SWOT Analysis Assignment This assignment will give you a head start on your work
ID: 423579 • Letter: S
Question
SWOT Analysis Assignment
This assignment will give you a head start on your work for your research proposal and should serve as a foundation for the research plan/proposal for this course.
You must first think of an organization or a consumer product that is of interest to you and that is facing some type of researchable dilemma. For example, XYZ Computers has lost significant revenue over the last two years, and management wants to know why. Since management suspects that customers are no longer satisfied with their product offerings because the company has been plagued by customer service issues, a survey to analyze customer attitudes could be proposed.
It is best to select an organization or agency with which you are reasonably familiar since the discovery process for an organization that is completely unknown to you can be daunting.
This assignment will then represent the first section of your Final Research Plan. This SWOT analysis should include some background discussion of the organization, including a brief history (one-half page maximum), the market(s) it serves, plus some important recent/relevant events or accomplishments. This analysis should also discuss important aspects of the industry, the market, the company, and its competition.
Regarding the organization itself, include its mission, vision, and goals, and how the company differentiates itself from its competitors.
You will then identify the organization’s primary and most relevant strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the so-called SWOT analysis. Going back to our example of XYZ Computers, some of the points in a SWOT analysis may be a high level of expertise on its Board of Directors (strength), managerial technology myopia (weakness), nanotechnology advancements (opportunity since one of the board members is a leading nanoscientist), major competitors who are quick to respond to technology advancements in the marketplace (a threat). (Present your SWOT analysis in standard SWOT table format.)
The “big picture” of this SWOT analysis should reveal an issue that culminates in a clearly stated research question, one that will ultimately compel a managerial response. The research question for XYZ Computers is, of course, why they are losing revenue and customers, and what can be done to curb customer defections and attract new customers.
Your resulting paper should be a maximum of six pages in length (double-spaced, Times New Roman size 12 font, one-inch margins all around), not including the SWOT table, the cover page, or the References page. The paper must be written in APA format. There will be a significant penalty for not using APA.
choosing a company for your SWOT analysis and in choosing a research question.
To get you started, these are examples of companies former students have studied:
Abercrombie & Fitch
Aveda
CherryBerry
Dick's Sporting Goods
Whole Foods
I'm not suggesting that you study these particular companies. The list should bring to mind a company you would like to know more about. Choose a company your participants can relate to as customers or potential customers.
Keep in mind that your research question follows from your SWOT analysis. When you have finished your paper, think of a compelling question that you want to find out more about.
Criteria
Meets requirements with excellence
100
Meets requirements
satisfactorily
90
Meets requirements moderately
80
Meets requirements minimally
70
Score
Context, and Purpose
Demonstrates thorough understanding of:
the assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Demonstrates adequate understanding of:
the assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Demonstrates but does not elaborate on:
the assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Demonstrates a minimal awareness of:
assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Structure and Organiza-tion
The document structure is logical and sequential.
Each paragraph begins with a strong topic sentence that is thoroughly developed and supported in the remaining sentences.
Transitions between paragraphs and sentences are smooth
The document structure is logical and sequential.
Each paragraph concentrates on a single topic that is adequately developed and supported in the remaining sentences.
Transitions between sections and paragraphs are deliberate.
The document has competent organization without sophistication.
The document has basic paragraph structure.
Effective sentence and paragraph transitions are sometimes lacking.
There are limited attempts to organize around central idea or thesis.
Paragraphs are mainly stand-alone.
Transitions are weak or non-evident.
Content
Contains a clear statement of the central issue(s).
Uses appropriate, relevant and compelling content to convey ideas and demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.
Consistently demonstrates critical thinking and thoughtful analysis.
Central idea and clarity of purpose are evident throughout the assignment.
Content supporting and illuminating the main idea is effective.
There are multiple instances of critical, careful thought.
The central idea is expressed, but is vague or too broad.
Some sense of purpose is found throughout the assignment.
Uses appropriate and relevant content to convey simple ideas in most of the work.
Some evidence of careful thought and analysis.
Contains simplistic statements of the issue(s).
Content supporting the main idea is weak in some instances and lacks clarity.
Demonstrates some simple analysis.
Writing Mechanics
Document formatted appropriately.
Free of punctuation, spelling, grammatical and capitalization errors.
Word choice is strong, varied and appropriate for the subject matter.
Sections are separated by headings.
Document formatted appropriately.
Few punctuation, spelling, grammatical or capitalization errors
Word choice is adequate for the genre and the ideas being expressed.
Sections are separated by headings.
Document is formatted adequately but could be improved.
There are some spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and/or grammatical errors.
Word choice does not always lend itself to the genre and the ideas being expressed.
Section headings are weak or unhelpful.
Document format is inconsistent
Punctuation, spelling, grammatical and capitalization errors impede understanding;
Word choice is simplistic and may be inaccurate at times.
There are no section headings
Sources, Evidence and Support
NOT APLICABLE TO
All sources are correctly cited, referenced, and formatted to the requirements of the assignment.
All sources are also credible, authoritative, timely, and relevant to support main thesis.
Nearly all sources are correctly cited, referenced, and formatted to the requirements of the assignment.
Nearly all sources are credible, authoritative timely and relevant to support main thesis.
Some sources correctly cited, referenced, and formatted to the requirements of the assignment.
Some sources are credible, authoritative, timely and relevant to support main thesis.
Some errors are present
Required sources are present but questions exist with credibility, authoritativeness, timeliness, and relevancy.
Many errors are present.
Criteria
Meets requirements with excellence
100
Meets requirements
satisfactorily
90
Meets requirements moderately
80
Meets requirements minimally
70
Score
Context, and Purpose
Demonstrates thorough understanding of:
the assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Demonstrates adequate understanding of:
the assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Demonstrates but does not elaborate on:
the assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Demonstrates a minimal awareness of:
assignment purpose;
the outcomes desired;
the audience targeted.
Structure and Organiza-tion
The document structure is logical and sequential.
Each paragraph begins with a strong topic sentence that is thoroughly developed and supported in the remaining sentences.
Transitions between paragraphs and sentences are smooth
The document structure is logical and sequential.
Each paragraph concentrates on a single topic that is adequately developed and supported in the remaining sentences.
Transitions between sections and paragraphs are deliberate.
The document has competent organization without sophistication.
The document has basic paragraph structure.
Effective sentence and paragraph transitions are sometimes lacking.
There are limited attempts to organize around central idea or thesis.
Paragraphs are mainly stand-alone.
Transitions are weak or non-evident.
Content
Contains a clear statement of the central issue(s).
Uses appropriate, relevant and compelling content to convey ideas and demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.
Consistently demonstrates critical thinking and thoughtful analysis.
Central idea and clarity of purpose are evident throughout the assignment.
Content supporting and illuminating the main idea is effective.
There are multiple instances of critical, careful thought.
The central idea is expressed, but is vague or too broad.
Some sense of purpose is found throughout the assignment.
Uses appropriate and relevant content to convey simple ideas in most of the work.
Some evidence of careful thought and analysis.
Contains simplistic statements of the issue(s).
Content supporting the main idea is weak in some instances and lacks clarity.
Demonstrates some simple analysis.
Writing Mechanics
Document formatted appropriately.
Free of punctuation, spelling, grammatical and capitalization errors.
Word choice is strong, varied and appropriate for the subject matter.
Sections are separated by headings.
Document formatted appropriately.
Few punctuation, spelling, grammatical or capitalization errors
Word choice is adequate for the genre and the ideas being expressed.
Sections are separated by headings.
Document is formatted adequately but could be improved.
There are some spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and/or grammatical errors.
Word choice does not always lend itself to the genre and the ideas being expressed.
Section headings are weak or unhelpful.
Document format is inconsistent
Punctuation, spelling, grammatical and capitalization errors impede understanding;
Word choice is simplistic and may be inaccurate at times.
There are no section headings
Sources, Evidence and Support
NOT APLICABLE TO
All sources are correctly cited, referenced, and formatted to the requirements of the assignment.
All sources are also credible, authoritative, timely, and relevant to support main thesis.
Nearly all sources are correctly cited, referenced, and formatted to the requirements of the assignment.
Nearly all sources are credible, authoritative timely and relevant to support main thesis.
Some sources correctly cited, referenced, and formatted to the requirements of the assignment.
Some sources are credible, authoritative, timely and relevant to support main thesis.
Some errors are present
Required sources are present but questions exist with credibility, authoritativeness, timeliness, and relevancy.
Many errors are present.
Explanation / Answer
Answer: The company selected for the report is Unilever
Unilever is a transnational consumer goods company It owns 400+ brands and its product categories include Food,personal care, refreshments, home care items
Vision statement: Unilever has a simple but clear purpose – to make sustainable living commonplace. We believe this is the best long-term way for our business to grow
Mision statement: We meet everyday needs for nutrition; hygiene and personal care with brands that help people look good, feel good and get more out of life.
SWOT Analysis:
Strength:
-Global presence
- High brand value and recall
-Diversified product portfolio
- Huge investments in R&D enabling product innovation
-Strong and deep network of distribution channels and dealer partners
- Huge media investments to manage brand perceptions
- Deep social impact through CSR initiatives
-Trained global workforce
Weakness:
- Switching cost of consumers for the products sod by Unilever is very low
- A large number of product substitutes are available easily in the market
- Consumers are not loyal and are mostly influenced by retailers who also host similar products from competitors
Opportunity:
-standard of living is improving and disposable income of consumers are increasing thereby increasing spendings
- Current generation are becoming more and more health conscious and focussed on personal hygiene and well being
- increased penetration of digital media and influence of digital marketing providing opportunitites for new sales channel and new means for reaching out to untapped consumer segments
Threats:
- Provenance issues and issues related to fair practices
-Meteoric rise of private labels and preference of retailers for private labels
- Huge global competition and also competition from local brands in domestic markets
- legal issues and arbitrations
-products are highly imitable and that too at lower costs
-Lack of business line diversification
Recent issues:
-Continuous lower than expected sales turnover -Loss of market share
Reasons/root causes :
-Natural disasters disrupting sales
-Stiff competition from global rivals and local competitors
-reduced spendings in marketing-deflationary pressures in some big markets like Europe
-operational inefficiencies and loos making ventures in portfolio
Remedies:
-Adopt new business model
-Increase investments in R&D to embrace latest state of art technology and innovate products to make them inimitable
-Diversify busines lines through platform mergers and acquisitions.
-Strenthen the presence in the arket and curb competition by engaging in bolt on acquisitions
-Focus on technology adoption
- Spin off loss making ventures and cut the flab , focus on operational efficiencies
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