Reference no: EM132915705

In this module, you learned that planning occurs at different levels of the business and that a strategy is a comprehensive plan for accomplishing a business's goals. We also learned that a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is one important tool used by management to formulate strategy. The goal of this assignment is to develop a strategy which supports the business's mission by leveraging its strengths and opportunities, neutralizing its threats, and addressing its weaknesses. Make sure that you have also reviewed this SWOT Learning Object for further insight into this process.

Pick one of these companies: Citigroup, Intel, or McKesson, and explore their website to answer each of the below questions. Many times, the following website sections will contain the type of information required: about us, corporate governance/leadership, investor relations, sustainability/social responsibility, and media relations. If any of the pages or sections are not made apparent, you could also search for information using the company's search box which will sometimes provide a link to a page several layers into their website.
Provide your answers with a separate, numbered response to correspond to each of the following items:

1.Define the three types of planning for this company and identify the related level of management responsible for each type of plan. Assuming that you were a manager at each level, identify what your role would be in the planning process.

2.Briefly describe the mission of your chosen company using your own words. Next, conduct a SWOT analysis and identify at least one (1) of each of the following: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats either in a table format or a list. The information used in your internal analysis and external analysis can usually found by reviewing the Annual Report (see Investor Relations section), Corporate Governance section, as well as the consumer section of the website.

3.Based on the results of your SWOT analysis, develop at least one strategy which will accomplish the organization's mission. Make sure to identify if your strategy is based on a business-level or on a corporate-level approach and explain the type selected (i.e. cost leadership, etc.). Next, provide at least one example of a related tactical plan which would be developed by middle management to support your strategy and an example of at least one operational plan developed by operational management that will support the tactical plan.

4.The intent of the managers involved in the planning and operation of an organization is for the process to occur without incident or interruption. In reality, there could always be an issue, situation, or crisis which could change the original timeline or planned outcome. When this occurs, a well-prepared manager will have a contingency or crisis management plan available. Based on your strategy developed in the third requirement, outline a contingency plan which would address the inability to implement the strategy based on a specific event (e.g. natural disaster, economic downturn. increased competition, etc.).