One

SWOT Matrix for your research company. Follow the sample on page 168. Provide five strengthens, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities and two matches for the SO, WO, ST, and WT's.

Once completed explain your overall recommendation from the analysis. Be sure to provide your rationale in the writeup.

Two

Provide a basic explanation of the elements in the "Boston Consulting Group" matrix and then explain which quadrant you think your research company falls into - again document your rationale.

6: Strategy Analysis and Choice Figure 6-3 A SWOT Matrix for a Retail Computer Store Strengths Weaknesses 1. Inventory turnover up 5.8 to 6.7 1. Software revenues in 2. Average customer purchase up store down 12 percent $97 to $128 2. Location of store hurt by 3. Employee morale is excellent new Hwy 34 4. In-store promotions = 20 percent 3. Carpet and paint in store increase in sales in disrepair 5. Newspaper advertising 4. Bathroom in store needs expenditures down 10 percent refurbishing 6. Revenues from repair and service 5. Total store revenues in store up 16 percent down 8 percent 7. In-store technical support persons 6. Store has no website have MIS degrees 7. Supplier on-time-delivery 8. Store's debt-to-total-assets ratio up to 2.4 days down 34 percent B. Customer checkout process too slow 9. Revenues per employee up 19 percent Opportunities SO Strategies WO Strategies 1. Population of city 1. Add 4 new in-store promotions 1. Purchase land to build growing 10 percent monthly ($4, 03) new store (W2, 02) 2. Rival computer store 2. Add 2 new repair and service 2. Install new carpet, paint, opening 1 mile away persons (56, 05) and bath (W3, W4, 01) 3. Vehicle traffic passing 3. Send flyer to all seniors over age 3. Up website services by store up 12 percent 55 (55, 05) 50 percent (W6, 07, 08) 4. Vendors average 6 new 4. Launch mailout to all products a year realtors in city (W5, 07) 5. Senior citizen use of computers up 8 percent 6. Small business growth in area up 10 percent 7. Desire for websites up 18 percent by realtors 8. Desire for websites up 12 percent by small firms Threats ST Strategies WT Strategies 1. Best Buy opening new 1. Hire 2 more repair persons and 1. Hire 2 new cashiers (W8, store in 1 year nearby market these new services (56, $7, T1, T4) 2. Local university offers T1) 2. Install new carpet, paint, computer repair 2. Purchase land to build new store and bath (W3, W4, T1) 3. New bypass Hwy 34 in 1 (58, T3) year will divert traffic 3. Raise out-of-store service calls 4. New mall being built from $60 to $80 (56, T5) nearby 5. Gas prices up 14 perc 168