) x max pts.
e.g.
(80% / 100) x 12 = 9.6
Value Proposition, Market Position, Competitive Advantage:
Assess the organization’s value proposition, market position,
and competitive advantage
(Course Objective [CO 2, 5])
Assessment of organization’s value proposition, market
position, and competitive advantage is inaccurate or severely
underdeveloped or incomplete. Scholarly research is sparse or
inappropriate.
Assessment of the organization’s value proposition, market
position, and competitive advantage is accurate but
underdeveloped or vague. Scholarly research is present, but how
it supports ideas is unclear.
Assessment of the organization’s value proposition, market
position, and competitive advantage is accurate, grounded in
reason, and uses examples and scholarly research to support
ideas.
Assessment of the organization’s value proposition, market
position, and competitive advantage is accurate, perceptive,
grounded in reason, and uses a variety of scholarly research to
support ideas.
32 points
External Environmental Scan/Five Forces Analysis: Assess the
external the external factors that impact the organization using

4. Five Forces Analysis.
CO 2, 5
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization
using Five Forces analysis is inaccurate, or severely
underdeveloped or incomplete. Scholarly research is sparse or
inappropriate.
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization
using Five Forces analysis is accurate, but under developed or
vague. Scholarly research is present, but how it supports ideas
is unclear.
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization
using Five Forces analysis is accurate, grounded in reason, and
uses examples and scholarly research to support ideas.
Assessment of the external factors that impact the organization
using Five Forces analysis is accurate, perceptive, grounded in
reason, and uses a variety of scholarly research to support ideas.
32 points
Strategic Issues: Identify the most important (5-7) strategic
issues facing the organization or business unit.
CO 2, 5
The strategic issues identified are common in the field, but not
specifically tied to the organization. They represent low-priority
issues that threaten the organization in some way.
The strategic issues identified are ones facing the organization
or business unit but are not significantly important to the
organization. They represent only a few issues that threaten the

5. organization in some way.
The most important strategic issues facing the organization or
business unit are reasonably significant issues and are clearly
and completely discussed. They represent the main issues that
threaten the organization in some way.
The most important strategic issues facing the organization or
business unit are clearly significant issues, and they are
perceptively and completely discussed. They represent a variety
of issues that threaten the organization in some way.
32 pts
Preliminary Recommendations: Include a preliminary set of
recommended tactics for improving your company’s strategic
alignment and operating performance.
CO 1
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your
company are inappropriate. How these tactics directly improve
strategic alignment and operating performance is severely
underdeveloped. Tactics likely will not reach those goals.
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your
company are appropriate, but they do not specifically address
company’s resources, market, or goals. How these tactics
directly improve strategic alignment and operating performance
is broadly discussed but needs more specificity. Tactics might
reach those goals.
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your
company are appropriate for the company’s resources, market,
and goals. How these tactics directly improve strategic
alignment and operating performance is discussed, and these
tactics will reasonability reach those goals.
Preliminary set of recommended tactics for improving your
company are insightful, specific, and appropriate for the
company’s resources, market, and goals. How these tactics
directly improve strategic alignment and operating performance
is thoroughly discussed and supported by research. These tactics
will clearly reach those goals.

6. 32 points
Academic Writing
Write using ethical scholarship and proper grammar and
mechanics.
Writing is unclear and disorganized and rereading to solidify
understanding is frequently necessary. Although an attempt at
ethical scholarship is attempted, it is sloppy or incomplete
throughout. Spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors severely
interfere with readers’ comprehension.
Writing is somewhat clear and is somewhat organized, although
rereading to solidify understanding is occasionally necessary.
It demonstrates an attempt at ethical scholarship in accurate
representation and attribution of sources, but errors are
occasional or minor. Writing has good spelling, grammar, and
punctuation, but errors somewhat interfere with readers’
comprehension.
Writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner;
demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and
attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar,
and punctuation.
Writing is clear, concise, and in an organized manner;
demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and
attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar,
and punctuation.
12 points
Total
/ 140 pts
Page 1 of 3

7. Solution
s to Organizational Challenges: A Capstone Experience in
Integration and Strategy
Page 2 of 3
LASA 1—Preliminary Strategic Audit
The end result of this course is developing a strategic audit. In
this module you will outline and draft a preliminary framework
for your final product. This provides the student with the
opportunity to get feedback before a final submission.
By now you have completed the following steps:
· Identified the organization for your report
· Created a market position analysis
· Conducted an external environmental scan in preparation of
your final report and presentation
In this assignment, you will generate a preliminary strategy
audit in preparation for your final course project.
Directions:
1. In preparation for your course project, prepare the
preliminary strategy audit using the tools and framework you
have focused on so far including:

8. a. Analysis of the company value proposition, market position,
and competitive advantage
b. External environmental scan/five forces analysis
2. Identify the most important (5–7) strategic issues facing the
organization or business unit.
2. You may modify the strategic issues in your final report
based on the additional analysis you will conduct in the next
two modules as well as the feedback you receive on this paper
from your instructor.
2. Keep in mind it is important to look at the strategic issue(s)
from more than just one perspective in the business unit or
company—speak to or research the issue from more than one
angle to offer a 360° approach that doesn’t cause more
problems/issues.
2. Strategic issues arise from a mismatch between internal
capabilities and external trends such that important
opportunities are not being pursued or significant external
threats are not being addressed under the current strategy.
1. Include a preliminary set of recommended tactics for
improving your company’s strategic alignment and operating
performance.
3. You may modify these recommendations in your final report
based on the additional analysis you will conduct in the next
two modules as well as the feedback you receive on this paper
from your instructor.

9. 3. Keep in mind that recommendations can include but are not
limited to tactics in marketing, branding, alliances,
mergers/acquisitions, integration, product development,
diversification or divestiture, and globalization. If you
recommend your company to go global, you must include a
supply chain analysis and an analysis of your firm’s global
capabilities.
1. Write your report as though you are a consultant to your
company and are addressing the executive officers of this
company.
1. Make sure your writing is clear, concise, and in an organized
manner; demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate
representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate
spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Write a 7–10 page report (see number 4 above) in Word using
the following “Essay Sample Format”. .
Use The following format:
· Cover page
· Executive Summary / Abstract
· Table of Contents
· Introduction to Company (each subsection should be an
assessment)
· Value proposition

10. · Market position
· Competitive advantage
· External Environmental Scan/Five Forces Analysis
· Current environment
· Assessment of external factors applying five forces
· Strategic Issues
· Label each issue and provide a header and the reason for why
it is an issue
· Summary / Key Findings and Recommendations
Due By Tuesday, July 23, 2013, Apply APA standards to
citation of sources. .
This assignment is worth 140 points and will be graded using a
rubric, see attached (review the rubric to understand the
expectations).