1. Analyzing Strategic Management Cases

2. Agenda Case Presentation Steps to Case Preparation
Presentation Requirements
Report Requirements

3. Robin Hood

4. Robin Hood: Organizational Profile
Brief History
First year of Revolt: built a large body of men with grievances; made a disciplined fighting force; housed in Sherwood Forest
Robin ruled supreme; had lieutenants to whom he delegated functions
Fame spread; the band grew
As the band grew, discipline slackened and food was scarce.
Revenues were running short as the rich were avoiding the forest
Barons want to overthrow Prince John, bring King Richard back, and want Robin Hood to help them in exchange for amnesty
Something had to change, but what?

5. Robin Hood: Financial Indicators
The Changing Forest
First year, did well. Small organization, growth was steady, revenues consistent, stockholder support
No competition
Company Year 1 Year 2 Change
Revenue
Expenses
Coffers

6. Robin Hood: The Problem(s)
Sheriff is getting stronger; more men and money
Band is running out of money
Food is scarce
How do we decisively end the conflict before the Sheriff regains control?

7. Robin Hood: SWOT Strengths Strong leadership
Large band of well-trained fighting men
Support from stockholders (the peasants and farmers that hate the Sheriff)
Weaknesses
Unable to sustain growth (limited resources)
Lack of familiarity with all org members
Opportunities
Expand into other forests, spreading the revenue base
Threats
The sheriff is getting stronger, increased competition
Prince John is paranoid, could act irrationally
Barons could undermine Robin’s efforts

8. Robin Hood: Five Forces
Threat of New Entrants
Threat of New Entrants
Low
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
Not known
Bargaining Power of Buyers
Low
Rivalry Among Competing Firms in Industry
Low
Threat of Substitute Products
Low 23

9. Robin Hood: Alternatives
TOWS Matrix
Opportunities
Threats
Weaknesses:
Strengths
SO Strategies: Kill the Sheriff
Wipe him out, no more problems
Has the men to do it
When the sheriff is gone, disband
ST Strategies: Join the barons
Has the fighting force
Get access to capital markets
Maybe ends the conflict quicker
WO Strategies: Limit size of band
Turn the fighting band into a group of elites
Maintains discipline
Solves food issues
Basically, curtail growth
WT Strategies: Disband
Give up the cause, return to normal life
Robin flees to another country to escape punishment
The TOWS tool combines the ingredients of SWOT (our assessment of the internal and external environments, which used the EFAS and IFAS tables) in a way that can suggest some strategies. It matches external opportunities and threats facing a particular company with that company’s internal strengths and weaknesses to result in four sets of possible strategic alternatives.
Have we got some examples of some strategies?
SO Strategies
ST Strategies
WO Strategies
WT Strategies
Source: Adapted from Long-Range Planning, April 1982, H. Weihrich, “The TOWS Matrix—A Tool for Situational Analysis.” and Wheelen and Hunger

10. Robin Hood: Recommendations
Join the barons
take a chance on getting King Richard back and getting rid of John and the Sheriff in one fell swoop
Get capital to grow the business and feed the troops

11. Robin Hood: Case Update
Robin joined the barons.
King Richard was freed and reclaimed the throne
Prince John was exiled and the Sheriff lost his job; he now cleans pigsties for a living.
Robin was exonerated and lives in a large mansion on the edge of Sherwood Forest, enjoying life with his wife (Maid Marion), three kids, two horses, and a dog named Jack.

12. Robin Hood: The End
Questions?
Thank You!

13. How to Conduct a Case Analysis
Put yourself “inside” the case
Think like an actual participant
Strategic decision maker
Board of directors
Outside consultant

14. Five Steps: Step One Become familiar with the material
Read quickly through the case one time
Use initial read-through to assess possible links to strategic concepts
Read the case again, making notes
Evaluate application of strategic concepts
After forming first recommendation, thumb through the case again to assess consequences of actions you propose

15. Five Steps: Step Two Identify problems
Symptoms vs.. Problems: avoid getting hung up on symptoms
Some cases have more than one problem
Articulate the problem
Writing down a problem statement gives you a reference point when you proceed through the case analysis
Some problems are not apparent until after you do the analysis

16. Five Steps: Step Three Conduct strategic analyses
Determine which strategic issues are involved
Use strategic tools to conduct the analysis
Five-forces analysis
PEST analysis
SWOT analysis
Value chain analysis
Resource-Based View of the Firm (VRIO)
Contingency frameworks
Financial analysis
Test your own assumptions about the case

17. Five Steps: Step Four Propose alternative solutions
Develop a list of options first without judging them
Do nothing is often a reasonable alternative
Evaluate alternatives
Can the company afford it?
Is the solution likely to evoke a competitive response?
Will employees accept the change?
How will it affect other stakeholders?
How does it fit with the vision, mission, objectives?
Will the culture or values of the company change?

18. Five Steps: Step Five Make recommendations
Make a set of recommendations that your analysis supports
Describe exactly what needs to be done
Explain why this course of action will solve the problem
Include suggestions for how best to implement the proposed solution
The solution you propose must solve the problem you identified

19. Points to Remember
Always connect the problem(s), alternatives, and recommendations
Often, the problem is stated in the case; you just have to look a little for it

20. Presentation Requirements
Introduction of Management Team
Outline of presentation
Company Overview
Problem Identification
Strategic Analysis
Alternatives
Recommendation
Conclusion/Wrap Up of pertinent information
15-20 minutes in length

21. Report Requirements Include: Be thorough, but brief and concise.
Cover sheet with:
Class and section
Group name
List of group members
Case name and number
Historical Overview/Company Profile
Identify problem(s)
Strategic Analysis
Alternatives
Recommendation(s)
Be thorough, but brief and concise.
Use charts and graphs to consolidate information and keep it interesting.
Pattern report on presentation

22. Report Requirements (cont.)
Format-Business style writing
3-5 pages in length
Times New Roman font, 12 pt., 1 inch margins
Single-space paragraphs
Double-space between paragraphs and after headers
Section headers in bold; sub-headers italicized; no punctuation after headers
All type should be left justified (do not indent paragraphs)
Charts and graphs should be in-line, not in appendix
Watch paragraph lengths, grammar, spelling
Consistent formatting throughout
Use charts, graphs, images and bullets; be creative but professional; graphs should not be to big

23. Submission Requirements
On day of presentation, submit the following:
Report
Copy of slides
Print 6 to a page; needed for reference only