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Strategy Evaluation Report

Write a 300-word strategy evaluation report on a chosen company.

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Introduction

Research from the Internet and from printed information can enhance strategy evaluation. Competitors’ performance information can help bring perspective to an organization’s performance evaluation. It is also important to look at changes, externally and internally, as an indicator for the need to modify strategy.

A strategy evaluation framework can help achieve annual and long-term objectives. Evaluation allows an organization to use internal strengths and to capitalize on external opportweekies as they surface, defending against market shifts and correcting internal weaknesses before they become a problem. Successful organizations formulate, implement, and evaluate strategies intentionally and continually evaluate their strategic position—shaping their future intentionally as opposed to being shaped by external forces. Strategic management allows an organization to make effective decisions, execute those decisions efficiently, and take corrective action. The key to effective strategy evaluation is the integration of intuition and analysis. Strategic management is first a people process and a mechanism for fostering organizational communication. The planning process is more important than the written plan. In fact, the written plan is only a snapshot and because of the rapid rate of change, leaders must plan continuously.

Strategic management also includes formulating, implementing, and evaluating organization-wide decisions that enable an organization to achieve its objectives (David, 2014). Formulation includes the organization’s mission, internal and external assessments, and the establishment of strategies. Implementation includes the creation of short-term objectives and allocation of resources to achieve strategies. Evaluation reviews performance and recommends corrective action. There are many benefits to strategic planning, including financial and competitive sustainability in a global market. Globalization, e-commerce, and attention to the environment have become important strategic concerns. Engaging employees in the strategic management process can facilitate the implementation of a well-planned strategy and enhance competitive advantage. Through this course, you have learned about the importance of mission and involvement in a sequential planning process.

Reference

David, F. R. (2014). Strategic management: A competitive advantage approach, concepts & cases (15th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.

Preparation

Select an organization to analyze. Ideally, the company you choose will be a familiar one and one to which you have easy access, such as your place of employment or a company close to where you live. You may use the same organization for other assessments in this course.

Deliverable

Complete the following:

  • Use the Capella library and the Internet to locate three articles written in the last six months, or as current as possible, about the industry of your selected organization.
  • Consider the following questions as you do your research:
    • What new opportunities and threats, or strengths and weaknesses seem to be emerging in this industry?
    • Do you feel that your selected organization is using effective strategies?
    • What recommendations would you offer?
  • Write a 300-word document titled “Strategy Evaluation Report” in which you include the following:
    • Summarize your organization’s strategy and performance in the current year.
    • Identify strategic information about your organization’s competitors.
    • Identify new opportweekies, threats, strengths, and weaknesses that seem to be emerging in the selected organization’s industry.
    • Interpret the effectiveness of your company’s strategies.
    • Recommend strategies based on strategy evaluation research.
  • Use APA-formatted in-text citations for information you take from the articles, and provide complete references for all articles.

Sales Performance Tracker

Objective:

Sales Analysis for Elite Retail Co.

You are tasked with creating an Excel spreadsheet to serve as a detailed sales tracker for Elite Retail Co. The objective is to capture and examine the store’s sales activity over a half-year period. This tool is essential to assist the management in making informed, data-backed decisions.

Requirements:

Formulas & Functions: Embed essential formulas and functions as detailed in the subsequent sections to automate calculations.

Table Design: Ensure the data is well-organized with appropriate table structures and layouts.

Number Formats: Apply suitable number formats to ensure data is displayed consistently and is easy to interpret.

Visual Representation: Integrate a chart to provide a graphical illustration of the sales data for clearer insights.

Instructions:

1. Enter the Company name Elite Retail Co. in the following columns, A2-E2. Wrap text, Merge-Center, Center text, and Middle Align, select the color of choice.

2. Enter Sales Performance January-June In the following columns, A3-E3. Wrap text, Merge-Center, Center text, and Middle Align, select the color of choice.

3. Enter in Month, Total Sales, Expenses, Net Profit, and Profit Margins starting on columns A4-E4.

Input Data: Use the table provided to enter data for each month’s sales and expenses. Starting with

Net Profit: In column D, calculate the net profit for each month by subtracting Expenses from Total Sales.

Profit Margin: In column E, calculate the profit margin by dividing the Net Profit by Total Sales.

Formatting:

  • Borders: Highlight the entire table. 
  • Colors: Choose a color of your choice and apply it as a background color to the header row. 
  • Font: Make the header row text bold.
  • Formatting Table: Use Dark, Gray Table Style Dark 4, and disable the filter button

4.    Create a Chart:

  • Highlight the data from A4 to E10.
  • Go to the Excel menu, click on ‘Insert’, and choose the ‘Column’ chart. You can select a ‘Clustered Column’ chart.
  • This will insert a column chart based on the data provided. Use Chart Design Style 8
  • Give the chart an appropriate title like “Sales Performance Over Six Months”.
  • Adjust the axis labels if necessary.
  • Display the chart at the bottom of the table within the same worksheet as shown in the example.

EXAMPLE

5.    Rename Worksheet:

  • Rename the worksheet to Sales_year

6.    Rename and Save Workbook:

  • Rename and save the workbook as EliteRetailCo_lastname.xlsx

7.    Excel Modules Feedback and Reflection

  • Begin a new Word document and give it a title such as “Excel Modules Feedback.”

               What You Liked:

  1.  
    • Share what you liked about understanding Excel. Were there specific aspects or functions that stood out to you?
    • Explain how your newfound Excel knowledge has been valuable or interesting.
  2.  
  3.  
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  6. Desired Learning: Discuss what you would have liked to learn more about in Excel, considering the limited time available.
    • Identify any specific Excel topics or tasks you wish you could explore further.
    • Explain how deeper knowledge in these areas could benefit you.
  7.  
  8.  
  9.  
  10.  
  11. Real-World Relevance: Reflect on how understanding Excel can be beneficial in real-world scenarios.
    • Discuss its potential usefulness in your academic pursuits or future career.
    • Offer practical examples where Excel proficiency might be crucial.
  12.  
  13.  
  14.  
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  16. Conclusion: Conclude your feedback by summarizing your main insights and thoughts.
  17. Formatting: Keep your feedback clear and concise. There’s no strict word count requirement, but aim for a well-structured and organized response. Please use Times New Roman, font size 12 and double-spacing.
  18. Submissions: Save your Word document as ExcelModuleFeedback_lastname.docx. This Word document and the Excel spreadsheet need to be both submitted in Blackboard.

FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA

Discuss, in 2-3 pages, FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA, including penalties and cases against companies for violating the acts.

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Introduction

It is very important for HR professionals, and all members of management, to be familiar with the laws and acts that govern leaves of absences, benefits, medical information and retirement and health plans. The major ones to understand include:

  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): The 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies to all employers having 50 or more employees and entitles all eligible employees to receive unpaid leave up to 12 weeks per year for specified family or medical reasons.
  • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA): In 1985, the Congress enacted Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) to provide current and former employees and their spouses and dependents with a temporary extension of group health insurance when coverage is lost due to qualifying events (for example, layoffs). All employers with 20 or more employees must comply with COBRA.
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): The 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was designed to (1) lessen an employer’s ability to deny coverage for a preexisting condition and (2) prohibit discrimination on the basis of health-related status.
  • Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA): The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.

Instructions

Four acts—FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA—passed by the Congress greatly define the arena of benefits.

For this assessment, in 2–3 pages:

  • Define each act—FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA—briefly.
  • Cite one current issue that employers are, or should be, concerned with for each act.
  • Describe the violations and penalties that employers can face for violating these acts.
  • Describe, for each law, an example of an actual legal case involving an organization that has violated this law.