Please use the Ruths Chris case (attached here) to answer the following six questions.

Please assume:

1) that you are a senior member of John Hannahs business development staff at Ruths Chris,

2) that, contrary to what is stated on page 4 of the case, all restaurant growth paths (penetration, product development, market development, diversification) are open for discussion.

Your completed answers should be between 7-8 pages long. You may bullet point your responses and then explain.

Answer the questions DIRECTLY, using evidence derived from course concepts/materials, not personal opinion.

Question 1. Complete a one-page strategic analysis that results in a brief description of Ruths Chriss sustainable competitive advantages and a brief, integrated SWOT analysis. Feel free to use any outside materials necessary to complete this analysis (be sure to reference your outside sources).

Question 2. Based on the information discovered in Question 1 above:

a) Briefly describe Ruths Chriss current business level, corporate level, and international and cooperative strategies.

b) Describe one bundle of resources for the company and explain why that bundle is a capability, core competency, competitive advantage, and sustainable competitive advantage.

c) Briefly recommend which business level, corporate level, international and cooperative strategies should be pursued by Ruths Chris and why. What are the appropriate organizational structures for your recommendation?

Question 3.

a) Briefly model the competitive rivalry between Ruths Chris and 1-2 major strategic group international competitors. What are the drivers of competitive behavior and what is the likelihood of attack and response between Ruths Chris and its major competitors?

b) Recommend two countries that are best suited to Ruths Chris expansion using each element of Porters determinants of national advantage.

c) Briefly describe how consumer animosity might (or might not) affect your selection in b) above?

Question 4. Another senior member of the business development staff suggests that rather than importing Australian beef to use in countries that dont accept U.S. beef imports, Ruths Chris should just re-label the USDA beef as Australian beef and use it in any overseas locations that do not accept U.S. beef imports. The member believes that this is O.K. to do because it saves the company the time and expense of procuring and shipping the Australian beef, it opens more options for international expansion, and, we know that the U.S. beef is safe anyways.

a) What are the ethical dilemma and possible unethical behavior in this suggestion? Why do you believe this to be so?

b) Analyze the case in terms of the major factors affecting ethical or unethical behavior. Based on this analysis, do you believe that John Hannah would entertain and/or agree to this suggestion? Why or why not?

c) Finally, what corporate governance actions should the company take to improve/ensure the appropriate ethical behavior of its employees?

Question 5.

a) Describe the market type (slow, medium, or fast-cycle) that you believe Ruths Chris is operating in and why you believe this.

b) Given the market type, briefly discuss three reasons for Ruths Chris to pursue an international strategic alliance.

c) Given Ruths Chriss objective of international growth, what type of cooperative strategy do you recommend and why? Finally, discuss two major risks to your recommendation and two problems that Ruths Chris might encounter in attempting to end the alliance.

Question 6.

a. Briefly present international corporate level and business level strategies that apply real options reasoning to the Ruths Chris international expansion decision.

b. What type of real option(s) would be used and why?

To receive an upvote, please respond to all questions and the sub-questions properly in detail and based on the requirements. please separate the responded based on numbers or letters or each question and subquestion like (Ans1, Ans1a, Ans1b, etc). if you are not sure to respond to all questions please let other experts work on the case and questions.

Belong to course: Business policy and strategy