MSc Management Global Strategy and Sustainability - Berkshire Hathaway Inc Coursework - BPP Business School

Assessment Brief

This module is assessed through one graded element worth 100%. You must achieve at least 50% to pass this module.

PART A - BUSINESS REPORT 

In the role of a Management Consultant, you are invited by the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc to their headquarters. They have secured permission from the Board of Directors (BoD) to review and upgrade their global strategies in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In view of this background, you are required to undertake a strategy upgrade of Berkshire Hathaway Inc and provide a business REPORT to the CEO on further growth opportunities and sustainability of this growth into Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia using the techniques and concepts covered in the module.

PART B – POWERPOINT PRESENTATION 

In the role of a Management Consultant, you are required to design a short PowerPoint Presentation to the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc on how they can sustain their growth and profitability in the contemporary business environment. The models of Sustainability discussed on the module will be
used.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc CASE STUDY – BACKGROUND READING: AVAILABLE IN THE CORE TEXTBOOK (Page 68) VIA THE HUB AND OPEN SOURCED (PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE) ON THE INTERNET.

De Wit, B (2020), Strategy, An International Perspective; 7th edition, Cengage Learning EMEA, Andover, Hampshire

IN ADDITION TO THE BACKGROUND READING ABOVE, STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR THIS COMPANY.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY REPORT

PART A- Business Report 

In the role of a Management Consultant, you are invited by the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc to their headquarters. They have secured permission from the Board of Directors (BoD) to review and upgrade their global strategies in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In view of this background, you are required to undertake a strategy upgrade of Berkshire Hathaway Inc and provide a business REPORT to the CEO on further growth opportunities and sustainability of this growth into Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia using the techniques and concepts covered in the module.

 Task 1 -The External and Internal Environment 

• Identify and critically analyse the external and internal environment for Berkshire Hathaway Inc using relevant models. Note that you cannot use SWOT analysis as the CEO needs a detailed and thorough understanding of each part of the business environment.
• Determine Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s current sources of competitive advantage and critically evaluate how they maintain and build on this competitive advantage.
• Support your arguments with academic literature and references to other similar real companies

Task 2 – Strategy in the Global Environment 

• Using a relevant model, critically evaluate the motives for Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s international expansion into Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and briefly explain how this impacts their overall company strategy.
• Using a relevant model, identify suitable Strategic Option(s) of Internationalisation which will suit Berkshire Hathaway Inc in operating in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
•  Apply at least THREE Entry Strategies to illustrate how Berkshire Hathaway Inc can internationalise and compete better in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia based on the research conducted.
•  Support your arguments with academic literature and references to other similar real companies.

 Task 3 – Corporate Strategy 

•  Analyse and evaluate how Berkshire Hathaway Inc can improve its supply chain globally by applying Corporate Strategies like Horizontal Integration, Vertical Integration, Outsourcing, Strategic Alliances and so on.
• Using a suitable model or framework, show how Berkshire Hathaway Inc can increase their profitability.
•  Support your arguments with academic literature and references to other similar real companies.

 Task 4 – Strategic Purpose – Ethics and CSR 

•  Analyse and evaluate Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s CSR strategy using a relevant CSR model and use a theory to provide recommendations for any improvements needed.
• Using relevant concepts/theory, identify and critically discuss the main ethical issues which Berkshire Hathaway Inc currently face and provide recommendations as to how they can address these ethical issues.
•  Support your arguments with academic literature and references to other similar real companies.