HW Case Analysis
Case Analysis: 4 of 4 – Case 9 Chapter 9
CASE STUDY QUESTIONS – See Appendix: Case Analysis; and Case Analysis Boxes throughout the text – see page numbers below for more specific explanations of each point. Similar to our first week’s HW case, answer the questions in the book with the case. If the word count has not been met, begin answering the questions below until word count is fulfilled. For the HW cases, only 15 questions will be addressed. For the Minor, Major and Final Case Studies, additional questions will be required to be addressed. But following the pattern below will ensure your readiness for the next steps.
| 1. Introduce the organization: basic facts and brief history | Pg. 14 |
| 2. Specifically identify the industry, life-cycle stage and the competitors – see IBIS World database | Pg. 25 |
| 4. Who has succeeded and failed in the in the industry? What are the Critical Success Factors (or KSF)? | Pg. 38 |
| 5. What political/legal forces affect the industry? | Pg. 55 |
| 6. What economic forces affect the industry? What is the market structure? | Pg. 62 |
| 7. What social forces affect the industry? | Pg. 81 |
| 8. What technological forces affect the industry? | Pg. 87 |
| 9. What is the current firm-level or corporate-level strategy? | Pg. 141 |
| 10. What is the current business-level [generic] strategy? | Pg. 172 |
| 13. What is the organization’s financial position and financial strategy – how do they make and invest their money? | Pg. 194 |
| 16. / 17. What are the organization’s Strengths and Weaknesses? On what competencies should they build? | Pg. 215 |
| 18. / 19. What are the organization’s Opportunities and Threats? | Pg. 217 |
| 20. What strategic alternatives are available to the organization? | Pg. 220 |
| 21. What are the pros and cons of these alternatives? | |
| 22. Which alternative should be pursued and why? |
HW Case Study Summaries
Instructions: This project requires you to apply the concepts and methods learned so far in the course. This is an individual project.
You are to write the research paper in accordance with the Appendix: Case Analysis found in the rear of your text, incorporating APA standards and citing a minimum of five (5) journal sources, and/or business trade resources.
For your HW papers, your paper submission should follow the below stated composition and formatting guidelines; and be composed unto a “Word Document.”
- Title page with your name, course, date, and an appropriate title.
- You can use single or double space, Times New Roman, and 12pt font.
- Support your position.
- When all is done, give a brief conclusion.
- Upon citing works, add a separate reference page.
These APA additions are NOT a part of the word count that should approximate 800-1000 words. Do not simply answer the questions; provide support and articulate a path forward.
Each individual will submit their paper to the Professor via the Assignment link
Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman met at the University of Oregon in 1957. Five years later, they formed Blue Rib- bon Sports to manufacture high-quality running shoes. In 1963, they began selling Tiger shoes—manufactured by Onitsuka Tiger in Japan—out of cars at track meets in the United States. The company became Nike in 1972, named for the Greek goddess of victory.
Nike grew rapidly, securing 50 percent of the U.S. run- ning shoe market by 1979; the company went public in 1980. The shoemaker expanded into other sports with Michael Jordan’s “Air Jordan” in 1985 and the cross trainer in 1987. Nike signed Tiger Woods to a $40 million endorsement contract in 1995 and continued its prowess into most major sports. Nike acquired competitor Con- verse in 2003 and currently competes with shoemakers Adidas, Reebok, and others. The firm continued to expand its product offerings to a variety of sports-related categories, including apparel, clothing bags, two-way radios, and even heart monitors. Nike’s late 1980s advertising slogan, “Just Do It,” is still widely renowned as highly effective and memorable
Today, Nike is the number-one shoemaker in the world and controls over 20 percent of the athletic shoe market in the United States. The company designs and markets shoes for basketball, baseball, golf, cheer leading, volleyball, and other sports—in addition to Cole Haan dress and casual shoes and a line of athletic apparel—in about 200 countries. Chairman, CEO, and co-founder Phil Knight still owns controlling shares in the company. Much of Nike’s success may be attributed to its endorsements, including such notables as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Roger Federer.
Nike products are distributed through thousands of retail sporting goods and shoe stores in the United States and across the globe. The firm operates over 900 company- owned stores as well. From 2005 to 2015, Nike revenues grew from $13.7 billion to $30.6 billion. The Nike brand accounts for the majority of revenues. Nike also operates twenty-four distribution centers worldwide, with approximately half of the company’s revenues coming from out- side of the United States. Nike veteran Mark Parker has been CEO since 2006; he was named Fortune’s Business- person of the Year in 2015.
Because most of its shoes are manufactured by con- tractors in low-wage companies, Nike has been a constant target of human rights activists, citing poor wages and alleging child labor violations and substandard working conditions. Nike has taken steps to improve conditions, but critics continue to charge that more should be done.
Case Challenges;
- How important are Nike’s expensive endorsements to the company’s success? Are the endorsements really worth the money? Explain.
- To what extent, if any, is Nike liable for the actions of its manufacturing contractors with regard to employment issues and human rights violations?
- Do small rivals like China’s Li-Ning pose a serious threat to Nike? Could private-label athletic shoes challenge Nike, especially in poor economic times?
