MBA Coursework Explained

Custom Search

MBA coursework consists of a lot of different analyses. One of the most common types of analyses is the case study analyses of which the Harvard Case Studies and the Harvard Case Study Method is probably the most recognized and most copied method. However, case study analysis and most other MBA coursework relies on a series of structured examinations that generally consist of charts and graphs. This host of structured analytical devices that are common in MBA coursework are explained in detail below:

The Value Chain Analysis

Value Chain Analysis allows you and your company to separate your business’s information into a series of value-generating activities, which provides the business value of your company structure. This allows you and executive leadership to decide what activities are best completed by your company and which would prove more profitable if out-sourced.

The DuPont System of Financial Analysis

The DuPont system analyzes the financial statements and situation of a company in order to best comprehend its overall financial condition. The DuPont system is designed to take into account many business factors including administrative expenses, the cost of goods, and accounts receivable. Its primary focus is to calculate such metrics as Return on Equity or ROE which is taken from the Net Profit Margin, Asset Turnover, and Equity Multiplier of a targeted company.

The PEST Analysis

Industry professionals utilize a PEST Analysis in evaluating the Political, Economic, Social, and Technological factors affecting the success of a business. The PEST analysis investigates the external macro-environment of a business so that you can implement strategic plans to minimize the related risk factors associated with a given line of business.

The PESTLE Analysis

The PESTLE analysis is an extension of the PEST analysis and therefore provides a more in-depth understanding of a company. PESTLE not only evaluates the Political, Economic, Social, and Technological factors affecting the success of a business, but it also examines the Legal and Environmental factors associated with your line or lines of business. It is a crucial test to understanding the market environment surrounding a business and conforming this market to the business' advantage.

 
The SWOT Analysis & TOWS Strategic Development

The standard SWOT Analysis process investigates the Strengths and Weaknesses within your company as well as the Opportunities and Threats affecting your enterprise externally. This analytical process of evaluating your firm first internally and then factoring the external market forces affecting your business into this analysis allows you to then formulate the optimum strategy, the TOWS Strategy (Threats, Opportunities—Weaknesses, Strengths) which matches threats with opportunities and weaknesses with strengths in manner that nullifies the negative factors.

The BCG Matrix

First originated at the Boston Consulting Group , the BCG Matrix is a Growth-Share Matrix which allows analysts to uniquely identify a company’s units or major product lines into four categories: Relative Market Share (High and Low) and Market Growth Rate (High and Low). This helps a business to determine important areas of short and long-term profitability relative to their labels and brands.

The SPACE Matrix

The SPACE Matrix (this is a copy of the same text but it is really one of the most simple and basic explanations that I could find) is a type of analytical business research tool that focuses on strategy formulation. SPACE stands for Strategic Position & Action Evaluation. The SPACE Matrix characterizes a strategy as being aggressive, conservative, defensive or competitive in nature. Additionally, the SPACE Matrix analysis functions upon two internal strategic dimensions: financial strength and competitive advantage. The SPACE factors under financial strength that analyze a business’ internal strategic posture are: return on investment, leverage, liquidity, working capital and cash flows. In contrast, the SPACE factors that determine a business’ external strategic posture are: technology, inflation rates, demand, industry price fluctuations, barriers to entry, competitive pressures, price elasticity, and risk.

The SPACE Matrix methodology also examines strategic factors within two external dimensions: environmental stability and industry strength. The factors considered under competitive advantage are market share, quality, life cycle, customer loyalty, and supplier influence while the factors under industry strength are growth potential, profit potential, financial stability and resource utilization, among others. The SPACE Matrix methodology factors each of these dimensions and places them on a Cartesian graph with X and Y coordinates.

Import & Export Market Analyses

The global economy has opened up vastly diverse markets to even local competitors in all markets over the past several decades. While the global economy has elevated competitive dimensions for almost all businesses in all industries, it has also increased the market expansion opportunity for these same enterprises. Import/Export Market Analysis involves identifying potential new markets in foreign countries and gauging the profitability of them with respect to entering those markets. Factors such as export funding assistance from the exporter’s national government, import tariffs or barriers in the targeted market, existing local competitors, and simple market demand must all be examined with respect to exporting into foreign markets. Conversely, when importing new products or services into a market many of these same factors must be examined but with a few different topical dimensions. When importing products and services research must be undertaken to identify sourcing partners who either already produce the products or services or who can manufacture or produce the products or services. Dimensions such as product/service quality must be examined as well as product shipment windows all along the supply chain.

Furthermore, when examining the import/export market, financial factors vis-à-vis payment must be examined in detail with terms of payment, letters of credit (LOC), cost of shipping factors such as free-on-board status and similar issues must be identified upfront. Failure to adequately assess all of these factors within proper a Import/Export Market Analysis project can lead to a loss of financial investment and even catastrophic business failure.

The Competitor Profile Matrix

Creating a Profile of a company's Competition is one of the most crucial components of the competitor intelligence process within the field of business management. The process profiles one firm against that of its competitors in order to better understand its strengths and weaknesses compared to their strengths and weaknesses. In analyzing the past, present, and future objectives of your competitors, a firm will be able to develop more comprehensive and strategic business plans which take advantage of their weaknesses and promote its own strengths. The Web has very little about this but numerous databases have completed MBA coursework with competitor profile matrices already completed--just do a search to find one.

The Marketing Audit

Marketing Audits are a fundamental aspect of marketing planning and allow the researcher or analyst to not only identify markets but to develop strategies to better access those markets. The audit considers both internal and external influences. It evaluates a range of materials including creative designs, brochures, web pages, budgets, surveys, and charts. A marketing audit examines existing marketing campaigns put forth by a company and evaluates its success, the messages intended versus those understood by consumers, and evaluates how it can compare to its competition. The audit is conducted not necessarily only at the beginning of a project but is also intended to be conducted at selected points throughout the implementation of the project to ensure that a company's marketing machine is operating efficiently and cost effectively.

The Literature Review

The literature review is often the most difficult portion of a graduate level research project as well as larger research projects at the undergraduate level that employ them. The literature review also forms the largest portion of many research projects and requires the most effort in the way of written composition and research. Typically, the research and prevalent literature in a literature review should consist of sources that are relevant, current (if applicable as some research such as History and English or similar does not necessarily make this distinction), and structured in-line with the overall project.