2-1 Consulting Report: Insights From Trader Joe’s

Learning Goal: I’m working on a business report and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.

MBA 500 Module Two Consulting Report Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

As part of the triple bottom line (TBL) focus, your organizations CEO, Ms. Ann Hernandez, has asked each departmental manager to conduct a SWOT analysis of how transitioning to TBL will affect their departments. These SWOT reports will be provided to you for further analysis and interpretation in the upcoming week.

While you wait to receive these inputs from your CEO, you have decided to hone your business analysis skills by analyzing and interpreting the results of a well-known company, Trader Joes.

Prompt

  1. Review the Trader Joes Case Study provided in the textbook.
    • Case Study:
  2. Your task is to create a consulting report based on your analysis of the Trader Joes case. In your report, address the following items:

Part 1: Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

  1. Describe the relationship between strategic thinking and operational thinking.
    1. Distinguish between strategic thinking and operational thinking.
    2. Identify the aspects of the Trader Joes case that relate to strategic thinking.
    3. Identify the aspects of the Trader Joes case that relate to operational thinking.
  2. Determine one key performance indicator each for strategic thinking and operational thinking and explain why these are mostappropriate for measuring success in marketing for Trader Joe’s.

Part 2: SWOT Analysis

  1. How should an organization interpret the results from a SWOT analysis?
  2. Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) from the Trader Joes case. To answer this question, use the SWOT analysis template provided below. One example for each quadrant has been added to help you get started.
    1. Which information from Trader Joes SWOT analysis is internal? Which information from Trader Joes SWOT analysis is external?

Trader Joes: SWOT Analysis

  • STRENGTHS
    • Example: Trader Joes culture of product knowledge and customer involvement is carefully cultivated among new hires and current employees.
      • This phrase implies that the company has a process for collecting, reviewing, and using knowledge to make product improvements, which results in market responsiveness.
  • WEAKNESSES
    • Example: If customers dont like something about a product, out it goescount spinach and garlic from China among the rejected losers.
      • Because the company tests new products with customers and is willing to take a loss if customers dont like products, this could lead to increased opportunities costs for those products that company purchasing agents passed up and decreased profits.
  • OPPORTUNITIES
    • Example: However, Trader Joes has a cozy and intimate atmosphere that its rival lacks.
      • This could be an opportunity to bring in local artists and designers to co-promote the Trader Joes brand and to increase local brand engagement and adoption.
  • THREATS
    • Example: search out tasty, unusual foods from all around the world
      • This could be a potential threat in times like we are experiencing right now, when global supply chains are disrupted and fewer products are available.

What to Submit

In a Word document, use double-spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. This assignment should be 2 pages in length, and include references cited in APA format. Consult the for more information on citations.

Module Two Consulting Report Rubric

Criteria Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Strategic Thinking vs. Operational Thinking Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes the relationship between strategic thinking and operational thinking accurately Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include providing examples of strategic vs. operational thinking Does not attempt criterion 20
One Strategic KPI Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Identifies one strategic KPI and explains why this is most appropriate for measuring success in marketing Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include providing explanation on why identified KPI is most appropriate for measuring success in marketing Does not attempt criterion 10
One Operational KPI Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Identifies one operational KPI and explains why this is most appropriate for measuring success in marketing Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include providing explanation on why identified KPI is most appropriate for measuring success in marketing Does not attempt criterion 10
SWOT Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Clearly identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to a business Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include providing examples of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats Does not attempt criterion 20
SWOT Result Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Clearly interprets results from SWOT analysis Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include demonstrating the relationship between strengths and opportunities in strategic planning Does not attempt criterion 20
Articulation of Response Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Clearly conveys meaning with correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling Submission has critical errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling 20
Total: 100%
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