Ashford University Strategic Issues Within Non Profit Organizations Reply

Answer the 3 questions below and reply to each student.

Student Reply must be over 200 words.

Make sure all student replies you start it with Hello (Student Name),

Please upload each question in different word documents.

******Question 3 must 3-4 pages long in APA formatt. *************

Question 1:

Identify and describe the areas of a SWOT analysis and discuss why it is important to consider these areas when developing a strategic plan. Why is it often difficult to develop a realistic analysis? Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. You must create one initial post and at least two responses, for a minimum of three posts for this discussion.

Student Reply 1: Elmer Borja

“The combination of internal and external environmental forces, assisted by quality forecasting techniques, creates what is known as SWOT analysis (SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Examples of company strengths include well-respected brands, a highly skilled workforce, and financial stability. Weaknesses may come from the lack of reliable suppliers or a key product nearing the end of its life cycle. Opportunities emerge from underserved markets; newly developed technologies that could lead to additional products or product improvements; or social trends, such as new forms of distance learning. Threats result from declining markets, bad economies, technologies that replace a firm’s technology, or competitive actions” (Baack, Reilly, & Minnick, 2014, Chapter 2). It is essential to pay attention to internal and external forces analysis (SWOT) as part of generating effective strategic planning because, an organization can identify what they control for improvement and which one they cannot manage, and have a backup plan on how to prepare for it. An organization can find out what are their robust capabilities and also the weakness, and how they can set a control on how to manage it and turn it as part of their strength. An organization can also found out what currently available opportunities for them and how they take advantage of it, for the organization to stay competitive and adapt to change in an external environment. Lastly, identify treat that they have no control of, but they can be prepared to minimize the adverse effects on the organization.

An organization has difficulty in doing their realistic analysis. Sometimes they had to ask help and hire some external organization, which have to go back in organization past, “the strength analysis should compare the firm to itself at some previous point in its history, perhaps 2–4 years ago, and determine what it is doing better and what has not improved” (Abraham, 2012, Chapter 5).

References

Abraham, S. C. (2012). Strategic Management for Organizations. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/eborja/Desktop/MGT%20450/FM_Abraham_Management%20(1).pdf

Baack, D., Reilly, M., & Minnick, C. (2014). The Five Functions of Effective Management (Second Edition ed.). [Adobe Digital Edition]. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/eborja/Desktop/MGT%20330/FM_Baack_Management%20(1).pdf

Student Reply 2: Megan McKinney

The acronym SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In order to develop a strategic plan, organizations must first identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their opportunities and possible threats. Strengths and weaknesses are considered the “internal” aspects of SWOT analysis, with typical strengths specifying adequate financial resources, strong cash flow, effective distribution, and a visionary leader, and weaknesses indicating when there are poor marketing skills, no core competence, obsolete facilities, or a weak or eroding brand image (Abraham, 2012). Prior to developing a strategic plan, a support SWOT analysis can be used to assist with how to approach new opportunities. In order to stay competitive in an industry, organizations must seek opportunities that can grow or improve their situation (Abraham, 2012). Brainstorming achievable opportunities through SWOT analysis can be more productive than selecting random opportunities without data to support them. Threats are considered external to the company, identifying any trends that negatively affect the company (Abraham, 2012). Once a threat is identified, the organization can prepare a strategy that is a proactive approach for such situations. It is important to consider all aspects of a SWOT analysis to have a better understanding of an organizations current status, as well as possible changes in their future.

Developing a realistic SWOT analysis can have its challenges. Sometimes organizations confuse threats with weaknesses. In identifying strengths sometimes there can be struggles with classifying if a company is doing well because it depends on how high a company’s internal standards are (Abraham, 2012). SWOT analysis missing data to justify the strengths and weaknesses can just be a matter of perception, resulting in an unrealistic analysis. Fully understanding the industry’s possible opportunities and threats can also be up for interpretation. A legitimate SWOT analysis should be based on quantifiable data that supports the qualities recognized.

Resources

Abraham, S. (2012) Strategic Management for Organizations. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from: https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUMGT450.12.2/se…

Question 2:

Imagine a nonprofit organization trying to raise funds for cancer research. What types of strategic alternatives might such an organization develop? Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. You must create one initial post and at least two responses, for a minimum of three posts for this discussion.

Student Reply 3: Byron Jacobson

Many non-profit organizations throughout the world raise money for cancer. Many have developed to be successful in raising money to reach their goal. Those organizations must find strategic alternative ways to achieve this. Strategic alternatives are one of many routes an organization must do to gain market advantages, realize it’s goals, or, if no specific goal has been declared, decide where it might go and what it might accomplish (Abraham, 2012). One way I have seen is those organization merging with others of the same goal to raise money. What this does is allow both organizations a different pull of demographics and work together for one cause. Organizations can also use technology to their advantage. There are a lot of platforms that are no cost, and these platforms can reach millions in a matter of seconds. Using strategic alternatives produces a useful framework and builds on the foundation needed to achieve their goals.

References:

Abraham, S. C. (2012). Strategic management for organizations [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://ashford.content.edu

Student Reply 4: Megan McKinney

The first step is to identify the key strategic issues within the non-profit organization. Key strategic issues can come from both internal and external sources (Abraham, 2012). There are other organizations that will prohibit this one from achieving their goals. In order to gather strategic alternatives, the organization must also understand their strategic intent. It is a nonprofit organization trying to raise funds for cancer research. When strategizing alternative solutions it is important to visualize the ideal solution, consider the organization’s future needs, and decide what the ideal service would be for that company (Abraham, 2012). Since non-profits are low on funds to advertise their campaign, they can utilize the alternative strategy of social media as a platform to communicate their purpose. A strategic alternative is an option a company can utilize to gain market advantage, discover its goals, and decide upon its future accomplishments (Abraham, 2012). Their intent is obvious, they want to raise money for a good cause. Another alternative approach would be to think of groups, resemblances, similarities, and concepts (Abraham, 2012). There can be a focus on previous research that has proven to be successful due to the generosity of donations.

Resources

Abraham, S. (2012) Strategic Management for Organizations. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from: https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUMGT450.12.2/se…

Question 3:

Select an organization and describe its history, products, and major competitors in a paragraph or two. Develop a SWOT analysis detailing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that may affect the organization.

You must submit a three-to four-page paper (excluding the title and reference pages) formatted according to APA style guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. In addition to the textbook, you must use at least two scholarly sources.

Instructions

Locate a competing organization in your local market (or region) to help develop your SWOT analysis. You can find this information on the website for the US Chamber of Commerce. Your SWOT analysis should address the Questions to Ask on Rob Berman’s blog.

 
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