The goal of this assignment is to provide a sophisticated contextual background onAssociated British Foods plc’s strategic focus, intent, performance, and any general opportunities/threats that warrant the need for a fine-grained strategic assessment/change.A strong strategic analysis needs an appropriate focus and positioning over a strategic issue, which is the goal ofthis assignment. The students should critique, examine, and understand thedifferent strategic decision-making levelswithin Associated British Foods plc.Theyshould communicate thecorporate parent’s natureand its level ofinfluenceover the proceeding business segments within its portfolio (tip: how the firm defines its business segments can be found in their financial reports. They are commonly referred to as separate cost centres, operating segments, entities, etc., and indicate that there are potentially different strategies employed).
The student should point to any explicit statements of ‘strategic’ motivations/intents made by the Associated British Foods plc.For example, does the firm state they are interested at growing their portfolio into a health/wellness market, address climate change/sustainability issues, improving their geographic market coverage, invest in R&D/Technologies, etc. The company data (website/financial reports/FTSE website, etc.) and various external sources (Industry Reports/Press Releases/Bloomberg/Financial Times/etc.) should support this.
The student should attempt to paint a broad picture of the Associated British Foods plc.; which may include information on market share, key categories, structure, vision/mission, M&As, Mega Trends (i.e. Covid-19, Artificial Intelligence, etc.), and synergies among the business units, etc from a top level.
The students are then expected toselect a corresponding business level/competitive marketthat is involved in delivering the strategic intent outlined previously. Studentsshould clearly identify the geographic and competitive market and you are encouraged to elaborate on the value propositions, alongside the typeof product and/or segment, and general information onhowthis segment is competing/developing/acting within a specific geographic region.
The students should reflect on the notion of competitive
advantage and explicitly state if they believe the firm currently in possession of, at risk of losing, or has an opportunity to obtain it. Some useful tools/frameworks that the students may choose to set this contextual scene are: Porter’s Generic Strategies, Ansoff Matrix, Innovation Posturing Strategies, Value Propositions, etc. Studentsmust display their capabilities to link practical observations with theoretical arguments found within the academic debates. The overarching goal of the analysis is to derive insight from the research to develop strategic recommendations