Assignment Contentthe Assessments In This Course Give You The Opportun
The assessments in this course give you the opportunity to design a project plan. Throughout the 5 weeks, you will choose an organization, create a project, write project metrics, and develop a plan that includes a contingency plan. You may use the course textbook and outside resources for all assessments. This week you will choose your organization and learn about its corporate values. Review Strategic Management-8 Most
Popular Cases
in Connect. Access the case studies from the folder on the main course page in Blackboard. Choose one of the organizations to use for all weekly assessments. You will not be able to change your organization, so make sure you are comfortable with your choice. An organization is typically centered on its mission and vision, but it may not always do as its statement says. Use the
Degree of Alignment: Advanced Organizer
template to: describe the mission, vision, values, structure, and culture of the company. Each description should be 75-100 words. Based on your advanced organizer and further research on your company, analyze the degree of alignment between what the organization is currently doing (actions) and their mission, vision, values, structure, and culture. Think about what your company is doing right and on-brand and where there is room for improvement. Your analysis should be words. Submit your assignment. Resources Center for Writing Excellence Reference and Citation Generator Grammar and Writing Guides.
Paper For Above instruction
The purpose of this assignment is to engage students in selecting an organization relevant to their interests, exploring its core strategic elements, and analyzing how well the company's current actions align with its articulated mission, vision, values, structure, and culture. This foundational understanding is critical for effective strategic planning and project management. This process not only enhances strategic thinking but also grounds students in real-world organizational analysis, preparing them for developing comprehensive project plans with measurable metrics and contingency strategies.
Initially, students are tasked with selecting an organization using the provided case studies available in the course resources. Once selected, the focus shifts to obtaining a thorough understanding of the organization’s foundational elements: its mission, vision, core values, organizational structure, and culture. The assignment requires concise descriptions—each between 75 to 100 words—to clearly articulate these
aspects. This step ensures students grasp the fundamental strategic identity of their chosen organization.
Following these descriptions, students undertake an analysis of the degree of alignment between the company's stated strategic elements and its real-world actions. This analysis involves evaluating whether the company's behaviors, policies, and practices reflect its mission, vision, and values; whether its structure supports or hinders its strategic objectives; and how its culture influences organizational effectiveness. Identifying areas where the organization excels in authenticity and where gaps exist provides insight into potential areas for strategic improvement.
This assignment emphasizes critical thinking and evidence-based assessment. Students should leverage course materials, company reports, and credible outside resources to inform their descriptions and analysis.
A well-rounded evaluation offers insights into the organization’s strategic effectiveness and readiness for project planning. Ultimately, this exercise prepares students for more complex project management tasks by fostering a nuanced understanding of organizational alignment and strategic fit.
Submission involves synthesizing research and analysis into a coherent document that summarizes the organization’s strategic profile and identifies key improvement opportunities. Clarity, conciseness, and evidence-based reasoning are essential for a comprehensive and compelling submission. Incorporating credible references from academic and professional sources lends credibility and depth to the analysis. This foundational exercise sets the stage for subsequent project development tasks in the course, ensuring that students are well-equipped to design strategic projects aligned with organizational realities.
References
Barney, J. B., & Hesterly, W. S. (2019). Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. Pearson.
Daft, R. L. (2018). Organization Theory and Design. Cengage Learning.
Grant, R. M. (2019). Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Wiley.
Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2017). Exploring Corporate Strategy. Pearson.
Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (2008). The Strategy-Focused Organization: How Balanced Scorecard Companies Thrive in the New Business Environment. Harvard Business Review Press.
Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Free Press.
Siggelkow, N. (2007). Persuasion with case studies. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1), 20-24.
Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2017). Strategic Management and Business Policy. Pearson.
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publications.
Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (2015). Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant. Harvard Business Review Press.
