Please make sure that you read the assignment and know what a “balanced scorecard”, “SWOT analysis”, “value chain management” and other terms being used in the assignment mean before you accept yo do it.
Question 1 20 points
Read the article about Solar power in Saudi Arabia: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/business/energy-environment/saudi-arabia-solar-renewables.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
2. Develop a SWOT analysis based on these objectives
3. Identify two metrics (measures) for each objective (for a total of 8 metrics). (An example is provided below.)
Example from UPS:
Balanced Score Card Area: Internal Processes
Objective: Integrate leading-edge technologies in all operations to provide better service to our customer base (Consistent with Growth Strategy: Leverage our leading-edge technology)
Metric 1: Percent of UPS outlets with leading edge technology in use.
Metric 2: Number of new technologies pilot tested per year
Question 2
Learning Outcome 1, 40 points
Last year, Volkswagen was accused of letting its desire for rapid growth, market dominance, and affiliation with the clean energy trend, get in the way of integrity, quality, and safety in vehicle emissions. Search the web for news, research, or trade articles from reputable publications (Wikipedia and political opinion pieces are not acceptable sources) for articles about the Volkswagen recalls and investigations. Include your citations (APA format) in your response. Organize your response in the following manner:
1. How have the recalls affected public opinion about Volkswagen’s record for quality and reliability? Provide a complete response that discusses not only public opinion immediately after the recall, but current public opinion. Alternatively, you may use illustrative/annotated graphics (or an interactive video) as your response.
2. How has Volkswagen changed its strategies toward value chain management as a result of these quality and safety problems? Identify at least two specific strategies Volkswagen undertook in response to the quality and safety problems. [Hint: use one of the planning tools to illustrate effect across the value chain].
Question 3
[Learning Outcome 2, 40 points] Read the following stories (and additional stories you find appropriate) through the lens of our supplemental readings, lecture content, and textbook readings:
Story 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/11/technology/think-amazons-drone-delivery-idea-is-a-gimmick-think-again.html?_r=0 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Story 2: https://www.wired.com/2015/09/washington-post-now-free-amazon-prime/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Story 3 https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/30/walmart-launches-free-2-day-shipping-without-a-membership-on-purchases-of-35-or-more/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Story 4: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/18/business/amazon-challenges-netflix-by-opening-prime-to-monthly-subscribers.html (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Use Amazon as your basis for answering the following questions
1. List and describe two challenges faced by organizations in the execution of a strategic plan.
2. Identify two organizational systems/processes that you could use, as a manager, to address the challenges identified in part 1. Describe specifically how these systems/processes could be used to address the challenges identified. (Examples of organizational processes/systems to consider include Goals and Measures, Rewards and Recognition, Communications, Training and Development, Organizational Structure, Senior Leadership, Rules and Policies, Physical Environment, Staffing, Information Systems and Knowledge Sharing, Operational/Process Changes, Ceremonies and Events, etc.)
