strategic management
Paper details:
It should be 10 pages, Contemporary Issues in Strategic Management Coursework 2: Case Study Assessment In the assessment brief below you will find:
• Details of the coursework assessment
• Guidelines to assist you in answering the questions
• The assessment marking criteria
• Information on presentation and the submission date
You are required to conduct an analysis of the following case study and article:
Starbucks Corporation: the new S-curves by Katherine Ludwig, in:
Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D., Hoskisson, R.E. (2016)
Strategic Management: competitiveness and globalization – concepts and cases (12th edition). Boston: Cengage Learning
The objective of your case analysis will be to demonstrate your understanding of the key issues surrounding the expansion of Starbucks with respect to acquisitions, strategic alliances, and organisational culture
Coursework assessment
1. The case study mentions numerous examples of diversification through acquisition, but not all of these acquisitions have proved to be successful. Since the case study was written, for example, Starbucks has closed both its La Boulange and Teavana outlets. See the following news article for more details on the failure of the La Boulange acquisition:
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Starbucks-closure-of-La-Boulange-shows-downside-6333759.php
Consider the characteristics of effective acquisitions, and suggest what Starbucks could have done to maximise its chances of success with La Boulange.
2. Faced with the possibility of market saturation in America, Starbucks undertook a number of strategic alliances in order to continue to grow in the domestic market.
Discuss the rationale for companies entering strategic alliances, and consider:
a) whether this growth strategy was a sensible choice for Starbucks, and
b) how Starbucks might leverage its strengths to minimise the inevitable risks associated with forming strategic alliances.
3. Use the cultural web to articulate Starbucks’ organisational culture, and argue how successful it has been in using this to optimise changes in strategic direction.
Marks will also be allocated for the presentation of analysis, application of appropriate tools and use of case evidence.
