BUS310: Creating Competitive Advantages
Analyzing an organization
You should use publicly available information to begin your analysis: the organization’s Web site is often the best starting point. Remember, however, that you are using the Web site as a source of data for the analysis; do not simply copy material off the Web site. Your assignment is an analysis, not a data-dump.
You may need to contact at least one member of the organization (either a current member or one who has recently left it). It can be very useful to make an initial contact with your informant early in the research process, to ensure that the person is indeed willing to talk with you. You will find the informant most useful, however, after you have done the preliminary work with the publicly available materials.
The purpose of the assignment is to develop your ability to use the conceptual frameworks and tools from the course. Also, to create a complete and a persuasive critical analysis answering, and in an essay format the following TMA four questions.
You should answer the following four questions:
- Critically discuss the key factors and forces in the general and industry environments that affect the demand for crude oil and consequently Aramco. (30 marks-700 words).
- Based on your findings in question 1, discuss how the pandemic COVID-19 affected Aramco demand for crude oil and its byproducts. From your own perspective, what should Aramco do to keep its position as the world’s largest exporter of crude oil if this situation prevailed? (20 marks-300 words)
- Discuss whether Aramco world-wide market position is supported by its value chain and other key internal resources. Identify problems you think they are facing in respect to current COVID-19 pandemic situation. (30 marks- 700 words)
- Discuss how COVID-19 pandemic affected the Business–Level-strategy of Aramco petrochemical division. Suggest ways by which this division may sustain its competitive position in future. (20 marks- 300 words)