Part 2: Enhancing Competitive Advantage Through Value Chain Dynamics

Building on the mind map analysis deliverable completed in Unit 1, this assignment extends your exploration into dynamic interactions between various components of the value chain of your chosen organization and management role. Using the scenario above with your initial chosen organization and management role selections, you will deepen your investigation of how the value chain drives competitive advantage.

Execute the following steps to complete Part 2 of this assignment:

Assignment Requirements:

Step 1: Company & Role Context

• Continue using the PowerPoint developed in Part 1 of this deliverable.
• Continue studying your chosen organization and assuming your management role selection from Unit 1.
• Your PowerPoint should have a title page, headings, and a reference page.
• APA 7th edition formatting of references is required.
• Use a professional design in your PowerPoint and apply best practices for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations (7ed) shared by the Writing Center.

Step 2: Organization Value Chain Components

• Conduct extensive research on the value chain of your chosen organization.
• Explain key elements of the organization's value chain.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis on the value chain of your chosen organization (minimum five bullet points for each category).

Step 3: Competitor Value Chain Components

• Identify a key competitor of your chosen organization. This information can be found in the Mergent database or other research databases within the Library.
• Explain key elements of the competitor organization’s value chain.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis on the value chain of the competitor organization (minimum five bullet points for each category).

Step 4: Merging Value Chain Components

• Compare the value chains of the competitor company with those of your chosen organization.
• From the perspective of your chosen management role (e.g., product manager, supply chain manager, operations manager, etc.), analyze how this merger or acquisition could influence specific functions and processes within the value chain.
• Identify key stakeholders affected by the merger (employees, customers, suppliers, etc.) and map their relationship to changes in the value chain.
• Map out potential synergies and risks associated with integrating the two companies’ value chains, focusing on areas like leadership alignment, cultural integration, procurement strategies, and technology harmonization.
• Visualize how the merged value chain could leverage combined capabilities to create a competitive advantage in the market.
• Analyze opportunities such as enhanced technology and information management systems that could emerge from the merger.

Audience, Reasoning, and Research

• The presentation addresses the appropriate audience.
• Uses reasoning skills to support your statements, ideas, and decisions.
• Uses a minimum of three peer-reviewed academic research resources to substantiate your thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

Verbal Narration and Notes

• Speaks loudly enough to be heard; varying voice pitch and volume to ensure audience interest and attention.
• Pronounces words correctly and enunciates clearly.
• Each slide has professionally written notes substantiated with research.

APA Style

• Apply APA style to in-text citations with no errors.
• Apply APA style to references with no errors.
• Resources should be from reliable and/or scholarly sources.

Writing Conventions

• Writing should be focused, concise, and organized.
• Articulate at a college level.
• There should be few or no grammar or punctuation errors.
• Use non-offensive, inclusive, and respectful language.