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During my MBA, one of the classes which really resonated and appealed to me was Global Strategic Management. During the class we utilized a model called Porters 5 Forces to evaluate a companies strategic and competitive advantage.

This diagram nicely summarizes the model:

Here are a few papers and docs I wrote which use this:

• Whole Foods Case Study
• Template

Here are papers which I did not write, but found relevant since they also use Porters 5 forces for analysis:

• Amazon (2014)
• QuintilesIMS

Amazon_19-Nov.-2014Download QuintilesIMS-Final-Presentation-031918Download

• Company in Peru
• Consumer product packaging sector
• Luksic group subsidary (purchased in 1965)

• Lucchetti
• Founded in 1900’s
• Pasta, edible oils, soups and broths
• Known for quality, nutritional value and competitive prices.
• Multiple household names
• 1996 had 38% of chilean pasta market
• Wanted to get into Peru for expansion

Company Analysis
Business model
Other notes	Founded in 1900’sPasta, edible oils, soups and brothsKnown for quality, nutritional value and competitive prices.Multiple household names1996 had 38% of chilean pasta marketWanted to get into Peru for expansionPremium brandBusiness started in June 1995Decided to build plant in 1996 (due to new import duties and growth) seemed approval before starting etc.Assigned Carlos Aramburu to oversee environmental concerns of constructionInitially imported products from ChilePartnered with a distribution firm for direct sales and distribution
Internal Environment Analysis
Strengths	Part of existing conglomerate (diversified holdings)Newer / optimized production processesDistribution and service networkGrowing market share despite factory issuesEnd of 1998 had 23% market share
Weaknesses	Import dutiesNet losses of 15$M 1999Sales decline in 2001 from 45m to 34 (still had $6 profit)Major losses from operations 61M.No political connections?
General Environment Analysis
Opportunities	High consumption rates of 8 to 9 KG per capita per yearPasta normally sold in build, packaged pasta relatively newLow qualityAnticipated a growing economy price increase and demand increaseTax and repatriation benefits
Threats	Possibly being targeted by politicians during building expansion as other companies were not being scrutinized (3M, KMB, etc.)Price warCompetitorsAdditional increasing import duties (18 to 25% of wheat) Negative publicity from MotesinosNational level support, but not at the local level
Industry Environment Analysis
Social/Cultural	Majority of food sold in neighborhood markets and mom-pop stores10 % sold in supermarkets
Political/Legal	Peru encouraged external investment through tax incentivesRepatriate profitsNo discrimination between local and forgein in investorsFujimori president elected in 90’s, reelected after some constitutional changes in 95.Major Anti corruption campaign Made it tough for the domestic manufacturers, workers and poor2000 major political upheval
Economic	Growing economy
Global
Demographic	Lower income nation
Porters 5 Forces Model
Bargaining Power of Buyer
Bargaining Power of Supplier
Threat of new Entrants
Threat of Product Substitutes
Inter firm Rivalry
Competitor Environment	Producing lower quality pasta in older factoriesLess optimized production facilities
Alicorp – 3000 pound gorilla in Peruvian pasta market4th largest company in PeruEconomies of scalePort handlingflourCookies and crackersEdible oils etc.Massive distribution network reaching 90% of POSAlso built a new plant in 1997
Carrozzi – Lucchettis main competitor in ChileAlso entered PeruEntry mode AcquisitionPurchased company Molitalia (18% market share)Didn’t build a new factory or change its name
Molitalia
Competitive Advantage
Valuable
Rare
Imperfectly Imitable“Costly to imitate”
Non-Substitutable
Recommendations	Could have made a better bid for local companyBetter competition analysis of AlicorpMisjudged external environment (specifically political situation)

BRIC = Brazil, Russia, India and China

2013 Richard Gelford CRO of IMAX wanted declared the only way to becoming a billion dollar company was to grow outside of the US.

• flat five year box office trend in North America versus double digit growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America
• China had 221 IMAX screens in 2014 (2nd to US)
• Prior to 2001 IMAX was an expensive capital investment
  • Came up with Digital remastering to convert firms relatively cheaply and quickly

  Business Model

• Revenue Sharing
  • IMAX would provide free equipment in return for 1/3 of box office receipts – 10-13 years. Also licensed its technology through leases and sales.
  • 2009 Avatar grossed $250 million on IMAX
  • 1 in 5 selected to shoot with IMAX cameras
  read more

During my MBA, I took a class on Design Thinking. While not new to me (I originally learned and utilized design thinking in 2011 at a SAP TechEd Innojam event) I wanted to reaffirm and gain deeper understanding into some of the theoretical aspects of the methodology.

During the class, a final project was to reimagine and apply our design thinking skills to a public service organization. We decided to center our project around the Emergency Medical Services industry. While it was probably not my first choice in problems to design around, it has been an eye opening experience to one of the most mentally challenging jobs I have personally come across. I have lived less than a mile from a life saving station for the past 5 years. I have heard the sirens of their ambulances morning, noon and in the middle of night. I have driven past their station hundreds of times and have always appreciated and been thankful for the work they have done, but I honestly never completely understood the scope of their work until spending a few hours interviewing and reading interviews of 11 different EMTs and Paramedics from Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. Each person’s story was unique, each had their own personal struggles and challenges. Below are a few which stood out to me and something I believe will be in the back of my mind each and every time I see or hear a siren. read more

General Environment

Social/Cultural

Political/Legal

Economic

Global

Demographic

Internal Environment

Strengths

Weaknesses

Competitive Advantage

Valuable

Rare

Imperfectly Imitable“Costly to imitate”

Non-Substitutable

Industry

Inter firm Rivalry

Bargaining Power of Buyer

Bargaining Power of Supplier

Threat of new Entrants

Threat of Product Substitutes

Competitors

Company Strategy

Recommendations

Here is an example of a case study I created using the outline:

Case introduction:

PKG Capital a large US based Private Equity firm has a substantial stake in Kraft Foods since 2001 (@ $31 ps) and are considering selling their share. This is after Kraft share price is declining and there had been a friendly, then subsequently hostile takeover bid to purchase Cadbury’s.

Cadbury’s is in the confectionary space and includes products such as Chocolate (48.6%), gum (12.5%) and sugar treats (34.6%), with cereal bars the remainder.

COGS: ~ 35%

33% Asia, 30% sugar comes from South America

Cocoa from Africam Asia and South America

Strengths	Growing confectionary market @ 3%3 largest purchase category behind soda and milk.Market leader in the Chocolate category, which accounts for  48.6%Positioned for greater margins. (Commodity prices are in decline reducing COGS)
Weaknesses	Retailers making 30% margin and squeezing manufacturers (who make 12%)Single industry (not diversified)Private labelsLow barriers to entry for new playersHigh capital and overhead costs which require high utilization to offset the overhead and operational costsRequires brand constant innovation and marketing to stay relevant due to appeal being driven by brand advertising and packaging.
Competitive Advantage
Valuable	Brand
Rare
Imperfectly Imitable“Costly to imitate”
Non-Substitutable
Social/Cultural	Health product revolution – smaller portion, fat content. CSR
Political/Legal	Their position as a major employer in BritainKraft is a US company and taking over a national brand
Economic	Market decline in 2008
Global	Corporate social responsibility, fair trade
Demographic
Bargaining Power of Buyer	High, lots of suppliers of RM’sFactories close to suppliers
Bargaining Power of Supplier	Low, options
Threat of new Entrants	High – anyone can technically make chocolate, but obviously scale is not easy
Threat of Product Substitutes	High – Health conscious alternatives, power bars, etc.
Inter firm Rivalry	High – retail space is a constant battle for shelf space
Competitors
Company Strategy	Kraft – 4 building blocks
Recommendations	From a manufacturer’s perspective, how attractive is the global market for confectionary?Why has Cadbury become a takeover target?Why does Kraft want to purchase Cadbury? Does the proposed deal make sense for Kraft? How about for Cadbury?What is Cadbury’s value to Kraft? In other words, what should Cadbury’s purchase price be?Economies of scaleDo exist. As a ordinary Food manufacturing industry, confectionaryindustry also has economy of scale. Large amount of output lower costs ofnearly all functions of production process. Buying more ingredient can directly bring in a bargaining advantage when negotiating with suppliers,and a large amount of output makes a high-cost production line worthwhile,So there will be less need of labor and better standardized products. 1.2Product differentiationNot vary high. Though Cadbury has its own brand of chocolate, the recipeof chocolate doesn’t differ much in The industry. 1.3Capital requirementsVaries. Confectionery can be a one-person corner shop to a giant globalcompany like Cadbury, Mars and Nestle. In China, starting up a smallestcandy shop Only needs less than 100000 yuan (about 14529 US dollars).1.4Switching costsHigh. Production lines and invisible assets like recipe or production patent of a confectionery company are usually highly specified, so that cannot be easily used for other needs.1.5Access to distribution channelsHigh. Current confectionery manufacturers mostly rely on wholesalers andother middleman to deliver their products from factories to supermarketsand grocery stores. And these middlemen are willing and happy to signcontract with many different brands in order to provide a wild range ofproducts to its customers. Confectionery ingredients are all standard andlack of differences, so there are nearly zero switching cost about theseproducts.1.6Access to raw materialsEasy. Candy and chocolate require no unusual materials, it only needssugar, coco beans and some food additives. It is not complex nor difficultfor new entrants has its access to raw materials