Assignment #2 – Competitive Forces and SWOT Analysis.

Assignment #2 – Competitive Forces and SWOT Analysis.

Provide book information

Thompson, A.A., Strickland, A.J., & Gamble, J.E. (2010). Crafting and executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases: 2009 custom edition (17^th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill-Irwin.

Students are required to conduct an analysis of a company situation Case #1 Whole Foods Market (p. C-2) (attachment uploaded) and prepare a 4-8 page report to complete the following:

1. Discuss the trends in retailing of organic foods and the impact of these trends on Whole Foods Market.

2. Evaluate the competitive environment of the firm: Apply Porter’s model and analyze each factor relative to the company.

3. Discuss which environmental factor poses the most significant threat to Whole Food and what the company can do to combat it.

4. Complete a SWOT analysis and identify significant opportunities and threats facing the organization.

5. Discuss how Whole Foods can use it strengths and opportunities to achieve a sustained competitive advantage in the marketplace.

The format of the report is to be as follows:

Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one inch margins on all sides, APA format.

I would prefer an introduction, body, conclusion, and references with appropriately named headings. Please note I want to see headings for the introduction, body, conclusion, and references. You don’t actually use the word “Body” as a header. You replace the word with something meaningful and specific to your paper. The body should correspond to the grading criteria.

In addition to the 4-8 pages required, a title page will beincluded. The title page is to contain the title of the assignment, your name, the instructor’s name, the course title, and the date.

NOTE: One of the criteria that you will be graded on is the quality of your answers, the logic/organization of the report, your language skills, and your writing skills.

The assignment will be graded using the following rubric:

Outcomes Assessed

Analyze the external and internal environment for opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses that impact the firm’s competitiveness.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in strategic management.

Grading Rubric for Assignment # 2 – Competitive Forces and SWOT Analysis

Criteria	0 Unacceptable	20 Developing	30 Competent	40 Exemplary
1. Discuss the trends in organic foods and how the trends may impact Whole Foods Market.	Did not attempt assignment or did not discuss the organic food trends and it impact on strategy sufficiently.	Discussed the trends in organic foods and how the trends may impact Whole Foods Market with 70 – 79% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight. .	Discussed the trends in organic foods and how the trends may impact Whole Foods Market with 80 – 89% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight. .	Discussed the trends in organic foods and how the trends may impact Whole Foods Market with 90 to 100% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight. .
2. Evaluates the competitive environment using Porter’s 5 Forces Model.	Did not attempt assignment or did not discuss the competitive environment trends and it impact on strategy sufficiently.	Evaluated the competitive environment elements using Porter’s 5 Forces with 70 – 79% accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and insight. .	Evaluated the competitive environment elements using Porter’s 5 Forces with 80 – 89% accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and insight. .	Evaluated the competitive environment elements using Porter’s 5 Forces with 90 to 100% accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and insight. .
3. Discuss which environmental threat poses the most significant threat to Whole Foods and what the company can do to combat it.	Did not attempt assignment or did not discuss the most significant environmental threat and did not discuss what the company can do to combat it sufficiently.	Discussed which environmental threat poses the most significant threat to Whole Foods and what the company can do to combat it. with 70 – 79% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight.	Discussed which environmental threat poses the most significant threat to Whole Foods and what the company can do to combat it. with 80 – 89% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight.	Discussed which environmental threat poses the most significant threat to Whole Foods and what the company can do to combat it. with 90 to 100% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight.
4. Complete a SWOT analysis and identify significant opportunities and threats.	Did not attempt assignment or did not discuss the SWOT analysis and it impact on strategy.	Completed a SWOT analysis and identified significant opportunities and threats with 70 – 79% accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and insight.	Completed a SWOT analysis and identified significant opportunities and threats with 80 – 89% accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and insight. .	Completed a SWOT analysis and identified significant opportunities and threats with 90 to 100% accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and insight.
5. Discuss how Whole Foods can use its strengths and opportunities to achieve a sustained competitive advantage.	Did not attempt assignment or did not discuss how strengths and opportunities can be used to achieve a sustained competitive advantage.	Discussed how Whole Foods can use its strengths and opportunities to achieve a sustained competitive advantage with 70 – 79% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight.	Discussed how Whole Foods can use its strengths and opportunities to achieve a sustained competitive advantage.with 80 to 89% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight.	Discussed how Whole Foods can use its strengths and opportunities to achieve a sustained competitive advantage.with 90 to 100% accuracy, thoroughness, and insight.
6. Clarity	Did not complete the assignment or explanations are unclear and not organized. (Major issues)	Explanations generally unclear and not well organized. (Many issues)	Explanations generally clear and/or organized. (Minor issues)	Explanations very clear and well organized. (Added helpful details.)
7. Writing – Grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, spelling, punctuation, APA usage.	Did not complete the assignment or had 8 or more different errors in grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, spelling, punctuation or APA usage. (Major issues)	Had 6 – 7 different errors in grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, spelling, punctuation or APA usage. (Many issues)	Had 4 – 5 different errors in grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, spelling, punctuation or APA usage. (Minor issues)	Had 0 – 3 different errors in grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, spelling, punctuation or APA usage.

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