Harrison Case

 

Instructions

 

It is a comprehensive and complicated case, so do not procrastinate. It is 20% of your MGT 509 grade and provides you with the opportunity to integrate what you have learned in other MBA courses.

 

You must work completely alone. This case does not reflect real companies or specific industry metrics. The case is for Kania School of Management assessment and for Management 509 evaluation purposes only. As an assessment tool it will help to determine the degree to which the Kania School of Management’s MBA program is meeting its learning goals, providing an excellent education, and identifying areas for improvement. Your case will most likely be assessed by external business people.

Please read the following case, case-related questions, financial statements (Attachment 1), and store location map (Attachment 2). Harrison Company is in the retail industry. You will have to make and explicitly document several general and question-specific assumptions. These assumptions are needed, since you will have incomplete information, as is often true in the business world. For example, your assumptions about how deep the effects of the current/past recession will be and when it will end will be extremely important to document and should be provided in the executive summary. It will affect the credibility of your proposed strategy. (Technically, the recession seems to have ended although many effects remain.)

You have all the information that there is and you must make specific decisions. Do not include in any answer the statement that your company will conduct additional research to make an informed decision.

 

You should first read the case and all of the questions. Each of the questions relates to an MBA learning goal. Because learning goal # 1 is integrative and deals with strategy, it is placed as the last question. Thus, you should prepare written answers for learning goal questions #2 through #5 before answering question #1. Once you have completed all of the questions, you should write an executive summary and place it at the beginning of your report.

 

Each learning goal relates to a rubric with the same number. Include a heading for each of your answers to make it easier for assessment. For example type: “Rubric question 2” and then your answer for question #2. Although the case questions address a variety of separate business concepts, your essay should be written in an integrative style. This integration should support your strategy, based upon your analysis.

You are the new president of Harrison Company, taking over in the late spring of the current year and tasked with improving the performance of the company. Several actions that should not be part of your strategy include: your resignation, the sale of the business, mergers/acquisitions, filing for bankruptcy, or any other action that would prevent you from running the company, as is, over the next five-year strategic planning period.

Your report should be no more than ten pages typed, Times New Roman 12 font, and single spaced. No identifying title is needed on page 1, but do title the executive summary. Include page numbers in the footer on the right side. Include “Harrison Case MM/YYYY” and your name in the header of each page. You may also provide up to three additional appendices (pages) of charts, graphs, or other supporting materials. Any references should be footnoted in the body of the text, if needed. This will require a very concise write-up, since draft documents often exceed ten pages. Carefully address the major points and yet show relevant supporting documentation.

The questions may be assessed across student papers. That is, question #2 might be assessed for all students without the assessor reading the other parts of the case report. Thus, you should avoid referencing other parts of your report, wherever possible. Repeating a “few” pieces of information in different sections is preferred.

 

Grading Criteria for the Harrison Company Case – Each of the follow items will have the same grading weight:

 

1. Rubric Question 1 – Implications of Integrated Business Processes (Located at the end of the case report)
2. Rubric Question 2 – Ethically and Socially Responsible Decisions
3. Rubric Question 3 – Synthesizing/Analyzing Marketing Information
4. Rubric Question 3 – Synthesizing/Analyzing Finance Information
5. Rubric Question 3 – Synthesizing/Analyzing Logistics and Operations Information
6. Rubric Question 4 – Identifying Industry and Global Trends
7. Rubric Question 5 – Leadership
8. Rubric Question 5 – Group Dynamics
9. A clear description and justification of your strategy should build upon all of your analyses

10. Grammar, spelling, writing style, and the clarity of the report will be assessed

 

The Kania School of Management’s MBA program learning goals are identified (by number) at the end of each case question. Below is a list of the learning goals for your information. You will not need them directly for this assignment.

Learning Goal #1: Each student will be skilled in recognizing (dealing with) the implications of integrated business processes in managing the enterprise.

Learning Goal #2: Each student will be ethical, socially responsible, and just when making business decisions.

Learning Goal #3: Each student will be capable of synthesizing/analyzing information to make sound business decisions.

Learning Goal #4: Each student will be a gatekeeper, trained to scan the global environment of business, identify current trends in the industry, and disseminate information throughout the firm.

Learning Goal #5: Each student will be a leader and/or manager who understands group dynamics and is capable of influencing others to achieve organizational goals.

 

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