Case Study:

$(1)$ BLACKBERRY$$S OPERATIONAL SHIFT AMID MARKET CHALLENGES

$(2)$ THE BLACKBERRY SAGA: INNOVATION, COMPETITION AND REINVENTION

$(3)$ BLACKBERRY$$S STRATEGIC EVOLUTION

$(4)$ BLACKBERRY$$S STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION

Case Questions

$1.$ Is BlackBerry$$s decision to lay off $4,500$ employees an example of strategic or operational planning?

$2.$ How could BlackBerry have benefited from conducting industry and company $($SWOT$)$ situational analysis?

$3.$ Which grand strategy was BlackBerry considering to use in the case?

$4.$ If BlackBerry considered opening up its retail stores, would that be considered a forward or backward integration strategy?

$5.$ Has BlackBerry$$s primary adaptive strategy of the past few years been prospecting, defending, or analyzing?

$6.$ Has BlackBerry$$s primary competitive strategy against its competitors been product differentiation, cost leadership, or focus?

$7.$ Is the functional operational strategy of finding more customers the responsibility of marketing, human resources, operations, or finance?

$8.$ Explain BlackBerry$$s strategic and operational plans.

$9.$ Does BlackBerry have a core competency? If so$,$ what is it$?$

$10.$ Was BlackBerry smart to refocus its position toward security$-$related technologies? Should BlackBerry still be competing in the smartphone industry?

$11.$ Which management functions, skills, and management levels are most important in implementing the growth strategy for BlackBerry?

$12.$ Which environmental factors were most instrumental in BlackBerry$$s competition with Apple, Samsung, and Google during the late $2000$s$?$

$13.$ Use the Internet to find an article that discusses the forecast for smartphone usage across the globe.