For this class' assignments, you will be working on a comprehensive project. You will analyze the business environment and the strategy of a company. You will also develop a strategic plan for the company to lead it into the future. During the course of this project, you will be given guidelines on what needs to be delivered to the Board of Directors. You will select from the different frameworks and models that are provided in the course materials.

The project requires that you choose and represent a regional retail company that competes in your chosen career field.For example, if you work in the health field, you might select a regional medical supply network. If you work in the grocery industry, you might choose a regional grocery chain. If you work in the restaurant industry, you might choose a regional restaurant chain. If you are having difficulties finding an industry to select from, you may find industry clusters mapped in the article "Cluster: A regional concentration of related industries (Links to an external site.)".

Next, find a publicly traded company that competes in the same industry. This does not need to be a large company, but it does need to sell stock to shareholders so that you will be able to find its annual report. You will use this competitor as a comparison throughout the four project installments.

Project Scenario

You have been hired as the CEO of a regional retail company that competes in your chosen career field (as explained above). Please list the Board of Directors of your company, as well as the name of your company. Imagine that the Board wants to expand the business into new regions. Your job is to analyze the state of the company now and also to develop a strategic plan for leading the company into the future.

The first installment of the project will have three components. However, as you continue working on the forthcoming installments in the next few weeks, be sure you connect all your ideas together so that the Board of Directors will understand how you are utilizing each installment into the overall strategy for the business.The following are the three components for the first installment of the project:

Perform an analysis of internal and external resources of your company, as well as your chosen competitor. Be sure to clearly state the strengths and weaknesses of the internal and external resources for your company and your competitor.

Choose two business strategies out of the four listed in this discussion that you think could be the most effective for your business, and formulate a brief business analysis for each of their main focuses. What comparisons and contrasts do you find using the two strategies? How do these strategies hold up against your competitor? Based on your findings, choose a strategy to move forward with, and explain why you have chosen this method.

Now that you understand your internal/external resources, business environment, and have settled on a strategy, you will complete the planning process. Complete each of the seven steps listed in the discussion, and explain if they are strategic, tactical, operational, or a combination of the three planning types. Set at least one goal that you think that your company would be able to achieve within the next year based on the opportunities you identified.

The first installment of your project should have at least 2 citations and references.