• Assuming you will use one page for the SWOT diagram, you have two pages to make any comments about the analysis. Note, these comments should not be about recommendations regarding Costco, but rather about any strategic implications you see in the SWOT analysis—e.g., an opportunity identified in the lower left quadrant is closely connected to Costco’s current strategy and would enhance their overall performance. You may use the video, “How to do a SWOT Analysis”, as a guide for this assignment. The textbook also has some information about the SWOT analysis process. The nature of the SWOT analysis is to look externally at the environment in which Costco is operating and to identify Opportunities (O) and Threats (T) it is facing which are largely out of their control. For example, Costco cannot control the economic conditions in which it is operating nor can they control consumer’s shopping behaviors. But they must recognize those conditions as they make strategic decisions for Costco. The other part of the SWOT analysis is aimed internally and seeks to identify the firms Strengths (S) and Weaknesses (W). Why is this important? Because if Costco’s strategy makers see an opportunity in the external environment that they want to pursue, they must determine whether they have the needed resources to be successful in that pursuit (does Costco have the Key Success Factors or Critical Success Factors to pursue a specific Opportunity?)? If, on the other hand, they detect a Threat in the external environment, the question then might be whether their internal resources are sufficient to deal with the threat. This is the environment over which Costco does have control. If they see an Opportunity they must determine if they have the resources necessary to respond, or if they don’t have these resources can they acquire them. Other: This assignment takes some thinking and analysis of the information in the case. It is not simply a listing of every resource they have at Costco but rather looks at their relevant, competitive resources. Videos: How to do a SWOT Analysis https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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The purpose of this case study is to analyze the strategic position of Costco Wholesale Corporation Costco is the second biggest retailer in the United States after Walmart Costco Wholesale Corporatio... View the full answer