mgt490a1

Note: The following problem is fictitious but may employ names of, and news from, real organizations. The idea is to increase the reality of the situation, and to improve your awareness of various industries and organizations.

You've been hired as a business analyst for Midwest Beverage, a (fictitious) soft drink wholesaler and distributor. Your suppliers include Jones Soda Co., Cadbury Schweppes PLC, and Red Bull GmbH. Your customers range from local mom & pop grocers to regional (e.g., UDF) to national retailers (e.g., Kroger).

The CEO is interested in developing a more formal approach to strategic planning. You've been added to the strategic planning committee. The CEO (rightfully) thinks that conducting an analysis of the industry and competitive environment is a good early step in the strategic planning process.

You can help by providing the CEO and the rest of the top management team (TMT) with a framework for thinking about competitive analysis. Using the Porter (1980) textbook and other resources, craft a memo that illuminates the following for the TMT:

What are the five primary forces that define the structure of the industry?
Provide an example of each force using an industry other than your own. Cite examples from Business Week, Fortune, or other reputable sources for these.
Do a very preliminary assessment of how the five forces might apply to your industry situation.

Remember to use appropriate format for citing your sources.