Individual Assurance of Learning Exercise 2

Exercise 5C, Steps 1-2

Instructions: 

“Step 1. Go to thehersheycompany.com website and click on News Center then click on News Releases. Read through the most recent 10 press releases” (David & David, 2017, p. 160).

“Step 2. Determine two new strategies that Hershey is actually pursuing. Give some pros and cons of those two new Hershey strategies” (David & David, 2015, p. 161).

Two New Strategies Hershey is Actually Pursuing

Tips: 

· Use Table 5-4, p. 133, as a quick guide for the 11 different types of strategies. Detailed discussion of each of these types of strategies are included on pages 133-154. 

· As you read Hershey’s 10 press releases, look for examples of one of these 11 types of strategies. 

o Make sure the two press releases you choose include one of the strategies discussed in the textbook (pp. 130-144); 

· In your response:

o Identify the type of strategy from the Types of Strategies included in Table 5-4 (p. 1332); 

o Describe how Hershey is using this type of strategy using the information in the press release.

o State the pros and cons, using the textbook (pp. 133-154) as your source to support your responses.

o Cite the press release as your source using proper both in-text and reference citation for each press release used as a source.

o Example of the proper APA citation for press releases are:

§ In-text citation example: (Hershey, 2016, July 19) 

§ Reference citation example: 

Hershey. (2016, July19). New flagship store slated to open at 20 Times Square in late 2017. Retrieved from https://www.thehersheycompany.com/content/corporate/en_us/news-center/news-detail.html?2186416 

§ Hershey is the author of the Hershey’s press release;

§ The date is located on the press release; and

§ The URL for the press release you use is included in the reference citation 

First Current Strategy 

· Identify the type of strategy Hershey is using from textbook Table 5-4

· Describe Hershey’s tactic to implement this strategy that is explained in the press release.

o Remember to cite the press release (Hershey, YY, Month, DD).

o Include p. or para. in the APA in-text citation if quoting from the press release

· Advantages

o What does the textbook state are advantages of this type of strategy?

o Are these advantages for Hershey based upon how they are implementing the strategy? Why or why not? 

· Disadvantages

o What are some of the disadvantages of this type of strategy as describe in the textbook? (e.g., costs, control)

o Are these disadvantages for Hershey as they are implementing the strategy? Why or why not?

o Are there other disadvantages for Hershey?

Second Current Strategy

· Identify the type of strategy Hershey is using from textbook Table 5-4

· Describe Hershey’s tactic to implement this strategy that is explained in the press release.

o Remember to cite the press release (Hershey, YY, Month, DD).

o Include p. or para. in the APA in-text citation if quoting from the press release

· Advantages

o What does the textbook state are advantages of this type of strategy?

o Are these advantages for Hershey based upon how they are implementing the strategy? Why or why not? 

· Disadvantages

o What are some of the disadvantages of this type of strategy as describe in the textbook? (e.g., costs, control)

o Are these disadvantages for Hershey as they are implementing the strategy? Why or why not?

o Are there other disadvantages for Hershey?

References

David, F. R., & David, F. R. (2017). Strategic management: A competitive advantage approach, concepts and cases (16th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. ISBN: 9780134167848.

Hershey. (2017, February 7). Title of press release. Retrieve from [use press release/web page UR]

Include two citations, one for each press release here. 

TIPS: 

· Each press release is a source and has a different date, title, and URL. Therefore, each press release will have its own citation. Please do not include a citation for the main Hershey website as your source for a specific website.

· All sources except personal interviews that are cited in the text are included in your references.

· The proper format for reference citations include:

o Double spaced, with no extra return between the section heading, References, and each citation;

o The first line for each citation begins at the left margin and subsequent lines are indented. When using Word, the format command for Paragraph, Indentation, Special: Hanging, 0.5” and double spacing is Spacing: Before: 0 After: 0, Line Spacing: Double. 

o An example citation and the proper APA citation for the textbook is in the syllabus.

· Please use the Liberty University Online Writing Center and the APA Publication Manual as resources for proper APA style.

· Remember that attribution of your sources using proper APA style is required for this course (see syllabus objectives and course assignment instructions).

· The Liberty University Honor Code requires attribution of your sources.  

Group assurance of learning exercise 3

only #16-25 needs to be done.  

Group Assurance of Learning Exercise 3

Exercise 5E, Classifying Some 2013 Strategies

Instructions: 

What type of strategy best describes the 25 actions cited” (David & David, 20175, p. 161)? Provide justification for your answers.

Tips:

· Identify the type of strategy from the Types of Strategies included in Table 5-4 (p. 133); 

· Justify your answer using information from the textbook or other reputable sources;

· Cite your source(s) using proper both in-text and reference citations

1. Amazon started producing and selling its own line of diapers.

2. MillerCoors offers free delivery of Miller Lite in four U.S. cities for customers who order through its online store.

3. Sears is closing about 235 stores annually.

4. The largest toymaker in the United States, Mattel, is struggling; therefore, it is introducing flashier and more educative toys.

5. German power utility E.ON SE sold its Spanish assets to Australia’s Macquarie Group and Kuwait’s sovereign-wealth fund for $3.1 billion.

6. Target Corporation is closing all of its 133 stores in Canada and China.

7. Coca-Cola recently axed 1,600 white-collar jobs globally as part of a cost-cutting move.

8. Nissan has totally revamped its Titan full-size pickup truck with new features and options and style.

9. General Motors just introduced a sports car version of its electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, and is introducing an all-electric vehicle in 2017 called the Chevrolet Bolt, capable of driving 200 miles without recharging.

10. SolarWinds acquired Pingdom, Confio, and N-Able Technologies to obtain different products and services since the solar business has slowed as oil prices have dropped.

11. Amazon Studios is branching out from television series to movies, with plans to begin producing and acquiring original movies for theatrical release and video streaming.

12. ZF Friedrichshafen AG of Germany recently acquired TRW Automotive Holdings in the United States to create the world’s second-largest auto-parts supplier behind Germany’s Robert Bosch GmbH and ahead of Japan’s Denso Corp.

13. Southwest Airlines recently began flying outside the United States, with flights to various Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico destinations.

14. Amazon is pushing aggressively into the same-day grocery delivery service with its AmazonFresh business along the west coast of the United States.

15. USPS has begun delivering groceries for Amazon.com within the AmazonFresh grocery-delivery service, especially in San Francisco and other markets.

16. USPS also recently launched Access Point, a strategy that allows customers to pick up their packages at dry cleaners, convenience stores, and pharmacies.

17. The huge food company General Mills recently acquired Annies’s Inc. for $820 million, paying a 37 percent premium for the firm, in order to expand its presence in the rapidly growing organic and natural foods category.

18. Google recently entered the hotel-booking industry by acquiring the firm called Room 77 and expanding its ties with big hotel firms such as Hilton Worldwide Holdings and Radisson Hotels that now offer virtual tours on Google. Google now allows hotels to list their rooms on their site, in effect bypassing travel search sites such as Priceline Group, Expedia, and TripAdvisor.

19. Google recently partnered with the medical firm Novartis to develop high-tech contact lenses that monitor glucose levels and other body functions.

20. Amazon recently entered the mobile payments business and is now competing with PayPal, Apple Pay, and all charge cards.

21. The world’s largest furniture retailer, IKEA, recently diversified into the insurance business, providing child, pregnancy, and home insurance products at its stores.

22. Office Depot closed nearly 500 stores in the last three years.

23. The drug maker, Dendreon Corporation, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Its major drug, Provence, which treats prostate cancer, never gained traction in the market.

24. Symantec Corporation, known for its antivirus software, recently split its $4.2 billion cybersecurity business away from its $2.5 billion management information business, making them two publicly traded companies.

25. eBay recently split into two companies, with PayPal being one and the eBay Marketplace segment being the other.