Vodafone in 2012: Rethinking International Strategy
Case 18 in Grant’s Contemporary Strategy Analysis (8th ed.)
In early summer 2012, CEO Vittorio Colao is reviewing Vodafone’s international strategy. Despite Vodafone’s leading position in the world’s market for mobile communications, financial performance has been lackluster in the face of increasing competition, maturing markets, and asset write downs. In his four years at the helm of Vodafone, Colao has reordered the firm’s strategic priorities focusing upon profitability rather than growth. As a result, profitability and cash flows have improved substantially under his leadership.
In seeking further performance improvement, a critical issue for Colao is the extent to which Vodafone can benefit from its extensive international scope. How should such a international presence be managed? More generally, Vodafone needs reconsider its approach to its international presence: is it a portfolio of more-or-less independent businesses, or should it be managed as an integrated global network?
To answer this broad question, perform a comprehensive written case analysis keeping in mind the following questions:
• What are the benefits of international scope in wireless telecom?
• Advise Vodafone on its international strategy. How can Vodafone derive increased value from its international portfolio of businesses? Are there any businesses that Vodafone should divest?
These questions are meant to provide thinking points. Do not write the case analysis as a question-and-answer report.
The three main sections of your assignment shouldbe :
1. Identification of Strategic Issues and Problems
2. Analysis and Evaluation
3. Recommendations
The three major sections of your report should be numbered and presented separately. Please use the headings above (and any other subheadings, if necessary or appropriate). In addition to these three main sections, please include an (unnumbered) Introduction and Conclusion. The Introduction should not summarise the case, but instead preview the main conclusions and structure of your paper. The Conclusion should present general, creative, and insightful take-away lessons that may be applicable to other companies.
The ideal process for preparing your submission will probably look as follows:
1) Read the case from the textbook – you can use the ebook link.
2) Read the Guide to Case Analysis (pp. 8-10) PDF that is linked in the Resources folder on the LearnOnline website.
3) Review all course material and try to figure out what tools, theories, or concepts from BUSS 3023 are most relevant to this case. Be selective.
4) Also think about material from other business courses that may apply and should therefore be referenced in your capstone case analysis.
5) Perhaps you can (on your own) identify other research that may be relevant to this case analysis. Because the case is quite comprehensive and detailed you actually won’t have to conduct extensive additional research; 2-3 more sources will typically suffice.
6) Read the case again.
7) Develop a detailed outline of your paper (going beyond the three main sections mentioned above).
8) Following the instructions below, write your paper.
9) Submit the assignmenton time!
Support your discussion and arguments with reference to the class material introduced in the course and the facts mentioned in the case. To accomplish the latter, you will, at least occasionally, have to cite the page (number) on which you found specific evidence supporting your analysis. In addition, you should reference evidence and argumentative support, whenever appropriate, from the course material, your own research, and prior business courses. (Please note that this class is a capstone course!) Your report may also include various charts, tables, or exhibits to support your analysis and recommendations. Keep in mind that some of your charts, tables, or exhibits may replace narrative text and make your paper more concise and therefore better. More guidance on length and exhibits can be found in the following reading posted on the course website: A Guide to Case Analysis.
Use Times New Roman or Calibri size 12 font and 1.5-line spacing in your assignment. Please number all pages of your paper. The word limit is 2500 words. Exceeding the word limit by 10% will be fine. (Note that the word limit is not one of the nine assessment criteria.
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