Write an individual strategy on WaitRose & Partners.1 The Individual Strategy Project
The individual strategy project gives you a chance to apply the knowledge gained in the course to a
genuine business case. You need to select a firm to analyze. The firm could be a firm that have
worked for, or a firm where you have access to information. Your analysis must make use of the
theories covered in the course. Most notably, you should carry out a five forces analysis of the firm’s
environment (5-Forces, PESTEL), an analysis of the internal capabilities (VRIO), the business strategy
(low cost, product differentiation, hybrid, blue ocean), the corporate strategy (integration,
diversification, joint ventures, mergers/acquisitions/strategic alliances, global) and the firm’s
international strategy. It is essential that you make use of the VRIO analysis and that your analysis is
supported by qualitative data (information from case studies, the press etc.) as well as quantitative
data. You must also describe and argue a strategy that will provide the firm with a sustainable
competitive advantage.
You should not write more than 4,000 words. The final grade of the assignment will be out of 100.
Each step below should be read carefully and followed precisely. When you write your paper, please
organize it based on these steps for ease of reading and grading:
1 Company Introduction: Briefly describe the company and its current situation. What is the
product/service? In which markets does it operate? What is its history? This is where your
SWOT should be introduced. This should be no more than 1-2 pages.
2 External Environment: Analyze the external environment of the firm. Describe how changes
in the macro environment of the firm (use PESTEL analysis) affect the five forces analysis.
How does this shape the firm’s opportunities and threats?
3 Internal Analysis: Describe the internal capabilities of the firm and carry out a VRIO analysis.
Explain where the firm’s is able to create a sustainable competitive advantage and for which
resources and capabilities this advantage is missing.
4 Business Strategy: What is the firm’s business level strategy and how well does this fit with
the firm’s internal capabilities and environmental opportunities/threats?
5 Corporate Strategy: What is the firm’s corporate level strategy and how well does this fit with
the firm’s internal capabilities and environmental opportunities/threats?
6 Recommendations: What are your recommendations to the firm? Explain your answer
drawing conclusions from your above analysis.
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