Business Finance Homework Help

What You Need to Know

For many organizations, global growth has led to important strategic initiatives that drive key activities for much of the organization. Strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions are instrumental in positioning an organization for success. And often, such alliances have helped shape the strategic future of the company. The following resources are being provided to increase your knowledge and understanding of such strategic initiatives. Completion of this activity will reinforce the concepts you have been studying and help you complete the next assignment. The following required readings are available full-text in the Capella University Library. Search for each article by clicking the linked title and following the instructions in the Library Guide:

• Dyer, J. H., Kale, P., & Singh, H. (2004). When to ally & when to acquire. Harvard Business Review, 82(7/8), 108–115.
• Ghemawat, P. (2007). Managing differences: The central challenge of global strategy. Harvard Business Review, 85(3), 58–68.
• Hughes, J., & Weiss, J. (2007). Simple rules for making alliances work. Harvard Business Review, 85(11), 122–131.

Your Career

Equally important in creating alliances in organizations, is creating personal alliances for your career growth. Networking and professional memberships help create connections that enhance career growth possibilities and industry knowledge. It can help develop professional relationships, internally and externally, to facilitate business dealings and strategic alliances. Several resources are currently available to help make these personal alliances. These resources from the Career Center can help you network for your future (and current) career. Be sure to consider them for this week’s discussion:

• Networking
• Capella Connect

Utilizing external resources, such as LinkedIn and industry specific organizations, is also key to your professional success.

Write Your Discussion Post

Strategic Alliances

The following resources will help you complete this discussion and may be useful in completing your final assignment:

• In Strategic Management, read:
  • Chapter 9, “Corporate Strategy: Alliances, Mergers and Acquisitions.”
  • Chapter 10, “Global Strategy: Competing Around the World.”

Discussion Instructions

For many organizations, global growth has led to important strategic initiatives that drive the activities for much of the organization. Most large companies have some level of participation in strategic alliances, and many have been part of mergers and acquisitions that have helped shape the strategic future of the company.

• What specific advantages or disadvantages of competing in global markets or supply chains exist for the company?
• What should organizational leaders do to strategically address the global marketplace?
  • Explain the product, geographical, and vertical scope in which the company operates given the global strategy.
  • Briefly describe any key alliances, mergers, or acquisitions, and explain how they relate to the strategic direction of the company.
• How does the use of global alliances, diversification, and vertical integration of the company support the overall competitive advantage?
• What key alliances do you need in order to be successful in your career? How can you engage in such alliances?