Your task is to perform a situational analysis of Home Depot in 2017. This requires research and analysis of Home Depot’s macro, industry and competitive environments, key resources, capabilities, core competencies, and competitive advantages using the tools for case analysis.
Conclude your paper by identifying the most important opportunities and threats facing Home Depot and briefly (in one paragraph) summarize what you suggest Home Depot should do in response to these opportunities and threats. The focus for this assignment is on diagnosing critical issues arising out of the alignment of Home Depot’s strategy and its external situation as of 2017 (there is no need to update this case).
Your analysis, recommendation and discussion should not exceed four pages of text – excluding cover sheet (see attached), executive summary, references, exhibits, or appendices. Your cover sheet, executive summary, substantive text, and reference list must have 1” margins on all sides, be double-spaced, and use a font size of 12. Exhibits may be single-spaced and use a font size of 9. Pages, except for the cover sheet, must be numbered. You should use and attach as exhibits the information on which your analysis is based and the analytical tools we’ve learned about in class (e.g., Home Depot’s strategy diamond, macro-environment (PESTEL), five forces analysis, competitive map, key success factors, etc.), and remember to refer the reader to information presented in your exhibits as necessary. [Note: there is no need to copy exhibits from the case; simply refer the reader to, for example, “Case Exhibit 2”.] This assignment does not require you to perform a SWOT analysis, nor will you receive any additional points if you do include a SWOT analysis. The terms of this assignment will be strictly enforced.
Your exhibits do not substitute for explaining the key points in text. Exhibits not referred to in your text will not be considered. You should find it difficult to fit everything you need to say into four double spaced pages. Eliminate fluff and filler; eliminate needless exposition of the history of Home Depot; do not waste space on background information unless it is critical to your analysis. Remember that I’ve read the case and know the background.
Your paper must be submitted through theSpring by 11:59pm on Friday March 1, 2024. Submit your paper in one Word file. Use a descriptive file name that starts with your last name (for example, “Smith Home Depot paper.docx”). Be sure you know how to combine separate text, graphics, Excel spreadsheet, and PowerPoint files, etc., in one Word document. [See me if you need help.] Technical difficulties do not excuse late submission.
Your written case analysis must include the following:
Executive Summary: AFTER completing your analysis and diagnosis, and after developing your recommendations, create a 1 page summary of your analysis, diagnosis and recommendations and insert it after your cover sheet.
Your executive summary starts with your diagnosis: in a short, clear sentence, state what you have diagnosed to be Home Depot’s high stakes challenge.
After your diagnosis, summarize your most important points. Include citations to the page of your paper where that issue is discussed.
Introduction
Briefly introduce your diagnosis of Home Depot’s key challenge and your recommendation. Do not summarize the case; I have read it.
Analysis
Analyze and assess Home Depot’s current strategy. Be clear in your analysis of the strategy diamond. Do they have a good strategy? (What makes a strategy “good”?)
Analyze and assess Home Depot’s external and industry environment.
Analyze the forces that constrain their profits. Does Home Depot have market power?
What metric matters to Home Depot? Use at least two examples of quantitative (numbers-based) data from the case in your analysis. You might discuss trends over time in revenue, operating profit, costs, sales as compared to rivals, etc. Consider what these trends suggest as you utilize the financial/market data to support your assessment of Home Depot’s situation.
Diagnosis: Use your analysis to pinpoint the major challenges facing Home Depot. Identify fundamental issues, not symptoms.
Recommendation
In one paragraph, summarize what you recommend Home Depot do to capitalize on these opportunities and defend against these threats. This must be a strategic decision about how to best invest scarce resources (time, attention and money). Include possible risks to your suggestion.
Conclusion
A one paragraph conclusion that restates your diagnosis, summarizes your recommendation, and briefly explains why your recommendation is the best solution.
Exhibits can be anything relevant you use in your analysis but must include a:
Strategy diamond
A PESTEL analysis
A Five-forces analysis
Perceptual map showing Home Depot’s strategic group and other competitors
Grading: The Management and Business Department has clear standards and expectations for written assignments in MB107. You will be graded against that rubric (attached) on your paper’s (1) structure and organization, (2) mechanics, (3) professionalism, (4) substance, and (5) MB107 content. Criteria 1-4 will be worth 50% of your paper’s grade and Criteria 5 (MB107 content) will be worth the other 50% of your paper’s grade (i.e., course-specific content in writing is heavily weighted). Case Paper Checklist
Professional Presentation
My paper is double spaced.
I used 12 point type.
I have one inch margins on each side of the page.
I do not skip lines between double-spaced paragraphs.
The first line of every paragraph is indented one-half inch.
Each page has a page number except my title page.
A new page separates my cover sheet from my executive summary.
A new page separates my executive summary from the body of my paper.
I have included a bibliography or table of references immediately after the body of my paper.
A new page separates my paper from my bibliography/references.
My references are complete and in APA format.
A new page separates my references from my exhibits.
I have no widows or orphans.
Spelling, Grammar and Usage
I have used standard American spelling and grammar.
I have used spell-check on my paper.
I have used grammar-check on my paper.
I have carefully proofread my paper.
I do not know of any misspellings in my paper.
I do not know of any grammatical mistakes in my paper.
I am sure that every word I use in my paper means what I think it means.
Executive Summary
I have an executive summary
My executive summary includes my diagnosis of the critical challenge.
My executive summary includes bullet points summarizing the factual bases of my argument.
My executive summary cites to the page of and/or exhibit to my paper that sets forth each fact and its source.
My executive summary includes my strategic recommendation.
Exhibits
I have included the required exhibits.
I have included all exhibits I reference in the paper, except those in the case.
I have referenced all the exhibits I include in the paper.
My exhibits use 9 point type.
Each exhibit is on its own page.
Each exhibit has a brief explanatory title.
Each exhibit is labeled with an exhibit number.