GUIDELINES FOR FINAL PROJECT

Learning objective:

The main objective of the project is to carry out the strategic management process in an organization,
in order to apply the tools provided in class, analyze their use in a real world situation and thus enable
a better understanding of the fundamental concepts studied during the course.

Scope:

In order to carry out this final project in an effective way, you will have to choose an organization, which
is located in Colombia. It could be a public, private or non-profit organization and develop all the topics
of the project taking into account the information collected in the chosen organization. The organization
necessarily has to (legally) exist for at least two years and it needs to employ at least five employees. It is
possible to choose a subsidiary of an organization whose headquarter is not located in Barranquilla or the
surrounding area.

Be aware that your contact person should be a person of the top or middle management so that it can
grant you the necessary information to develop your case. Once you approach the company, make sure
you inform the company about the objective of the final project.

You will elaborate this project in groups of five students. Any piece of the project that you will turn in it
has to written in English. Please make sure that you run a spell checking and grammar program before
you turn in your project in order to guarantee readability.

We will be working on the final project during classes, applying some of the tools reviewed. Please be
aware that these works (with their respective evaluation and feedback) can be included in this final
project. However, the focus of this final project is on the analysis that derive from the application of
these tools.

Content and Deadlines of the First Part:

Chapter 1. Identification and Background of the Organization:

• This section requires general information about the organization and its evolution over time. You
can complement the information with photos, figures, data or any other relevant element to
describe the organization.
• This chapter should not exceed two pages.

1.1. General information of the organization:

Name of the Organization/Location (address, city)/Number of Employees/Name of the General

Manager/Name and telephone of the contact person for the group/ Detailed description of products
and/or services provided to customers.

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1.2. Background of the organization:

History of the organization/ Description of Founders/ Evolution of the organization (Identification of

Stages)/Principal milestones

Chapter 2 Strategic Position of the Organization:

• In this chapter, based on necessary and relevant information and data about the organization,
you will have to gain a clear understanding about the internal and external factors which will
shape strategy.
• You may use the templates provided during classes to elaborate the required analysis. However,
your analysis must go further in that you will need to provide clear conclusions with respect to
the strategic position of the organization.
• You may present complementary information.
• Please be aware that you need to support your statements and analysis with information derived
from the organization you are studying and external information you have researched.
• The length of this section should not exceed 10 pages without supplements (such as financial
information, statistics, etc.) but it should not be less than 7 pages.

2.1. External Analysis

2.1.1. Analysis of the macro-environment: PESTEL Analysis and Possible Scenarios.

2.1.2. Industry Analysis: Identification of Sector of economic activity/Porter´s Five Forces Model

2.1.3. Competitors and Markets: Main competitors /Identification of Strategic Groups in the Industry or
sector.

2.2. Internal Analysis

2.2.1. Analysis of the Value Chain: Represent the value chain of the organization.

2.2.2. Analysis of the Strategic Capabilities: Determine the strategic capabilities of the organization and
identify those, which can serve as a basis for achieving a competitive advantage for the organization (VRIO
criteria).

2.3. Strategic Purpose

2.3.1. Mapping stakeholders’ expectations: You must elaborate and explain the findings of the
POWER/INTEREST Matrix of Stakeholders according to the slides reviewed in class.

2.3.2. Mission: Present and analyze the mission of the company. If the company does not have a mission,
you must create it for the purpose of this project.

2.3.3. Vision: Present and analyze the vision of the company. If the company does not have a vision, you
must create it for the purpose of this project.
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2.3.4. Strategic Objectives: Present and analyze the strategic goals of the
company. If the company does not have strategic objectives, you must create
them for the purpose of this project.

2.4. Conclusion regarding the Strategic Position. In this part, you need to present a critical analysis of the
current strategic position.

Please take note that the feedback provided during class needs to be incorporated in the final report.
You must deliver the complete project through Blackboard Platform.

Chapter 3 Strategic Choices of the Organization:

The idea of this section is to determine an appropriate strategy for the organization taking into account
its strategic position (internal and external analysis), strategic purpose (mission, vision, objectives/goals)
and stakeholders expectations. In case the organization already has a strategy outlined, you will have to
critically analyze the existent strategy and suggest improvements (or in case there are none, defend with
strong arguments why the current strategy is the most appropriate one).

3.1. Business-Level Strategy: The group must choose the strategic option for each business unit of the
organization according with the reviewed options

3.2. Corporate Strategy: The group must choose the strategic option for the organization in this category
according with the reviewed options.

3.3. International Strategy: The group must choose the strategic option for the organization in this
category according with the reviewed options when applicable.

3.4. Cooperative Strategy: The group must choose the strategic option for the organization in this
category according with the reviewed options when applicable.

3.5. Innovation Strategy: The group must evaluate whether and how innovation and technology will
influence the strategy of the organization (processes, business model, products, etc.). For example: How
does the digital transformation influence our strategy? In any case, your argument must be supported by
facts and data. In case innovation and technology may affect the strategy of the organization, in which
ways should it adjust the strategy?

Deadline for first part: Nov9th

SECOND PART OF FINAL PROJECT

For final exam, it is necessary to incorporate to the report the corrections of the second exam. You
must deliver the complete project through Blackboard Platform.

The individual grade of the final exam is composed by Final Report (50%) and Individual Presentation
of this report (50%).

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Fax: (95) 3598852–Barranquilla, Colombia - www.uninorte.edu.co
Please consider that the file must be uploaded in Blackboard before the oral
presentation of the report, without exceptions.

Chapter 4 Evaluation of Strategic Choices of the Organization

4.1. Evaluation of Strategic Options: The group must evaluate each strategic option made for the
organization considering the three key criteria: Acceptability, Suitability and Feasibility. Use the template
provided in class, complement the evaluation made in class with data or additional information collected
in the organization.

4.2. Summary of the Organization Strategy: The group must summarize the strategy of the organization
using the Strategy Diamond, which include the following questions: 1. Which businesses should be
included in the portfolio? 2. How should business units compete? 3. Should our organization compete
internationally? Where should the organization compete internationally? 4. How does the organization
needs to innovate? 5. Should the organization buy other companies, form alliances or go it alone?

Chapter 5 Strategy in Action: In this section the group will propose an approach to the Balanced Scorecard
of the organization in order to execute the strategy formulated in the chapter 4.

5.1. Organizational Structure: Analyze the current organizational structure of the organization. Elaborate
a list of advantages and disadvantages of this structure in relation with the implementation of the
strategy. After that, present a redesign of the structure to effectively achieve the goals of the strategy.

5.2. Balanced Scorecard: The group must develop the four elements of the Balanced Scorecard for the
strategy of the organization. These elements should be summarized in the provided template.

5.2.1. Strategic Map: Represent the Strategic Map of the organization, using the four perspectives. Also,
it would be necessary to present the causality lines between objectives as well as strategic themes
definition.

5.2.2. Key performance Indicators: Define at least one indicator for each strategic objective of the
strategic map.

5.2.3. Targets for Indicators: Define a target for each proposed indicator

5.2.4. Strategic Projects: Define at least one project for each objective of the internal process and learning
and growth perspectives.

5.2.5. Prioritization of Strategic Projects: Analyze the impact of each proposed project on the strategic
objectives of the organization.

Deadline for complete project (including corrections of first part): According to the schedule for final
exams

Please take note that the feedback provided during class needs to be incorporated in the final report.
You must deliver the complete project through Blackboard Platform.

The rubrics for the project will be uploaded on Blackboard before the deadline for your information.

Please be aware that I will run a check on plagiarism.

Km.5 vía a Puerto Colombia – Apartados Aéreos 1569-51820-Conmutador PBX: 3509509
Fax: (95) 3598852–Barranquilla, Colombia - www.uninorte.edu.co