mc donalds

Feedback and Case Writing Guidance

• Emphasis on feedback:

  • A feedback sheet will be provided.

  • Detailed feedback comments will be discussed, especially regarding case writing.

  • Focus on improving quality of case analyses.

Case Submission Clarifications

• Apple case due:

  • Reminder to print and bring in the case for feedback.

  • Importance of foundational analysis focus on internal and external aspects.

Goals for Future Projects

• Fundamental skills development throughout course:

  • Each student will continue to perform internal and external analyses but will focus on developing strategy moving forward.

  • Feedback will evolve to help refine analysis and strategy development.

Opportunities and Threats Analysis of Individual Companies

• Students encouraged to identify opportunities and threats for their chosen companies, with preliminary discussions or reviews scheduled.

• Students should also consider distinctive competencies of their companies.

Group Cases Guidelines

• Timeline for narrowing down group case topics:

  • By the end of next week, students need to narrow down to three potential case topics.

  • Selection is first come, first serve basis; emphasis on choosing wisely.

Importance of Prior Research

• Conduct preliminary research on companies chosen for case analyses:

  • Understand parent company, divisions, and geographic presence.

  • Select interesting companies facing challenges rather than those merely performing well.

External Analysis Review: McDonald's

• Focus on external opportunities and threats as we concluded last session.

  • Emphasized need for elaboration on the points students provided on external environment.

Clarifications on Internal and External Factors

• Importance of differentiating between internal weaknesses and external threats:

  • Internal examples (e.g., poor morale and brand image) should be distinct from external factors affecting them.

  • Brand image potentially seen as internal weakness must be tied to why it exists externally.

Definitions and Concepts

Competitive Advantage

• Definition: The ability of a company to create more value than its competitors.

  • Key resource definition: People contribute but do not solely define competitive advantage.

  • Requires evaluating company actions relative to competitors for true advantage identification.

Strategy vs. Opportunities

• Clarified confusion between strategy and opportunities:

  • When statements begin with "we could, we might, or we can", they indicate strategic alternatives rather than pure opportunities.

  • Opportunities should focus purely on attractive external elements that promote growth or reduce supply costs.

Economic Factors and Company Impact

• Economic trends (e.g., inflation) must be defined clearly as opportunities or threats:

  • Opportunities increase demand or reduce supply costs.

  • Threats decrease demand or increase supply costs.

  • Importance of analyzing impacts without ambiguous 'ifs'.

Health Trends Analysis

• Health can be both a threat to the existing business model and an opportunity for adaptation:

  • Health concerns challenge the current customer perception while offering a chance to develop healthier menu options.

Strategy Development Framework

• Importance of distinguishing between internal company analysis and external factors:

  • Recommendations must stem from both external validations and internal considerations.

  • Businesses respond differently to external pressures; understanding this is essential for developing personalized strategies.

Case Writing Techniques

• Effective case writing strategy:

  • Use headings and subheadings to organize thoughts.

  • Present analyses directly without lengthy introductions or unnecessary qualifiers.

  • Ensure clarity and conciseness, center wins on actionable insights for the organization.

Key Takeaways for Writing

• Write for an expert audience; no background information required.

• Avoid vague assertions or self-doubt phrases like "I think" or "I believe".

• Clearly articulate threats and opportunities derived from analyses.

Analytical Overview of Industry Forces

Rivalry and Substitutes in Fast Food Industry

• Rivalry is high due to multiple existing players, product differentiation, and price competition.

• Differentiating between substitutes versus direct competitors is critical for context in fast food analysis.

Summary of Key Points

• Keep in mind the specifics of operational numbers, trends, and market dynamics that impact strategic positioning.

• The effectiveness of strategies directly correlates with understanding and addressing external threats and internal weaknesses.

Closing Remarks

• Students are encouraged to take these insights into account for future analysis and case writing.

• Maintaining focus on clarity and actionable analysis will lead to improved outcomes.