AQ063-3-3-BAS Individual Assignment Page 1 of 8

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT (30%)

CORPORATE STRATEGY

Answer all the questions. (Links to cases provided.)

CASE #1: The Walt Disney Company

Read: The Walt Disney Company: The Entertainment King (HBS 9-701-035).

In 1988, after four year under new management, this entertainment industry legend has
reached historic levels of sales and profitability. It capitalizes on the synergies between its
many disparate businesses, which are all outgrowths of long-lived cartoon characters. With a
stated corporate goal of 20% growth in earnings per share, continued success depends on
maintaining exceptional performance in each business, managing the interrelationships among
the businesses, and carefully selecting appropriate new businesses to enter.

REQUIRED:
Propose whether has Disney been so successful and does the Disney name contribute to each
business? Verify how Disney manage the relationships between its businesses and what
should Disney do next? (25 marks)

APU Level 3 Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation 201911

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CASE #2: Microsoft’s Diversification Strategy

Read: Case #2, Microsoft’s Diversification Strategy (HKU 617)

In November 2005, Microsoft launched Xbox 360, its latest game console. It was an
extraordinary event, not because of the glamorous business executives and journalists hanging
around the event, the super cool festival mood soaking the Mojave Desert, or the graphic
technologies dazzling the giant consoles surrounding the conference room. Rather, the air was
filled with a mix of trepidation and excitement about the viability of the company's new
strategy of moving beyond Windows-based PCs. Everybody in the room wondered whether
the company could regain its past glory by entering new territories.

REQUIRED:
Question on the opportunities and challenges await Microsoft in markets in which it did not
have proprietary advantage? Propose specific strategies did it have to adopt to capitalize on
the opportunities and counter the challenges? Interpret the best could Microsoft execute its
diversification strategy? (25 marks)

(Total 50 marks)

APU Level 3 Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation 201911

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The assignment will be assessed against the following criteria:

 Your ability to interpret, analyse, and respond to the question asked in an appropriate
manner
 The thoroughness of research undertaken, extent of reading, collection of relevant data,
and quality of sources consulted, etc.
 Your ability to analyse source material and draw valid conclusions to support arguments
etc.
 Evidence of your understanding of firm level analysis and your ability to apply analytical
frameworks and perspectives
 Evidence of personal reflection and insight
 Full acknowledgment of sources consulted, references used etc. including the
bibliography
 Evidence of your ability to logically arrange and present the materials to an acceptable
standard
 2000-2500 words for each question excluding references and appendix (if any)

APU Level 3 Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation 201911

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PART 1 MARKING SHEET

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA % COMMENTS

Presentation – report format/workshop presentation, overall 15

structure/flow, referencing etc. Workshop presentation and
engagement.

Strategic Analysis – internal/external. Key areas - including 20

approaches to analysis, use of frameworks (where applicable),
approach to analysis and individual synthesis - implications/ideas
generated as a result of this analysis.

Strategic Direction – including analysis of options, underlying 10

drivers of competitive advantage, logic and rationale for the
selected/recommended strategic option (s)

Implementation Aspects – this will require a range of key 30

implementation considerations and areas of implementation

Research/data – range, breath, robustness, quality and credibility of 15

data used/presented - your approach to accessing/generating this.
Remember this may be across many areas and might include a mix of
more typical business analysis/research data and some more
academic sources etc.

Assumptions – identification and robustness of the core assumptions

underpinning key aspects your plan – link between assumptions and
research and analysis etc.

Logic and rationale – overall recommendations and feasibility of 10

plan/decision – overall alignment of corporate strategy to wider
factors i.e. both internal and external.

TOTAL 100

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PART 2: PORTFOLIO (10%)

This assessment has a weighting of 10% of the total course marks. The word limit is 2500
words (plus/minus 10%). Any content beyond this limit will not be assessed.

The assignment is to be based on your choice of one of the following companies

highlighted by Fortune 500 list. .Select two (2) companies within a particular industry,
and perform an analysis on the strategy frameworks which has been assigned to you.

Kindly refer to the name list for the frameworks assigned in MS Teams.

A few things to note:

 This is NOT a marketing report! – it is a business analysis report.
 The product may already exist or it could be an innovation.
 Research widely, using credible sources – these MUST be referenced (using Harvard))
 Do not directly use cut/paste from your sources – even if it is referenced. You WILL be
marked down! Rewrite/reinterpret in your own words.
 Use report format – professionally presented.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

The assignment will be assessed against the following criteria:

 Your ability to interpret, analyse, and respond to the question asked in an appropriate
manner
 The thoroughness of research undertaken, extent of reading, collection of relevant data,
and quality of sources consulted, etc.
 Your ability to analyse source material and draw valid conclusions to support arguments
etc.
 Evidence of your understanding of firm level analysis and your ability to apply analytical
frameworks and perspectives
 Evidence of personal reflection and insight
 Full acknowledgment of sources consulted, references used etc. including the
bibliography

APU Level 3 Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation 201911

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 Evidence of your ability to logically arrange and present the materials to an acceptable
standard

Specification of Assignment:

1. You should have a minimum of 15 references to substantiate your research and essay
writing. You are REQUIRED to use Harvard referencing methods for this
assignment.

2. The answers should be well-structured and the use of proper paragraphs for topic
separation is encouraged.

3. The answers must adhere to standard academic documentation standards:

 Font Type: Times New Roman

 Font Size: 12pts
 Line Spacing: 1.5-line spacing, justified

Marks are awarded based on the following guidelines:

Grade Description of performance level

75%-100% There were mature and interesting points based on the answer provided. You
(A – A+) make clear your position based on your understanding. Each point supported
with valid explanation. Shows understanding and reflection of subject
matter. Minimum 4 to 5 points given. References to relevant models,
theories and concepts have been made.
65% – 74% There were sufficient points raised with valid explanations provided.
(B - B+) Position supported in theory/model-based arguments. There is adequate
understanding of subject matter. Minimum 4 to 5 points given. References
to relevant models, theories and concepts have been made.
50% – 64% Minimal understanding of subject matter. Insufficient points given and
(C - C+) explanations are unclear or not helpful in clarifying points. Not enough
reference given.
Below 50% No clear understanding of the subject matter. Points are off-topic and do not
(F - F+) relate to research. No understanding of theories and concepts taught. Not
enough reference given. Numerous grammatical and spelling mistakes.

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No. Name Student ID Remarks

1. ABDUL HASEEB MASROOR TP045017 Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension
2. AMIRUL FAIQ BIN ZAHROLISMADI TP040042 PESTEL analysis
3. CHAI CHENG XIANG TP045162 Porter’s diamond of National advantage
4. CHAN KAR YI TP050421 Industry Life cycle
5. CHAN SEE LING TP041957 Porters Five Forces
6. CHAN YAN KEI TP045584 Value Net Model
7. CHAU CAI NI TP044768 Acquisition Integration Approaches
8. CHIN CHEAN VEN TP045068 AT Kearney Strategy Chessboard
9. CHONG PEI JIAN TP048339 McKinsey 7s Model
10. DARSHINI A/P RAVINTHARAN TP038699 Strategy Diamond
11. FOO SHU XIN TP044782 Ansoff Matrix
12. HU WEI KIAT TP041610 Business Model Canvas
13. IBRAHIM NABIL IBRAHIM BATOOK TP046143 OLI Paradigm
14. KALIYAMMAL A/P KALISWARAN TP037182 Porter’s Generic Strategies
15. KIROSHINI A/P SIVALINGAM TP045553 Profit Tree
16. KUAN VOON YEE TP042132 Value Chain Analysis
17. LAU JIA HONG TP042253 Value Disciplines
18. LEE XIN HUA TP044769 VRIO Framework
19. LIM BOH HUI TP045495 Marketing Funnel
20. LIM HOE WENG TP045710 Product Adoption Curve
21. LIM XIN HUA TP040983 Product Life Cycle
22. LOI CHUN KIT TP046363 Price Elasticity
23. LOW POH YEE TP041961 Blake and Mouton’s Managerial Grid
24. LUO XUESONG TP042216 Hersey & Blanchard’s Leadership Style
25. MAVIS NG KAI CHUEN TP046790 Kotter’s 8 steps of Change
26. MICHAEL LAU GHU YI TP042352 Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension
27. MOHAMMED ABOBAKR MOHAMMED TP042967 PESTEL analysis
AL-MEHDHAR
28. NADHIRAH NURSYIFAA' BINTI TP041999 Porter’s diamond of National advantage
NAZRI
29. ONALENNA ABIGAIL MFOLWE TP018235 Industry Life cycle
30. OSAMAH MAHDI ASHOUR AL- TP045339 Porters Five Forces
RUBAYE
31. OTHILIA WONG TP045038 Value Net Model
32. RACHEL LEE JIA XUAN TP042531 Acquisition Integration Approaches
33. REGINA KU YEE TING TP045585 AT Kearney Strategy Chessboard
34. SAKHER ALI MOHAMMED AL- HAJJ TP046777 McKinsey 7s Model
35. SIA SIEW WEI TP040775 Strategy Diamond
36. SONG XIN TP043200 Ansoff Matrix
37. SULEIMAN SAID AHMED ABRI TP050748 Business Model Canvas
38. TAN HOO EN TP042244 OLI Paradigm
39. TAN WAI YONG TP041208 Porter’s Generic Strategies
40. TEH PEIK SAN TP041898 Profit Tree
41. THARWAT FAHMY SAIED MOHAMED TP045833 Value Chain Analysis
ELARABY
42. WONG FANG JIUN TP044867 Value Disciplines
43. WOO PEK WEI TP042189 VRIO Framework
44. WOON ZHAN WAI TP045057 Marketing Funnel

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45. YEAP PUI YIN TP042120 Product Adoption Curve

46. ZUO QIWEI TP045044 Product Life Cycle

APU Level 3 Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation 201911