Case Study

This assignment will be comprised of two parts; one       part  will ask you to respond to questions, and the other will require you to      complete  a case analysis. 

Part 1

Evaluate this case and respond to each of the following questions using both    theory and practical managerial thinking. 

• Evaluate Microsoft’s product and marketing evolution over the years.  What                      has the company done well, and where did it falter?
  
  


• Evaluate  Microsoft’s recent expansion into areas such as search engines                      and smartphones.  Do you think these are good areas of growth      for           Microsoft?       Why, or why  not?
  
  


• Review the potential ethical implications of Microsoft’s  situation. How                      might they revise their strategies to align with good ethical                    practices?

Your Part 1 response must be at least two pages in length. Follow APA  Style    when creating citations and references for this assignment. Note that you  will    submit Part 1 and Part 2 in one document.

Part 2

Complete a case analysis of Microsoft. This requires that you conduct       research on Microsoft, you will look at the situational analysis, problem, and       alternatives, and you will provide a recommendation. Refer to the instructions     below as you construct your analysis.

• Situational Analysis
  
  
  
  
  • Discuss the external environment  through the compilation of a PEST                                          (political, economic, sociocultural, and           technology)                     analysis.
    
    
  
  
  • Discuss the internal and external environment  through the compilation                                          of a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses,          opportunities,     and          threats)                              analysis.
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Problem
  
  
  
  • Identify at least one  organizational problem that Microsoft is                                          currently having or one that you  project it will          have in     the         future.         Base             this on your          research and     critical            thinking.
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Alternatives
  
  
  
  
  • Compile three or four potential  marketing-related solutions to the                                          problem above. Remember that these are       potential                 alternatives;     you     will     not              select all of the                 alternatives to solve the                problem.
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Recommendation (Marketing Strategy)
  
  
  
  
  • Select one or  two of the alternatives above to solve the problem that                                          you identified in this  case analysis.           
    
    
  
  
  • Discuss your rationale for choosing these and not the  others. Include                                          supporting research that will increase the          depth     of     your                   analysis.
  
  
  
  

Part 2 must be at least four pages in length. Follow APA Style when  creating   citations and references for this assignment. Support Part 2 with at  least       three sources. As aforementioned, keep in mind  that       Part 1 and Part 2 will be submitted in one document.