Discussion 8

Operations

Preparation

Select a Fortune 500 or Global 500 company and use the toolbox links, MarketLine, Nexis Uni, IBISWorld, and the Annual Report to research the company’s profile, read financial reports, gain insight to the company’s competitive landscape with the focus Operations.

Discussion

For the Fortune 500 or Global 500 company that you chose (different from Units 2–7), analyze selected aspects of key resource elements of the Business Model Canvas to assess the operational performance of that company.

As with Units 2 through 7, please begin by de-constructing the assigned readings. Then the applications begin for the case study application, evaluating many of the same types of reports you used Unit 7, now taking an operational perspective.

The critical parts of the Business Model Canvas you now assess for the selected Fortune 500 company include:

• Key Activities.
  • What are the critical activities the company does? For example, Apple, Inc. never outsources product and software design.
• Key Partners.
  • Who are the company’s key partners and suppliers?
  • What is needed from them?
  • What key activities do they perform? For example, how important is Foxconn to Apple, Inc. in making products?
• Operational Metrics.
  • How does your selected company measure success?

Headings

And as we hit Unit 8, now it is your turn to select your heading structure.

Your post to this discussion should be a minimum of 250 words in length and incorporate content from the readings. You may also include additional research you have done. Be sure to list your references in proper APA format at the end of your post. To allow other learners time to respond, you are encouraged to post your initial responses in the discussion area by 11:59 p.m. central standard time Thursday.

Response Guidelines

Read all posts and respond to at least two other learners. Your responses must be at least 50 words in length and strive to extend the dialogue and analyses with related content.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

• Conduct business practitioner research on a selected Fortune 500 or Global Fortune 500 company.
• Select a Fortune 500 or Global Fortune 500 company and apply concepts of finance, operations, and business strategy concepts.
• Identify operations theory criterion applicable to a selected Fortune 500 or Global Fortune 500 company.
• Demonstrate critical thinking.

Resources

• Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
• The Business Model Canvas | Transcript.
• APA Style and Format.
• DBA Resources and Templates Toolbox | Transcript.
• Fortune 500.
• The Fortune 2016 Global 500.
• IBISWorld.
• Nexis Uni.