Required: Please choose a firm (it may the one you are working for) OTHER THAN Ford, GM, Pfizer, Disney, Microsoft, Uber, Tesla, Wegmans, and provide me with a detailed writeup (around 3-4 single-spaced pages excluding references( orperhaps 2.5 or so if you write really concisely but powerfully) as specified below in sequence:

1. Provide a brief background on your firm, its markets, etc… so I get a clear sense of what it does and what industry it is in, and where it operates.
2. Next, define the main strategy your firm is using as clearly as possible. If your firm is considering a change in strategy, you can define this instead. Make sure that you use proper terms and a comprehensive definition (e.g. “a vertical integration strategy using a greenfield acquisition in Brazil”.
3. Next, clearly explain the main features of the strategy (i.e., the key elements that comprise the strategy).
4. Next, clearly explain how the strategy relates to the firm’s strategic goals and mission, vision.
5. Finally, clearly explain how the strategy logically connects to the key elements of your firm’s SWOT to obtain competitive advantage. The SWOT elements, of course, will be based on the PESTEL, Five Forces, Value Chain, VRIO, financials, etc…). You should be able to discuss at least 5-8 SWOT elements. (Hint: the Robin Hood case example should help get you started for this answer!).

Note that sections C to E are the “heart” of this assignment!

Some important directions:

1. Please use four separate and clearly-labelled sections (A,B,C,D,E).
2. Please use 10 or 12-point fonts and single-spacing.
3. Pay very careful attention to spelling, grammar, form (use of sections, boldfacing, underlining, etc…)
4. Make sure you define use the terms from the book (e.g. economies of scale, vertical integration, etc…) and connect them to your facts and logic. (e.g. “vertical integration is defined as “….”. My firm’s use of vertical integration is valuable because it helps address these key threats facing us at this time….”)
5. Please back up claims with logic and evidence. Do not say “top-ranked firm” or “very strong brand” for instance unless you back it up.
6. Please provide all key citations.