Provide a 11 pages analysis while answering the following question: Competitive Strategy: Techniques in Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is required. First, there is a compelling need for managers to proactively shape how the company’s business will be conducted. It is management’s responsibility to exert strategic leadership and commit the enterprise to go about its business in one fashion rather than another. Second, there is an equally compelling need to mold the efforts and decisions of different divisions, departments, managers, and groups into a coordinated, compatible whole. All actions being taken in different parts of the business need to be mutually supportive of the overarching business strategy. It provides a rationale for all business actions and decisions (Thompson & Strickland, 1990).

Company strategies cannot be implemented or executed well without a number of support systems for business operations. The information system, nevertheless, may provide support to these business strategies. Every organization needs systems for gathering and storing data, tracking key performance indicators, identifying and diagnosing problems, and reporting strategy-critical information. Timely accurate information, therefore, is an essential guide to decisions and action (Thompson & Strickland, 1990).

Furthermore, a number of tools and frameworks have been developed for management used ineffectively crafting strategy. We will discuss and critically evaluate further in detail the following frameworks in light of IS/IT Strategic management. The three tools and frameworks that we will discuss in this paper are the following: SWOT Analysis, Value chain analysis, and Porter’s five competing forces model.

In deciding what projects to pursue, it is important for managers to have a good overview of the firm’s business position. That is, managers need to understand the firm’s resource strengths and weaknesses and its external opportunities and threats to have a clear grasp of the strategic direction to undertake. The SWOT analysis outlines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the&nbsp.organization.&nbsp.