Capstone Final Exam Personal Reflection Paper
Name: [Joseline Ndayikengurukiye]
This semester we have used strategic management principles to understand existing and nascent businesses. We have used the AFI framework; 1) to analyze the
firm and its environment, 2) to use these analyses to formulate strategy, and 3) to design and structure organizations to best implement the chosen strategy. For
the final exam I want you to turn the analysis self-ward and to analyze yourself as a potential business – you create value, you generate revenue, you incur costs
either as an employee or as a self-employed entrepreneur.
Section 1 (external analysis)
Identify the job/business that you plan to work within
What is the job that you intend to do after graduation (if planning graduate school, then after graduate school). [After graduation, my plan was to look for a job in
business operations.]
Describe the industry that this job is in (e.g., who are some of the existing firms or players in this industry, what technologies are being used, who are the
customers…). [This job is in the warehouse and manufacturing industry. I have found that I prefer working jobs in warehouses vs working with customers. Some
of the top players in this industry include PepsiCo, Siemens, Proctor and Gamble, and Tesla.]
Do a Porter’s Five Forces analysis on this industry (not on yourself, do it on the industry)
1) Power of Suppliers to the Industry [Specialize in manufacturing the products that they sell to consumers. They supply their businesses as well as other
businesses. In this sector, suppliers are frequently tied to one particular business, which means they are almost always bound by a contract.]
2) Power of Buyers to the Industry [Buyers mainly tend to be those buying in bulk. If they are not buying in bulk, then the seller won’t be making enough
money. Strong purchasers have the bargaining power to negotiate on volume, switching costs, or alternative items. The buyer-seller relationship is
influenced by price sensitivity as well.]
3) Rivalry among Existing Competitors within the Industry [The manufacturing industry is full of competition.]
4) Threat of New Entrants to the industry [The manufacturing industry has new entrants every day. Lots of major companies want to manufacturer their
products closer to home or on home base and we see warehouses being built in new places every day.]
5) Threat of Substitute Products/Services to the Industry’s Products/Services [enter your answer here]
Your overall conclusion, is this an attractive (profitable) industry to be in? Do you see this changing over time? [Manufacturing products on home base
gives companies a leg up over those that manufacture their products overseas. They escape many cost and fees associated with manufacturing products
overseas and then bring them to home base. Although there are lots of cost associated with manufacturing closer to home, they are significantly less
than the fees amassed manufacturing overseas.]
WPC 470 Summer 2023
Name: [Joseline Ndayikengurukiye]
This semester we have used strategic management principles to understand existing and nascent businesses. We have used the AFI framework; 1) to analyze the
firm and its environment, 2) to use these analyses to formulate strategy, and 3) to design and structure organizations to best implement the chosen strategy. For
the final exam I want you to turn the analysis self-ward and to analyze yourself as a potential business – you create value, you generate revenue, you incur costs
either as an employee or as a self-employed entrepreneur.
Section 1 (external analysis)
Identify the job/business that you plan to work within
What is the job that you intend to do after graduation (if planning graduate school, then after graduate school). [After graduation, my plan was to look for a job in
business operations.]
Describe the industry that this job is in (e.g., who are some of the existing firms or players in this industry, what technologies are being used, who are the
customers…). [This job is in the warehouse and manufacturing industry. I have found that I prefer working jobs in warehouses vs working with customers. Some
of the top players in this industry include PepsiCo, Siemens, Proctor and Gamble, and Tesla.]
Do a Porter’s Five Forces analysis on this industry (not on yourself, do it on the industry)
1) Power of Suppliers to the Industry [Specialize in manufacturing the products that they sell to consumers. They supply their businesses as well as other
businesses. In this sector, suppliers are frequently tied to one particular business, which means they are almost always bound by a contract.]
2) Power of Buyers to the Industry [Buyers mainly tend to be those buying in bulk. If they are not buying in bulk, then the seller won’t be making enough
money. Strong purchasers have the bargaining power to negotiate on volume, switching costs, or alternative items. The buyer-seller relationship is
influenced by price sensitivity as well.]
3) Rivalry among Existing Competitors within the Industry [The manufacturing industry is full of competition.]
4) Threat of New Entrants to the industry [The manufacturing industry has new entrants every day. Lots of major companies want to manufacturer their
products closer to home or on home base and we see warehouses being built in new places every day.]
5) Threat of Substitute Products/Services to the Industry’s Products/Services [enter your answer here]
Your overall conclusion, is this an attractive (profitable) industry to be in? Do you see this changing over time? [Manufacturing products on home base
gives companies a leg up over those that manufacture their products overseas. They escape many cost and fees associated with manufacturing products
overseas and then bring them to home base. Although there are lots of cost associated with manufacturing closer to home, they are significantly less
than the fees amassed manufacturing overseas.]
WPC 470 Summer 2023
