Scenario:

Maria is considering operating a local business in the beauty and cosmetology sector in the island

of Trinidad. She has completed research into the operations of similar businesses locally and

intends to market and sell her products initially at the local level, with the possibility of extending

at the regional level in the near future. Maria understands that to shape the businesss overall

strategy there are various strategic drivers both internally and externally which must be considered

and wants expert advice on these drivers relevant to her business. She is also struggling with

deciding on the best structure for the organization, as well as the most effective ways of marketing

her products to ensure that they are more attractive to buyers than the current options. She is

considering a strategic alliance but is not sure if to form links among non$-$competitive firms or

associate with firms in an unrelated activity. Maria is aware of internal and external tools which

businesses use to understand the operating environment but is unsure which ones are feasible for

her business or will provide the most relevant information. Whilst Maria has a lot of ideas, she

recognizes the need for help to ensure her success.

As a Strategic Consultant, you are required to provide some guidance to Maria by

responding to the following questions:

$1.$ Strategy Type

a$.$ Identify and discuss the type of strategy $($based on what was discussed in the course$)$

that Maria needs to adopt.

$2.$ Strategic Drivers

a$.$ Identify and discuss one $(1)$ internal and one $(1)$ external driver, $($as discussed in

the course$)$ which Maria should consider as part of her strategic planning exercise

relative to the case presented.

$3.$ Structure Type

a$.$ Recommend with justification an appropriate structure $($from the structure types

discussed in the course$)$ for Marias business. Illustrate the structure graphically.

b$.$ Identify one $(1)$ limitation of this structure, whilst suggesting one $(1)$ way to

mitigate it$.$

$4.$ Strategic Alliance

a$.$ Identify and discuss one $(1)$ type of alliance, $($from those discussed in the course$)$

based on the scenario presented, with the use of a company locally, to improve

her chances of succeeding in the market. The name of the company must be

clearly stated.

$5.$ Internal and External Environment.

a$.$ Understanding how an organization operates internally is critical for sustainability

and success. Using one $(1)$ internal organizational assessment tool $($as discussed

in the course$)$ complete a thorough analysis of Marias operations.

b$.$ To help Maria understand how changes in the macro$-$environment may affect her

business, select one $(1)$ external assessment tool and complete a thorough analysis of the external environment