Small Business Consulting Project

Guidelines

MBA290 Advanced Strategic Management

Fall 2009 Professor Han

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Two Tracks

• A small business that group members choose

• A small business assigned to you by the instructor

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Milestones

• Complete Phase I (Initial Client Interview) by Tuesday, Oct 13.

• Complete Phase II (Analysis) by Tuesday, Oct 27.

• Complete Phase III (Recommendations) by Tuesday, Nov 17.

• Complete first draft of final report by Tuesday, Dec 1 .

• Final report is due on Wednesday, Dec 9.

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Phase I: Initial Client Interview

• First visit - All members go• Elect a project manager & an alternate• Keep track of time spent by each member• Tell client your role and output• Have client sign “Waiver of Liability” form• Leave Client Banking Survey form• Learn the business – Ask questions and

request information using question checklist

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Phase I: Initial Client InterviewQuestion Checklist

• Ownership• Employees• Organizational structure• Products/Services• Selling area• Competition• Performance• Strategic objectives• Financial objectives• Any questions that you think are relevant

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Phase II (Analysis)

• Use both the I/O View and the Resource-based View to analyze the case.

• Use the I/O view to evaluate the fit between the firm’s strategic goals and its competitive position in the marketplace.

• Use the Resource-based View to analyze the firm’s resources and capabilities and identify its core competencies; evaluate the fit between the firm’s strategic goals and its resources and capabilities.

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Phase III: Strategic Recommendations

• Developed from the I/O view: How could the organization improve its market position (think about strategic group, market niche, customer base, and value chain, etc.)

• Developed from the Resource-based View: How should the organization create and upgrade its resources and capabilities that are difficult for others to imitate

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Phase III: Functional-Level Recommendations

• What actions should the organization take to better handle its five forces. Only focus on the forces (e.g., customers, suppliers, rivals) that are relevant to the organization.

• What actions should the organization take to make itself more effective and efficient (think about the most critical aspects of operations, e.g., marketing, finance, information systems, human resources)

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Final Report: Basic Requirements

• 20-30 pages (not including exhibits, tables and graphs)

• Double space• Appropriate headings• Be straightforward in the opening section• Be clear, comprehensive and precise in the

analysis section• Be creative and pragmatic in the

recommendations section

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Final Report: Structure

• Cover page• Table of contents• Section I: Summary (background

information, methodology used, key issues identified, key findings and key recommendations)

• Section II: Analysis• Section III: Recommendations• Appendix (optional)

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Final Report: Grading Criteria

• Ability to identify key issues facing the organization

• Appropriate use of relevant theories and models to analyze the case

• Creativity and feasibility of strategic and functional-level recommendations

• Appropriate use of evidence to support analysis and recommendations

• Overall writing style and skills• Presentation of report and handling of Q&A

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What to Submit

• Waiver of Liability Form (10/13)• Hard Copy of Final Report for Client (12/9) • Electronic Copy of Final Report for Instructor

(12/9; email to hans@csus.edu)

The following materials should be submitted to Prof. Seung Bach (bachs@csus.edu; 278-7125), Tahoe Hall 2036, on Dec 7th or 9th between 11:50am and 1:20pm.

• Hard Copy of Final Report for Instructor • Banking Survey • Student Time Log • Client Sign-off Form

Note: Write group members’ names on each of these documents that you submit.