Review Case Analysis of Whole Foods Market
Assignment Overview
XCG: THE
EXCELLENT CONSULTING GROUP
The purpose of a
Case is to show that you have thought critically about the subject matter that
you are learning and to make an argument for a Claim about the specific
situation in the Case Assignment. Stephen Toulmin has developed an Argument
Methodology that is very useful in Making a Case. To review Case Analysis and
Toulmin's Argument Methodology, go to Making a Case page.
Case Assignment
First,
you need to do a strategic analysis of Whole Foods Market. The executives want
us to provide an independent, objective view of Whole Foods Market's current
strategic position, including full information of Whole Foods Market's mission,
vision and values. They want to identify its current set of strategic goals,
and a critical assessment of the competition and the competitive environment (remote
and operating environments). Also, they want to see the opportunities and
threats Whole Foods is presently facing, and they need a general idea of the
company's strengths and weaknesses. Whole Foods Market and ABC Company want to
know if we think they should make any strategic changes or continue with the
status quo. Synthesize everything you have learned, provide a final
recommendation, and justify your reasoning.
Keys
to the Assignment:
1.Do
diligent research on Whole Foods Market. I have included links to various
websites above.
2.As
an MBA, you must perform additional research to find information on competition
and general trends for opportunities and threats. For the competitive analysis,
identify a minimum of three of the top competitive companies and their
best-selling services or products - and justify why each is a viable
competitor.
3.Your
report should be thorough, and follow closely the outline that I have given
you. The final section is the most important one. Use excellent logic and sharp
argumentation skills to make your case.
The
report must be 5-7 pages minimum and no more than 10 pages.
Assignment Expectations
Your
paper will be evaluated on the following seven points:
�Precision - Does the paper
address the question(s) or task(s)?
�Breadth - Is the full
breadth of the subject, that is, the Keys to the Assignment, addressed?
�Depth - Does the paper
address the topic in sufficient depth and include the background reading and
other background resources as references?
�Critical thinking - Is the
subject thought about critically, that is, accurately, logically, relevantly,
and precisely?
�Clarity - Is the writing
clear and are the concepts articulated properly? Are paraphrasing and synthesis
of concepts the primary means of responding to the questions or are points
conveyed through excessive use of quotations?
�Organization - Is the paper
well written? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for
graduate-level work? Are headings included in all papers longer than two pages?
�Referencing (citations and
references) - Does the paper include citations and quotation marks where
appropriate? Are the references from the background readings and assignment
present and properly cited? Are all the references listed in the bibliography
present and referred to via citation?
TIPS
AND SUGGESTIONS
�Optimize your research
time: Get an overview of the Case Assignments so you know what information you
will be looking for when you do research. As you do research for Case 1, you
can also be finding information and data for the other cases, too. Continue
this strategy as you do research for the next case and the next, etc. The more
information you have about the chosen company, the better you will get to know
it. The better you get to know it, the better your analysis will be.
�You may use a simple
diagram to highlight important factors. However, do not use the diagram in lieu
of valuable analysis (or to take up valuable writing space). It should be in
addition to your 5-7 pages of analysis.
�Just because you have
written the minimum five pages does not mean that you have adequately covered
the topic. Err on the side of writing more rather than less.
�Choose the data you use
carefully. Is it relevant and important?
�Include a cover page and
reference page, in addition to the 5-10 pages of analysis described above.
�Include section headings
within the paper.
�Cite and reference all
sources that you use in your work, including those that you paraphrase. This
means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than five
words, and citations for that information which you have "borrowed"
or paraphrased from other sources.
�Follow TUI Guidelines for
well-written papers.
INTERNET
RESEARCH TIPS
Search
for articles in the business and trade press that give an independent view of
the company; you do not want to depend solely on corporate information. Check
the financial websites such as Yahoo Finance, MSN Money, Morningstar, Dunn
& Bradstreet, and Standard and Poor's for reports by industry and financial
analysts. Wiki's and blogs are good ways to get an "inside" look and
helpful for evaluating corporate culture/climate.
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