GB570

Managing the Value Chain

ExcelTrack™ Module Preview
This guide contains a preview of the materials for all course modules in this series:

GB570M1 Competitive Advantage and the Value Chain

GB570M2 Corporate Social Responsibility and the Value Chain
GB570M3 Globalization and the Value Chain
GB570M4 Value Chain Enablers

Be sure to follow the detailed directions found within the actual course modules after you
receive access. The content in this guide is only a preview and course content may have
changed.
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Course Materials
Title: Understanding the Dynamics of the Value Chain, 1st edition
Author: Mawhinney, J., and Presutti, W.
ISBN: 978-1-60649-450-9
Publisher: Business Expert Press
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Course Code GB570M1

Competency Title Competitive Advantage and the Value Chain

Outcome(s) GB570M1: Analyze how elements of the value chain interact to

create competitive advantage.

Learn: Reading and Research

Read:
 Chapter 1: “The Value Chain Revisited”
 Chapter 2: “The Value Chain’s Impact on Competitiveness and Profitability”

The Reading reviews the birth of the concept of the value chain as a competitive advantage,
presents an enhanced model for the 21st century based upon the original 1985 value chain
model originally created by Michael Porter, defines four key dimensions of competitiveness,
describes how value chain design is based upon these dimensions, and addresses the linkages
between customer delight, profitability, and effective value chain management with the ultimate
goal of competitive advantage.

Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):

GB570M1: Analyze how elements of the value chain interact to create competitive advantage.

Competency Assessment:

The purpose of this Assessment is to confirm your understanding of the direct correlation
between effective value chain management and a firm’s competitive advantage. This
examination will include application of the Dimensions of Competitiveness, examining the
relationship between customer delight, profitability, and effective value chain management with
the achievement of competitive advantage.

Address the checklist items below, access the rubric, and follow the instructions as well as
minimum submission requirements.

Checklist:
1. Write an APA formatted minimum 4-page paper, not including title and reference pages.
2. Describe an example of customer delight from your own purchase experience. Identify at
least three of the 21 elements of The Contemporary Value Chain Model and then relate
the direct positive effect these elements had upon your delightful purchase experience.
3. Describe an example of a horrible purchase experience and apply at least three of the
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21 elements of The Contemporary Value Chain Model to recommend how value chain
improvement could have alleviated the bad situation.
4. Examine and apply “the four dimensions of competitiveness” to four different company
(brand) examples.  Explain how each competitive strategy differentiates the company
(brand) from its competition.
5. Examine the concepts and interrelationships of (A) customer delight, (B) profitability, (C)
and effective value chain management upon the achievement of competitive advantage.

5a. Identify two examples of companies that have been successful in this integration (customer
delight, profitability, with competitive advantage (i.e., market share, and, run an effective value
chain)

5b. Identify two examples of companies that have not been successful in this integration.
Include explanations for your choices.

6. Make a compelling argument as to why an effective value chain creates competitive

advantage.
7. Support your response’s content with at least three separate applied and cited
references. Accepted sources are: Library article(s), your textbook and the chosen
example companies’ websites. No other internet references are acceptable for the
Assessment.
8. Submit your completed paper in Standard English using correct spelling and grammar to
the Assessment Dropbox.

After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission
requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
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Course Code GB570M2

Competency Title Corporate Social Responsibility and the Value Chain

Outcome(s) GB570M2: Examine the role of corporate social responsibility in

value chain management.

PC-6.2: Communicate the critical thinking process by which one

arrives at a conclusion.

Learn: Reading and Research

Read:

 Chapter 6: "Corporate Social Responsibility and the Value Chain"

Corporate social responsibility is a key element in competitive strategic planning and, therefore
an essential consideration in effective value chain management. The content of Chapter 6
includes an emphasis on sustainability, value creation, and the synergistic relationship between
business and society.

Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):

GB570M2: Examine the role of corporate social responsibility in value chain management.

PC-6.2: Communicate the critical thinking process by which one arrives at a conclusion.

Competency Assessment

The purpose of the Assessment is to demonstrate a graduate level understanding of the impact
of corporate social responsibility on the management of a firm’s value chain.

Address the checklist items below, access the rubric, and follow the instructions as well as
minimum submission requirements.

Checklist:

Part 1: Use the third person perspective.

1. Write an APA formatted minimum of a 4-page paper, exclusive of the title and references
pages.
2. In your paper, address the following requirements:
A.
A. Make a compelling argument as to why the inclusion of policies of corporate
social responsibility enhance the ability of a firm to effectively manage a value
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chain and achieve competitive advantage.

B. Describe at least five ways a business can demonstrate corporate socially
responsible behavior and relate these methods to the impact on achieving
effective value chain management. 
C. Explain how shareholders, employees, customers and society can be made
aware of these endeavors.
D. Describe cons / risks related to corporate social responsibility programs.
E. Choose and analyze two examples of companies that have been successful in
integrating corporate social responsibility programs into their value chain.
F. Choose and analyze two examples of companies that have not been successful
in this integration and identify what the companies should have done in their
value chains proactively to protect their value chains.
G. Support your response’s content with at least three applied and cited references.
Accepted resources are: Library article(s), the textbook, and the chosen example
companies’ websites. No other internet references are acceptable.

Part 2: Use the first-person perspective.

 Write a paragraph explaining your own critical thinking process that you used to
complete Part One of the Assessment.
 Submit your completed paper in Standard English using correct spelling and grammar to
the Assessment Dropbox.

After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission
requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
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Course Code GB570M3

Competency Title Globalization and the Value Chain

Outcome(s) GB570M3: Investigate the impact of globalization on the value

chain.

Learn: Reading and Research

Read:

 Chapter 2: “The Value Chain’s Impact on Competitiveness and Profitability”

 Chapter 4: “Enablers of Effective Value Chain Management”

The Reading addresses the linkages between customer delight, profitability and effective value
chain management with the ultimate goal of competitive advantage. Chapter 4 addresses the
application of enablers concerning human resources and technology in global value chains
dimensions. You will also examine the concept of a boundaryless organizational structure in
some depth.

Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):

GB570M3: Investigate the impact of globalization on the value chain.

Competency Assessment

The purpose of this Assignment is for you to evaluate the impact of globalization on the value
chain by applying elements from the Contemporary Value Chain model and additional decision-
making factors.

Instructions: Apply the 21 elements from the Contemporary Value Chain model, plus additional
decision-making factors (all listed below) to evaluate the impact of globalization on a value
chain.

Checklist: Address all the items below:

1. Write an APA formatted minimum 4-page paper, exclusive of the Title and References
pages.
2. Choose and describe a company operating solely in the United States of America (USA)
that might be ready to expand globally. Explain what type of global expansion is being
considered.
3. Assume you are the CEO and the ultimate decision-maker of this USA company. You
are confident your current domestic value chain is solid but you are concerned about
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what the impact on your value chain might be if you expand to another country or
countries. Identify what will need to be changed or modified in your company’s value
chain prior to the expansion by examining all 21 elements of the Contemporary Value
Chain Model. When addressing what changes will be needed for each of the 21
elements, describe what decisions may need to be made, by whom, for what reason,
and how the elements are interrelated.

21 Value Chain Elements

1. Budgeting
2. Competitive advantage
3. Corporate social responsibility
4. Culture
5. Customer need
6. External resources
7. Financial
8. Goals
9. Idea generation
10. Information management
11. Infrastructure
12. Leadership
13. People – human resources
14. People – customers
15. People – shareholders
16. Political (external)
17. Political (internal)
18. Product development
19. Strategy
20. Supply chain management
21. Technological considerations

4. Support your response’s content with at least three separate applied and cited
references. Accepted sources are: Library article(s) and your textbook. No other internet
references are acceptable.
5. Submit your completed paper in Standard English using correct spelling and grammar to
the Assessment Dropbox.

After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission
requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.
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Course Code GB570M4

Competency Title Value Chain Enablers

Outcome(s) GB570M4: Evaluate enablers of effective value chain

management.

Learn: Reading and Research

Read:

 Chapter 4: “Enablers of Effective Value Chain Management.”

The Reading addresses how strategic success requires understanding the benefits of an
integrated value chain with an emphasis on the technical and human resource enablers.

Competency Assessment
This Competency Assessment assesses the following outcome(s):

GB570M4: Evaluate enablers of effective value chain management.

Competency Assessment

The purpose of this Assessment is for you to demonstrate a graduate level understanding of
how technology and human resource enablers contribute to effective value chain management.

Directions

Write an APA formatted minimum 4-page paper, exclusive of the Title and References pages,
addressing both technology (part one) and human resource (part two) enablers of effective
value chain management.  Apply and cite at least three supportive, relevant, and respected
resources from the Library and your textbook within your paper using APA in-text citation
formatting and list the applied sources on a References page using APA formatting. Apart from
the selected company website(s), the Internet is not to be used in this Competency
Assessment.

PART ONE: TECHNOLOGY ENABLERS

A. Managing the Risk of Value Chain Outage(s)

Describe what would happen to a company’s value chain if all electronic devices and systems
suddenly were unavailable and an expected time for resolution time were unknown. How might
a company prepare for and manage the risk associated with potential outages? How could a
value chain be maintained without electronics and technology to support it?

B. Enterprise Application Software and Value Chain Management

Compose a compelling argument as to how the use of Enterprise Application Software can be
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used successfully in the management of an enterprise’s value chain to achieve competitive

advantage and customer value. Identify and examine at least three uses of Enterprise
Application Software (EAS) in the management of a firm’s value chain, and describe their use in
achieving competitive advantage and superior customer satisfaction.

PART TWO: HUMAN RESOURCE ENABLERS

A. Employee Satisfaction and Value Chain Management

Assume you are tasked with the responsibility to create employee satisfaction programs and
processes related to the following human resources enablers. Additionally, address how you
would use these human resource enablers to improve employee satisfaction during times of
change.
1. People and Culture
2. The Three People Traits: Knowledge, Skills, and Beliefs
3. People and Trust

B. The Value Chain in the Management of My Life

Assume your personal life is the most important business you will ever manage This
Assessment is an opportunity for you to relate what you learned about the value chain to your
own life. Examine the elements and origins of the various aspects of your personal value chain.
These could include upbringing, education, professional activities, and professional, educational
and charitable networking, etc. Determine and comment how the inclusion and application of the
various elements can improve your life quality, competitive position, advantage, and success in
living and in your career.

Submit your completed paper in Standard English using correct spelling and grammar to the
Assessment Dropbox.

After you receive access to each module, you will be able to see the submission
requirements and a Checklist Rubric for the Competency Assessment.