Week 6

1. What is meant by the term “External Analysis‟? What is the purpose of “PESTLE” analysis?

External analysis is the analysis of all the factors outside the organization which provide opportunity or pose threats to the organization. The external factors of the organization consists of individuals, groups, agencies, organizations, events, conditions and forces with which the organization comes into frequent contact in the course of its functioning (I. o. C. A. o., 2010).

The term "PESTLE" analysis is used to describe a framework for analysis of external environmental factors. PESTLE analysis involves identifying the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal and environmental influences on an organization and providing a way of examining the environment influences that have affected or are likely to affect an organization or its policy (I. o. C. A. o., 2010).

2. Read the article about Big Mart Super Store – what external issues are the Super Markets would have to consider at this time to have competitive advantage over others?

External issues that Big Mart Super Store would have to consider at this time to have competitive advantage are:

Political factors: With increasing number of strikes by different political parties, it would be hard for Big Mart to operate their store efficiently. There might also be pressure from trade unions associated with various political parties.

Economic factors: As Big Mart is planning to open seven new stores within the city they might require more capital which means they might take loans from some financial institutions and with the increase in rate of interest they might bear some extra pressure.

Socio-Cultural Factors: As they are trying to cater the demand of people from all the economic groups they must bring different varieties of products. Likewise, they must be diversifying the products so that every age group people could consume it.

Technological Factors: As Big Mart is known for the availability of quality foods, to maintain this status they might bring some modern machinery which could keep these foods fresh and maintain quality. Likewise with the introduction of meat in their store they take care of quality management in these products. They can also introduce modern teller machine which could reduce the queue of people in the cashier counter.

3. Discuss your preparations for the Activity Week field work. Have you arranged to meet your group? Have you been to the Big Mart before? How are you planning to record your data?

Yes, I have made an arrangement to meet my group and discuss about the preparation for the activity week. And I have already been to Big Mart before so it would be easy. We are planning to record our data in following ways:

·         Making a set of questionnaires related with our discussion.

·         Gathering information from staffs and manager.

·         Observing consumers whether they are satisfied or not.

·         Getting information from secondary sources.

References:

India, I. o. C. A. o., 2010. Strategic Management. New Delhi: Sahitya Bhawan Publications.

My Strategic Plan (2013). External Analysis. Available from (http://mystrategicplan.com/resources/external-analysis/) [accessed in 28-03-2013]

Small Business (2013). Chron. Available from (http://smallbusiness.chron.com/reason-use-swot-pestle-analysis-40810.html) [accessed in 28-03-2013]

Week 5: Task 2

2.Discuss these jobs (or you can think about all the jobs from today). What kind of skills and traits do you need to get a job as a strategist? Were there any jobs that you would consider applying for in the future? (explain why, or why not)

Some of the skills and traits required for strategist job:

• One must be able to think beyond his limitation
• Stand out of the crowd
• One must have leadership ability
• Good communication skills
• Be creative, realistic and original with his ideas.
• Committed to the organization.

Yes, there is a job i would want to apply in the future, it is a portfolio management strategist job. The vacancy was announced by one of a leading bank in South Africa. As I was always interested in banking sector i think this job will be suitable for me and being a finance student I have a good knowledge about portfolio management which can make me a considerable candidate for this job.

3.What do you want to do when you have finished this course? What skills do you want to improve in the next year in order to help you reach your goals?

I want to be a good financial analyst in a banking or financial institute after I finish this course.

I want to improve my strategic management skills, get more financial knowledge, communication and presentation skills and report writing skills. 

4.Try and post one advert to the blog – try to make sure it’s new and not already posted. Put a note in your learning journal entry if you managed to do this.

Auto req ID	152719BR
Position Title	Investment Strategist
Line of Business	Asset Management
Position City	PA - Philadelphia
Building Location Code	PA375 - PNC Bank N.A.
Job Type	Regular
Job Status	Full Time
Job Description	The Investment Strategist will participate in executing the investment and portfolio strategy processes for PNC’s Asset Management Group. You will support the establishment and monitoring of strategy and asset allocation recommendations. With direction, you will develop and produce analysis to make recommended asset allocation and model portfolio recommendations on the basis of fundamental analyses (quantitative and qualitative), economic forecasts and risk analytics, as well as monitoring technical trends in the financial markets. You will also ensure investment strategy compliance with the various compliance and regulatory rules, and analyze risk component of recommended asset allocations and model portfolios. The successful candidate will have the following qualifications: Bachelors degree in Finance or Economics, with Masters degree and CFA preferred 1 - 5 years experience in investment an/or economic research and/or economic research and/or portfolio management Demonstrated knowledge in the principles and techniques of investment and economic research and strong quantitative and qualitative analytical abilities Experience with Excel, FactSet and Bloomberg Excellent verbal and written communication skills
EEO Statement	PNC is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - M/F/D/V/SO
Shift	Daylight
Total Hours Per Week	40

Source: http://philadelphia.jobing.com/investment-strategist/job/employment/47947596

Week 5: Task 1

1.Post 3 recent strategy job adverts on your Learning Journal. You can do these as one entry or three separate journal entries.  JOB 1:         Client Strategist
Division (Company):	ValueClick Media
Location:	US-NY, New York
Req #:	1735
Job Function:	Client Support
Description:
Why Join Us? If you are strategy driven with the ability to take broad client ideas and turn them into actionable plans, this is the role for you. While you are able to see the whole picture you’re excited to work closely with the client teams to turn high level concepts into descriptions and diagrams, as you uncover efficiencies and  create repeatable, scalable solutions. A systems thinker, problem solver and project driver, you will work closely with the internal teams to drive successful campaigns and promote continued partnerships. Your Mission •Manage, develop and provide ongoing training for Account Management team within specified region. • Oversee all business of territory and provide performance insights on all. • Track revenue and ensure monthly pacing targets are hit. • Manage identified key accounts for strategic agency & direct relationships. • Work closely with regional sales managers on growth plans for all accounts. • Oversee the strategy and build-out of assigned accounts, and proactively monitor all existing campaigns. • Attain advertiser monthly targets on a consistent basis; targets will be a combination of revenue and margin. • Manage renewal and up-sell opportunities and follow-up as needed • Make recommendations on rate and creative execution • Attain monthly revenue targets on a consistent basis • Maintain in depth understanding of company technology, products, and services • Keep abreast of industry standards, new technologies, and the latest approaches in Internet marketing • Support Company’s corporate culture including adhering to established ethical standards. Is This You? • Bachelor’s degree with 3-4 years of digital, online experience. • Proven track record of managing teams that meet or exceed clients’ performance goals. • Experience in online or offline advertising, account management, or internet-related field. • Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communications skills. • Strong organizational skills, proven ability to handle multiple projects with tight deadlines. • Strong attention to detail and ability to follow through to completion. • Practical experience using MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. JOB 2:
	Strategist: Portfolio Management  Gauteng (South Africa) Permanent senior level position at A leading South African Bank in the Financial (Banking) industry. A leading South African Bank is looking for a Strategist: Portfolio Management. Responsibilities: - Compile current portfolio composition in terms of risks and returns for exposures and products; - Incorporate the foreseeable pipeline and determine the future portfolio profile in terms of exposures and products; - Design the Portfolio view in terms of risk/return for exposures and products and overlay it with the lending appetites preferences of the Credit Department and reconcile these strategies. - Debt, Trade and Working Capital; - South Africa and Africa; - Exposures and Products - Perform Relative Value analysis and Credit Econometrics forecasting; - Oversee maintenance and further development of the in-house analytics toolkit in Qlikview - Achieve asset growth targets while avoiding impairments; - Achieve risk/return targets - Interaction with in-house economists and equity analysts, capitalising on in-house research and translating this into the debt/credit environment; - Provide input and guidance to the Strategic Risk-out committee. - Protect the franchise and its reputation through successful adherence to and delivery of all regulatory, compliance and other requirements and policies Requirements: Bachelors degree in Business/ Banking / Finance / Economics / Management Post-graduate qualification in Investments/ Portfolio Management/ Economics Membership of a recognised professional investment/portfolio management institute Ten (10) years experience within asset/portfolio management Five (5) years experience in portfolio/investment strategy Five (5) years experience performing regular and recurring portfolio strategy presentations i.e. strong communication skills Apply today, contact Renzo Panicco @ Redi Recruitment (Email address) Apply online before 20/03/2013. Please note that Recruiters may delete or expire jobs at any time. JOB 3: Credit Desk Strategist       San Francisco, CA             Job Description The Desk Strategist adds value to the Firm by providing the trading and sales desk with superior analytical skills. Desk Strategists will collaborate with the traders on risk analysis, risk reporting, and value added trading strategies. Desk Strategists are responsible for the creation of product valuation models, trading strategy analytics, and risk and valuation tools to be used by traders and fellow Desk Strats to better understand risk and to better identify market opportunities. Responsibilities include: 1) Determine and create the valuation and risk management models that will feed the firm’s books and records for positions that are currently on the books or about to be purchased or bid upon. 2) Creating models and strategies that the desk will use to drive trading decisions. 3) Monitoring and analyzing the effectiveness of current valuation and risk models and championing and enacting new developments as needed. 4) Collaborating with traders to analyze and advise on managing the risk of the positions currently on the books. 5) Collaborating with traders to analyze and identify revenue positive trading opportunities. 6) Collaborating with the traders and structurers on the design of new products. Skills Required: 1) Strong skills in applied mathematics, basic knowledge of mathematical finance, basic knowledge of financial markets. A Masters degree in Computational Finance, a Masters degree in Mathematical Finance, or a Ph.D. in finance or economics, or a Ph.D. in mathematics or a computational science is strongly preferred. (Specific knowledge of Emerging Market activities, credit dynamics, or mortgages are a plus.) 2) Strong hands on technology skills are a core requirement (C++ programming and statistical packages such as SAS or Matlab). The successful candidate will have demonstrable success 3) Ability to discuss and market ideas is required. Strong communication & collaboration skills are necessary. 4) Market inquisitive’ nature and strong desire to be commercially relevant through the development of financial analytics and the application of analytical skills to find and risk manage trading positions. The candidate must be able to couple knowledge of mathematical finance, empirical statistics, and market knowledge to identify revenue enhancing/risk reducing trade opportunities. 5) Experience in designing and implementing analytics which have gained widespread use on one or more trading desks is extremely desirable. 6) Candidates for senior level roles must have a good track record of marketing successful strategies to the trading desk and their clients as well as having demonstrable experience of designing and structuring various trades for clients and traders. 7) Candidates for senior level roles must have demonstrated leadership skills and a track record of mentoring and directing highly skilled quantitative professionals in the development, implementation, and adoption of analytics that have had a revenue positive impact on the business. Source: indeed.com. (2013). Retrieved from www.indeed.com

Week 4

         a)      Who is strategist? Describe the main types of jobs that have strong strategy element?

     

     A strategist is a person who can create a "game plan" which consists of competitive moves and business approaches that management is employing to run the company successfully in competitive environment. A strategist seeks to relate goals of the organization to the means of achieving them. 

     

     Strategist may be positioned at the corporate, divisional and functional level. The main types of jobs that have strong strategy elements are: CEO, Board of Directors, Chairman and executives of the company (Wiley Ireland, R., Hoskisson, R, and Hitt, M, 2013).

       b)      What`s the difference between strategic planners and a strategy consultant? (Use your own words or referenced quotes)

Strategic Planners	Strategy consultant
They work as an employee of an organization.	They work as an independent contractor.
They coordinate with other employees in strategy making process.	They give advice, suggestions and feedbacks during the process.
They have responsibility of achieving organizations goal.	They are not obliged to any type of organization goal.
They work as per organizations system and follow hierarchy.	They give advice based on their expertise and past experiences.
For example: CEO and managers of an organization.	Example: A consultant firms some information regarding market structure.

Source: (ceoafterlife.com, 2013)

         c)      What were your answer to question 1 and 2 on the group exercise this week?

1.     Name one ‘strategist’ for each of the following five categories, and explain why you consider them to be have strategic ability and strategic impact in their field:

Business Leader: Min Bahadur Gurung (Founder of Bhatbhateni Supermarket)

I consider him one of the business leaders because at the initial stage he started his business from a roadside shop but now he operates around 10 supermarkets in Nepal and 50 more supermarkets are in pipeline to get operated very soon.

Inventor: Mark Zuckerburg (Founder of Facebook)

He is one of the greatest inventors in technology sector because he changed the way people socialize by creating the social networking site. Although he started it as a networking site among colleges, now it is the biggest networking site in the world.

Sport Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manager of Manchester United F.C)

Since his appointment as a manager in 1988, Manchester United has won 48 trophies in various competitions. He is the longest serving manager in whole sports sector and the manager with most trophies with one team.

Civil rights Campaigner: Annuradha Koirala (fights against girl trafficking)

She is in operation of campaign which fights against girl trafficking and women's right violation. She is also a winner of CNN heroes 2011.

Musicians/writer/film maker: James Cameron (Director of Titanic and Avatar)

With the direction of Titanic he had already set a benchmark during the 90s, later on 2010 when he directed Avatar he used latest technologies to make the movie beyond imaginations. Both of these movies were biggest grosser during their time.

2.   What sort of strategy job would you like to do? What skills do you have that would be valuable in a strategy role? What skills do you think you need to work on?

I would like to work as a financial analyst in any financial services institutions. I think I have a good knowledge about financial system of the country and I am acquiring skills required for financial management and financial planning. I think I must work on technical skills required for analyzing and interpreting the financial data. Likewise, communication skills and public speaking skills should also be focused.

Reference

• Johnson G,Whittington R & Scholes K (2011), Exploring Strategy, Ed9, Prentice Hall
• Grant R (2010), Contemporary Strategy Analysis: concepts, techniques,applications Ed 7. Blackwell.
• Grant R and Jordan J (2012 forthcoming) Foundations of Strategy,
• Wiley Ireland, R., Hoskisson, R, and Hitt, M. (2009) The Management of Strategy: Concepts and Cases, 8th Ed. Cengage Learning
• The Difference between Strategists and Strategic Planners | In the CEO Afterlife. 2013. The Difference between Strategists and Strategic Planners | In the CEO Afterlife. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.ceoafterlife.com/leadership/strategists-and-strategic-planners/. [Accessed 15 March 2013].

Week 3

      1) Why is strategy making like a science and why is it also like an art or craft? 

Strategy making is a science because it is derived from various logical recommendations or after conducting various types of experiments or researches. Strategy making might require various types of analytical tools or data. After going through all these process best recommendation or alternative is analysed and taken through to the implementation phase. 

It can also be taken as art or craft because the whole strategy making process could be creative and unpredictable. People with totally different human nature may come together to contribute during the process, where they could share their expertise, vision and some creative ideas. When all these people come together conflicts may arise, politics could be done and they might compromise to make the best strategy (Johnson G,Whittington R & Scholes K, 2013). 

           2) In your own words and using referenced quotes describe the difference between intended strategy and emergent strategy.

Intended Strategy	Emergent Strategy
The action pattern is planned and worked accordingly.	.      The action pattern changes and develops over time.
Intentions are more concerned about achieving organizations goal rather than making profit.	.      In emergent strategy, Businesses over time discover profitable methods of operation.
Intended strategy develops with a set of mission, vision, goals and objectives.	Emergent strategy develops within an organization in the absence of a specific mission and goals.
Intended strategy attempts to minimize outside     influence acting on business operations.	Some businesses choose an emergent strategy in daily operations to remain flexible to current demands.
In intended strategy, all employees of the company must learn perfect familiarity with future business goals and operations.	In emergent strategy, employees are flexible and upcoming and tend to adapt with the organizational goals according to the change in time.

Source: (Grant R, 2013) 

3) Choose two of the 10 schools of strategy thought and describe them in your own words. Try and provide a real world example for each e.g. an organization or a situation.

The two schools that I have chosen are Entrepreneurial and Learning school. 

The Entrepreneurial School: 

In this thought school, the strategy building process is authorized to the single leader (usually the CEO) and is built on a vision. The key to organizational success is based on strategic vision that the leader of the organization has come out with. Leader promotes vision and watches it closely and makes changes if necessary. These types of organization are more focused on growth.

GE is a very good example in this context which claims to have produced largest number of CEOs than Harvard. When Jack Welch took over the leadership he dismantled the way the organization was functioning under Jones and same was the case when Jeff took over Jack (12manage.com, 2013).

The Configuration School:

It combines all the schools of strategy and then creates an entirely new school of thought. The two main aspects of this school are configurations and transformations. In this thought of schools, organization adopts a form of structure which suits its needs and this gives rise to particular set of strategies. This school is more valid at different stages of an organization's development. The types of stages are:

• Stage of development.
•  Stage of stability.
• Stage of adaption.
• Stage of struggle.
• Stage of revolution.

Google is one of the leaders in today's' hyper competitive environment. It adapts itself to the environment. For example, in response to Facebook it came up with GooglePlus. It also entered the operating system industry. It is in to mailing service and last but not the least in to data maintenance. In data collection and maintenance, it is leader; in mailing service it is posing a tough competition to rest all service providers (12manage.com, 2013). 

      4)Write about your experience with today’s case study. What answers did you give to the questions? 

It was an interesting and knowledgeable case study. I knew many things about Google Company, about their market strategies, how they are dealing with their competitors and some problems inside Googleplex. Some of the questions asked in case study are answered below:

 a)      Would you describe Google’s strategy as more deliberate or more emergent? (list reasons for each)

I would describe Google's strategy as more emergent because they have always worked according to the demand of the market. They have been entering into new markets and exploring new markets. The previous statement can be proved by their activities of taking a stake in wind energy project and by testing self-driving cars. If they would have been deliberate they would be focused on achieving organization's goal rather than making profit but within a space of mere 12 years from tiny a startup they have already made a market capitalization of $180 billion. Likewise, with an acquisition of Youtube and DoubleClick, they have proved to be an emergent company.

b)      What are the advantages of being very 'experimental'? (list)

The advantages of being an experimental are:

• More creative and realistic ideas could come up.
• The outcome could be predictable.
• Different alternatives could be analysed and best alternatives would be chosen. 
• Company could know more about market, competitor and customers.
• With successful experiments, they could earn good profits and market share.

c)      What are the disadvantages of being very 'experimental'?(list) 

The disadvantages of being an experimental are:

• There could be conflicts while sharing the views and ideas.
• Some influential candidates could affect decision making process.
• The whole process could be costly and time consuming.
• Company could lose their reputation or brand image if they come out with bad decisions.
• The whole process might be tedious and rigid.

d)     What do you think of their strategy? (try and justify and support your views)

I think their strategy is going on right path till now, but it is important to diversify their product and also focus on other markets. They are successful at running their search engine and Youtube properly but they are down market at promoting their social networking site and other Google services like email and operating system. They are always willing to explore new markets and with new products like wind energy project and self driving cars they could be incredibly popular. As a whole they have a good strategy and it seems like they know what they are doing so sooner or later they will surely achieve what they want.

           

Reference

• Johnson G,Whittington R & Scholes K (2011), Exploring Strategy, Ed9, Prentice Hall
• Grant R (2010), Contemporary Strategy Analysis: concepts, techniques,applications Ed 7. Blackwell.
• Grant R and Jordan J (2012 forthcoming) Foundations of Strategy,
• Wiley Ireland, R., Hoskisson, R, and Hitt, M. (2009) The Management of Strategy: Concepts and Cases, 8th Ed. Cengage Learning
• Mintzberg, H. (2013). 12manage.com. Retrieved 2013, from http://www.12manage.com/methods_mintzberg_ten_schools_of_thought.html