Situation Analysis Report
The task is now to develop a situation analysis for the enterprise or organisation that you selected for your project proposal. The situation analysis will make up the first half of your completed marketing plan (Assessment 3). In formulating the situation analysis provide:
1. An executive summary of the report’s findings and recommendations for key areas for the final marketing plan.
2. An introduction – provide a brief introduction/overview of your enterprise or organisation, the aims of the report and the structure of the report.
Structural components such as: A Table of Contents, Table of Figures & Tables, Reference List, Appendices (where appropriate) referenced according to APA referencing requirements (See the APA Guide provided in Moodle).
3. Internal Environment analysis
- Company background and history, description of the enterprise or organisation based on any feedback received from your project brief, mission statement, corporate objectives (where these are available), brand identity, product or service portfolio overview; and the scope of the marketing plan – all this information is from your project brief and should take into account any feedback you have received for corrections, etc.
- Internal resources assessment – Human Resources, Financial, Management and Operational capabilities that will support (or hinder) your marketing activities. Assess the internal resources (financial, human and operational) of the company and current or future strengths and weaknesses. Information must be current and accurate to ensure the final draft is feasible.
- Overview of current (or previous) marketing mix strategies (4Ps or 7Ps) – consider everything from yellow pages activity; use of corporate logo on stationery and uniforms; internet activity; traditional marketing communications (TV, radio, etc); product range; pricing; and distribution activities. Look for strengths and weaknesses.
4. External Environment analysis
This is the PESTN analysis – includes a focused discussion of the political, economic, socio-cultural issues (trends), technological and natural environments associated with the company’s market environments. Consider shifts in market activity and identify possible current or future opportunities or threats.
5. A detailed customer analysis
Include target market segmentation (demographics, psychographics, and so forth). Look at the basis of transactions and exchanges with the firm. Who buys, where, when and how, what is bought, to what level, and reasons for purchase. Do purchases relate to discretionary spending or not? Identify any opportunities or threats such as changes in customer demographics.
6. A detailed competitor analysis
Identify local, direct and indirect competition. Determine relative (or estimated) market share for your principal competitors. Identify the basis of competition. Develop a matrix where possible to compare the features and benefits of products/product lines between your selected entity and at least 3 primary (main) competitors. Again, identify any opportunities or threats such as changes in competitors, new competition, changes in market share.
7. A SWOT analysis – briefly and concisely summarise the strengths and weaknesses from within the company and any opportunities and threats from the external environment, competitor and customer analyses.
8. Conclusion – introduces no new content Include (attach) the signed (original) letter from senior management as required.
NOTE: This assessment requires a great deal of time and effort and you will need to critically analyse, interpret and incorporate a large amount of information. Consider very carefully how best to display your information in tables, charts, graphs etc. Don’t simply rely on narratives, sentences and paragraphs!!! You need to be concise and put your information forward in meaningful and visually useful ways so your readers (clients) can quickly and effectively understand your discussion without adding to your word count!!!
Assessment focus for the whole term!!
Your assessment this term is to develop a complete marketing plan for a small to medium sized enterprise or organisation in your local area or an enterprise or organisation for which you currently work. This will be accomplished in three stages with a project brief (assessment 1), a situation analysis (assessment 2) and the completed marketing plan (assessment 3).
Before you begin, ensure that you understand the requirements for each item as common data from all assessments will be integrated into your final marketing plan.
Choose a small to medium sized (SME) enterprise or organisation (it can be a for-profit enterprise or a not-for-profit organisation) with which you can regularly interact – an enterprise or organisation in which you currently work is acceptable providing it is not excluded. The following companies are excluded: McDonalds, Coca Cola or Pepsi Co. or other multinational companies whose plans are accessible online or through published reports.
