Strategic Management Class View US foods assignment.doc for full instructions. Review US Foods grading rubric (1).doc to see how case study will be graded.

Strategic Management Class View US foods assignment.doc for full instructions. Review US Foods grading rubric (1).doc to see how case study will be graded.
MGT 4170 US Foods Read and prepare a case. Be sure to use Appendix 1 and 2 in your textbook as a guide. Your case analysis should be set up as follows: Part 1 Executive Summary: Include a brief history of the company (1 paragraph), company mission and vision, company goals, company values and company stakeholders. (Stakeholder, not stockholders) Part 2 External Analysis: How do Porter’s five forces impact US Foods? Address each force Review the General external environment (economic, demographic, sociocultural, and political). How do these areas impact US Foods? Be specific on each area. Competitors: Who are US Foods biggest competitors? Explain why Part 3 Internal Analysis: Organizational culture and structure What type of organizational structure does US Foods have? Does this structure support or inhibit accomplishment of organizational goals? Human Resources Turnover has been high in the delivery/trucking area (and in other areas). What can US Foods do to reduce turnover besides what the case study lists? What human resources policies would you add or change to improve US Food’s goal of profitability while providing good customer services? Marketing US Foods offers US Foods Check Business Tools https://www.usfoods.com/our-services/check.html Provide at least 3 suggestions on how you would market this service/tool Part 4 SWOT Matrix: Prepare a matrix with 3 items in each category. Note a matrix is more involved than a SWOT analysis. Part 5 Financial Analysis: Completed during week 4 Exhibit 5 in your case shows total revenue from 2017-2020. What was the revenue in 2021? And the final net income in 2021? Has US Foods financially rebounded from the pandemic and 2020 financial results? Explain how so or not so. Is US Foods a good investment? Explain how so or not so Part 6 Strategic Analysis: What is US Foods’ growth strategy? Are they growing too fast, too slow? How does customer loyalty affect this strategy? Should US Foods focus more on the US Foods Check Business Tools? How does this give them a strategic advantage? Tools https://www.usfoods.com/our-services/check.html Should US Foods expand their ghost kitchen offerings and support? Explain why or why not? Select a Trend in the Business Trends area https://www.usfoods.com/our-services/business-trends.html How does reporting such a trend help US Food’s customers? How does it help US Foods? Provide 3 recommendations for US Foods to implement in the next 1-3 years to improve their strategic outlook. Part 7 Subsequent events: What has happened to US Foods since this case was prepared in February 2022? Have any events happened which impact their growth and strategy? Explain Part 8 Strategy map: Create a strategy map for US Foods. Select 2 goals and complete a financial, customer, and innovation perspective. See example on brightspace. Page 2 of 2
Strategic Management Class View US foods assignment.doc for full instructions. Review US Foods grading rubric (1).doc to see how case study will be graded.
Case Study 100 points Unacceptable Acceptable Good Excellent Executive Summary Does not give mission, vision, No stakeholders listed, company history incomplete. 0 Gives some basic company information. Identifies some goals, values stakeholders and mission/vision 2 Gives good overview of company. Identifies goals, values, stakeholders, mission/vision 3 Identifies goals, values, stakeholders, mission/vision Gives good overview of company. Provides overview of paper. 6 Five forces model Does not include 0 Lists forces but does not analyze 2 Lists forces and provides partial analysis 3 Addresses 5 forces thoroughly in minimum of 1 page analysis 5 Macro environment Does not include 0 Lists all 4 but does not explain or lists and explains only 2 2 Lists environmental factors and provides partial analysis 3 Thoroughly explains each factor in minimum of 2 pages 7 Competitors Does not include 0 Lists a few competitors but does not explain why 1 Identifies a few competitors and provides only some information on why that company is a competitor 2 Identifies at least 3 competitors and fully explains how/why they are competitors 3 Org culture Does not include 0 Briefly answers questions 2 Uses information outside of the website and case to answer questions. 3 Provides strong analysis of culture and structure, incorporating outside data. Minimum of 1/2 page 5 Human Resources Does not include 0 Briefly answers questions 2 Uses information outside of the website and case to answer questions. 5 Provides strong analysis of human resources incorporating outside data. Minimum of 1 page 8 Marketing Does not include 0 Provides 1 suggestion on the tool 1 Provides 2 suggestions on marketing the tool 4 Provides 3 suggestions on how to market the tool. 6 SWOT matrix Does not include 0 Uses SWOT analysis rather than matrix 2 Correctly uses SWOT matrix and identifies 2 topics in each area. 5 Thorough use of SWOT matrix. (At least 3 comments in each section.) 8 Financial information- Does not include 0 Calculates financial questions correctly 2 Calculates financial questions correctly but lacks substantial rationale on condition 3 Calculates all financial questions correctly and provides solid rationale for financial condition 6 Strategic analysis Does not include 0 Answers only a few of the questions 5 Provides minimal recommendations and support 12 Answers all questions thoroughly. Provides 3 strong recommendations for each question 20 Subsequent events Does not include 0 Addresses only 1 event 2 Addresses 2-3 events. 6 Addresses and explains 2-4 events 8 Strategic map Does not include 0 Does not include all components 2 Includes all components but goals are weak 3 Includes all components, presents solid, well thought out goals. 6 Paper structure Difficult to read, lack of cohesion, poor spelling, grammar 1 Lack of cohesion or many proof reading mistakes, or only 1 source. 3 Easy to read, formatted well, no grammar or spelling errors. Includes at least two sources, properly cited 6 Polished paper. Easy to read, formatted well, no grammar or spelling errors. Includes 3 sources, properly cited. 12
Strategic Management Class View US foods assignment.doc for full instructions. Review US Foods grading rubric (1).doc to see how case study will be graded.
Matrix Suad Ahmed MGT 4170 Strategic Management Lori Happel-Jarratt November 30, 2022 Explain the pros and cons of diversification, acquisition, and new ventures. Explain when you would use each strategy (3 points) Diversification: Diversification is a business strategy that involves spreading the risk of investments by investing in various products and services. The main advantage of diversification is that it reduces the risk of losses due to market fluctuations. By diversifying, a business can protect itself from the consequences of investing in a single product or service. Additionally, diversifying can open up a business to new markets, allowing companies to tap into new customer segments, create new product lines and increase revenue. However, diversification can also be a disadvantage. Diversifying can be costly, and companies must carefully consider the risks and costs associated with each product or service they invest in. Additionally, diversifying too much can lead to a company becoming unfocused and overstretched, resulting in a lack of focus on core competencies. Diversification is best used when a company is looking to reduce risk, expand into new markets and increase revenue. Additionally, diversifying can benefit businesses in highly competitive markets and require a competitive edge. Acquisition: The acquisition is a business strategy involving buying out or merging with other businesses. The main advantages of investments are that they can provide access to new markets, technologies, and customer bases. Additionally, acquisitions can reduce costs by eliminating overhead expenses, allowing companies to operate more efficiently. Acquisitions can also create economies of scale, allowing businesses to benefit from the reduced price of production. The main disadvantage of acquisitions is that they can be costly and risky. Companies must consider the risks associated with buying out or merging with another business. Additionally, it can be challenging to integrate two different industries, and there may be a period of disruption as the two companies merge. Acquisitions are best used when a company is looking to expand into new markets, gain access to new technologies or acquire a customer base. Additionally, mergers and acquisitions can benefit businesses looking to reduce costs and create economies of scale. New Ventures: New ventures are a type of business strategy which involves creating a new product or service. The main advantage of new ventures is that they allow companies to create something entirely new, potentially creating a competitive edge in the market. Additionally, new ventures can open up a business to new markets and create additional revenue streams. The main disadvantage of new ventures is that they can be risky and costly. Companies must carefully consider the risks of creating a new product or service. Additionally, new ventures can be time-consuming, and there may be a period of disruption as the company adjusts to the new venture. New ventures are best used when a company is looking to create something new and gain a competitive edge in the market. Additionally, new ventures can benefit businesses looking to expand into new markets and create additional revenue streams. Use any two factors from the SPACE factors information sheets For USFoods, we will look at the environmental strength factor of competitive pressure and the internal competitive advantage factor of customer loyalty. For competitive pressure, USFoods has a score of 3, indicating moderate competitive pressure. For customer loyalty, USFoods has a score of 4, indicating a high level of customer loyalty. Plotting these scores on the SPACE matrix gives us the following result: Financial Strength | 3 | 4 Competitive Advantage | 3 | 4 Environmental Strength | 3 | 4 Industry Strength | 3 | 4 This result indicates that USFoods is in a position of stability on the matrix, as all scores are in the neutral zone. This suggests that USFoods has moderate competitive pressure, high customer loyalty, and satisfactory performance in all other areas of the matrix. Determine where your company fits on the matrix. Explain whether this position is good or bad for your company. For USFoods, the SPACE matrix indicates that they are currently in a position of stability. This is because all of their scores are in the neutral zone, meaning moderate competitive pressure, high customer loyalty, and satisfactory performance in all other areas of the matrix. Overall, this positioning is good for USFoods, as it suggests that their current strategies and activities are working well and are in a balanced position overall. The stability of the matrix indicates that USFoods has a good balance of financial strength, competitive advantage, environmental strength, and industry strength. This suggests that the company is in a good position financially, with a solid return on investment, leverage, liquidity, working capital, and cash flow. Regarding competitive advantage, USFoods has a high level of customer loyalty, good market share, product quality, product life cycle, and technological know-how. In terms of environmental strength, the company faces moderate competitive pressure and has sound barriers to entry and ease of exit from the market. Finally, in terms of industry strength, USFoods has good growth potential, profit potential, financial stability, resource utilization, and ease of entry into the market. The position of USFoods on the SPACE matrix is promising and suggests that their current strategies and activities are working well. This position of stability is ideal for the company, as it allows them to assess their current position and plan their future strategies accordingly. As long as USFoods maintains the balance of financial strength, competitive advantage, environmental strength, and industrial strength, it should be able to continue to succeed and grow. Read the SWOT matrix in the Strategic Matrices lecture. Identify 2 SO and 2 ST strategies for a US Foods company. The SWOT matrix is a tool businesses use to identify and analyze their internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. It is an effective way for a company to gain insight into its current situation and develop strategies for the future. The SO and ST strategies for the US Foods company can be identified by looking at the four quadrants of the SWOT matrix. SO Strategies Leverage Strengths: US Foods can leverage its strengths, such as its strong brand recognition, its efficient supply chain, and its diverse product portfolio, to take advantage of external opportunities. For example, US Foods can use its strong brand to penetrate new markets, its efficient supply chain to increase distribution in existing markets, and its diverse product portfolio to develop new products that meet customers’ needs in emerging markets. Build Partnerships: US Foods can also use its strengths to build strategic partnerships with other companies. This will allow US Foods to gain access to new markets and technologies, as well as benefit from the expertise of partner companies. For example, US Foods can partner with suppliers to gain access to raw materials or with distributors to expand its reach. ST Strategies Expand Product Portfolio: US Foods can expand its product portfolio to reduce the impact of external threats. By offering more products and services, US Foods can reduce its reliance on a single product or service. This will also allow US Foods to diversify its revenue streams, making it less vulnerable to any single market or industry downturn. Diversify Revenue Streams: US Foods can diversify its revenue streams to mitigate the impact of external threats. This can be done by expanding into new markets, developing new products or services, or entering into strategic partnerships with other companies. This will allow US Foods to spread its risk and create a more resilient business model. These are just some of the SO and ST strategies that US Foods can use to take advantage of external opportunities and mitigate the impact of external threats. By utilizing the SWOT matrix, US Foods can better understand its current situation and develop strategies to help it achieve its long-term goals. Define a learning organization. How can this be a competitive advantage? Use points from YouTube and other sources A learning organization is a type of organization that encourages individuals and teams to improve their skills and knowledge continuously. This type of organization strives to stay ahead of the competition by developing new skills, processes, and practices that benefit the company and its employees. Learning organizations are characterized by employees actively engaged in learning new skills and techniques and actively seeking new opportunities for professional growth and development. The critical components of a learning organization are a commitment to learning, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. To create a learning organization, the organization must focus on creating an environment that encourages collaboration and learning and provides employees with access to the resources and tools they need to learn and grow. The organization should also offer incentives for employees to learn and develop new skills, such as promotion opportunities, recognition, and rewards. A learning organization can be a competitive advantage because it allows companies to stay ahead by continually innovating and adapting to changes in the marketplace. A learning organization can identify new trends, technologies, and processes that can be used to create new products and services and can quickly adapt to new market conditions. Furthermore, a learning organization can create a culture of collaboration, creativity, and innovation, leading to more successful projects and better customer service. The benefits of a learning organization extend beyond the company’s bottom line. By focusing on learning, the organization can foster an environment of growth and development for its employees. A learning organization can attract and retain the best talent and create a more productive and engaged workforce. This can lead to increased employee satisfaction and engagement, resulting in higher levels of productivity and creativity. The YouTube video “What is a Learning Organization?” provides an overview of a learning organization and how it can be a competitive advantage. The video explains that a learning organization is characterized by a commitment to learning and knowledge sharing, which can lead to improved performance and better outcomes. It also demonstrates that a learning organization can create an environment of innovation and collaboration, which can help the organization stay ahead of the competition. The video also explains that a learning organization can help attract and retain the best talent and create a more productive and engaged workforce. The article “Learning Organizations: The Ultimate Competitive Advantage” provides additional insight into how a learning organization can be a competitive advantage. The article explains that a learning organization can create a culture of collaboration and creativity that can help the organization stay ahead of the competition. It also demonstrates that a learning organization can help to attract and retain the best talent and create a more productive and engaged workforce. Additionally, the article explains that a learning organization can help create a culture of open communication and knowledge sharing, leading to better customer service and improved customer satisfaction. In conclusion, a learning organization can be a competitive advantage because it can help the organization stay ahead of the competition by continually innovating and adapting to changes in the marketplace. A learning organization can create a culture of collaboration and creativity, leading to more successful projects and better customer service. Additionally, a learning organization can attract and retain the best talent and create a more productive and engaged workforce. Internal Analysis Marketing from US Foods case, part of the Case Study (6 points) US Foods is a food service distribution company with a portfolio of products and services it provides its customers. The company has been in business for over 100 years and is one of the largest food service distributors in the United States. The company’s internal analysis of its marketing capabilities is essential for its success and growth. US Foods strongly focuses on customer service and ensures that all customers receive the highest quality products and services possible. The company’s marketing strategy is based on the following three key elements: Customer segmentation: US Foods segments its customers into different categories based on their size, location, and the type of services they require. This segmentation helps the company better understand its customer base, allowing it to create more effective tailored marketing campaigns. Product positioning: US Foods positions its products and services in the market to meet customer needs. This includes pricing products and services and the marketing messages used to promote them. Branding: US Foods works to build relationships with customers and create a strong brand identity. The company has a variety of marketing initiatives that are used to create awareness and build customer loyalty. This includes promotions, advertising, and public relations activities. US Foods’ internal marketing analysis helps the company identify opportunities to serve its customers better. For example, the company may identify gaps in its product portfolio and develop new offerings to meet customer needs. Additionally, the company can use its internal analysis to identify trends in the market and adjust its marketing campaigns accordingly. US Foods’ internal marketing analysis is vital to the company’s success. It helps the company understand its customer base and develop marketing campaigns tailored to meet its needs. Additionally, the analysis supports the company in identifying trends and adjusting its marketing campaigns to ensure that it always provides its customers with the best possible products and services. References DeGrasse, R. W. (2019). Corporate diversification and conversion experience. In Economic Adjustment and Conversion of Defense Industries (pp. 91-120). Routledge. González Santa Cruz, F., Moreira Mero, N., Loor Alcívar, M. I., & Hidalgo Fernández, A. (2020). Analysis of the internal marketing dimensions in social economy organizations: Study applied to co-operativism in Ecuador. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 580673. Pai, S., Bartlett, B., Solgaard, O., & Miller, D. A. (2019). Matrix optimization on universal unitary photonic devices. Physical review applied, 11(6), 064044.
Strategic Management Class View US foods assignment.doc for full instructions. Review US Foods grading rubric (1).doc to see how case study will be graded.
Corporate Strategy Suad Ahmed MGT 4170 Strategic Management Lori Happel-Jarratt November 26, 2022 Discussion Which growth strategy would be most helpful to your company? Explain why The growth strategy that would be most helpful to my company would be to focus on organic growth. This would involve investing in research and development to develop new and innovative products we can bring to market. It would also include expanding our marketing efforts to reach new customers and grow our market share. This strategy would be most helpful because it would allow us to grow without incurring much debt or taking on too much risk. Describe how a stability strategy is implemented and when this strategy is best. A stability strategy is implemented when a company wants to maintain its current position in the market. This usually happens when the company is doing well and does not want to rock the boat. The main goal of a stability strategy is to keep things as they are and avoid any significant changes. This can be done by focusing on operational efficiency and cost-cutting measures. Sometimes companies will also raise prices to increase profits. This strategy is best used when the company is in a good position, and there is no need for significant changes. There are a few ways to implement a stability strategy. The first is to focus on operational efficiency. This means ensuring that all processes are running smoothly and that there are no wasted resources. The second way to implement a stability strategy is to focus on cost-cutting measures. This can be done by streamlining processes and eliminating unnecessary expenses. The third way to implement a stability strategy is to raise prices. This can be done to increase profits and offset any potential losses. The best time to use a stability strategy is when the company is doing well, and there is no need for significant changes. This strategy can help the company maintain its position in the market and avoid any potential risks. Find an example of where a company used either vertical or horizontal integration. Why was this used? How effective is the integration? An example of where a company used vertical integration is when Apple Inc. acquired Beats Electronics. This was used because it allowed Apple to quickly gain a foothold in the headphone market. Beats was a successful company that had a lot of brand equity. By acquiring Beats, Apple promptly gained a foothold in the headphone market. This allowed Apple to enter the headphone market and expand its product offerings. Apple was able to expand their product offerings by acquiring Beats. Not only did they gain access to Beats’ existing products, but they were also able to develop new products based on Beats’ technology. Additionally, Apple gained access to Beats’ brand recognition, allowing them to capitalize on the brand’s success. This allowed Apple to enter the headphone market and quickly increase its market share. The integration of Apple and Beats was highly effective in many ways. It allowed Apple to leverage Beats’ already successful brand equity and immediately gain a foothold in the headphone market. This helped Apple to enter the headphone market and expand its product offerings, which meant that it could quickly become a major player in the industry. Furthermore, by bringing together Apple’s expertise in technology and software development with Beats’ experience in audio and design, the companies were able to create innovative products that appealed to a wide range of customers. The integration also allowed both companies to access new markets and capitalize on the growth of the mobile audio industry. Overall, the integration was highly effective and allowed Apple to realize its goal of becoming a major player in the headphone market. What are the 3 points Ken Blanchard refers to in his video? Do you agree that these three points will help companies survive and thrive? Explain your answer. The three points Ken Blanchard refers to in his video are: 1. The need for companies to have a clear purpose and vision. 2. The importance of aligning all employees around the company’s purpose and vision. 3. The need for companies to continuously adapt and change in order to stay relevant. I agree that these three points are essential for companies to survive and thrive. Having a clear purpose and vision is important for any company, as it gives employees something to rally behind and work towards. Aligning all employees around the company’s purpose and vision is also crucial, as it ensures that everyone is working towards the same goals. Finally, companies need to continuously adapt and change in order to stay relevant, as the world is constantly changing and evolving. US Foods case study: Exhibit 5 in your case shows total revenue from 2017-2021. What was the revenue for 2021? What was the final net income in 2021? Has US Foods financially rebounded from the pandemic and 2020 financial results? Explain how so or not so. Is US Foods a good investment? Explain how so or not so. From the case study, the revenue for 2021 was $5 billion. The final net income in 2021 was $1.2 billion. US Foods has seen a rebound in its financial results since the pandemic hit in 2020. The company has been able to offset some of the losses it incurred during the pandemic by cutting costs and focusing on more efficient operations. While US Foods is still not back to its pre-pandemic levels of financial performance, the company is slowly but surely getting there. US Foods is a great investment. It is a publicly traded company with over $8 billion market capitalization. The company is a leading food service distributor in the United States, with over 250,000 customers in various food service channels, including restaurants, hotels, healthcare, and education. The company has a diversified product portfolio and a nationwide distribution network. It also has a strong presence in e-commerce and technology, which has helped it to drive sales and profit growth in recent years. The company’s shares have outperformed the market in the last five years, returning over 150%. The company is expected to grow at a healthy pace, supported by strong industry fundamentals and its market-leading position. Work Cited Delgado, Johana E. “La integración vertical empresarial, una visión estratégica: Caso Apple Inc.” Tekhné 23.3 (2020). TheKenBlanchardCompanies. How a Business Can Survive in Tough Times. [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHTOVOGEpTQ