The Home Depot

Term Paper # 113990

Business > Companies
Business > Management
Business > Marketing

The Home Depot

Presents an extensive marketing analysis of The Home Depot.

7,390 words () | 22 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, although it is the largest retailer in the home improvement industry and the second largest retailer in the United States, The Home Depot has had a number of issues that have affected the company's performance. Even though the company's current combination strategy has proven successful thus far, the author suggests Home Depot research the implemention of an additional strategy of strategic alliance and leverage its core competencies or unrelated in-store diversification. The Home Depot's internal and external environments are then analyzed. After this investigation, the paper concludes that unrelated in-store diversification is the most feasible strategy to execute; however, implementing such a substantial strategic change would require an efficient and strong action plan.

Table of Contents:
Executive Summary
Issues and Outlook Profile
External Environment and Competitors
Opportunities
Threats
Porter's Five Forces Model
Threat of New Entrants
Rivalry among Existing Firms
Threat of Substitute Products or Services
Bargaining Power of the Suppliers
Bargaining Power of the Buyers
Strategic Group Mapping
Stakeholder Analysis
Analysis of the Organization
Value Chain Analysis
Core Competencies
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Development of Strategic Alternatives and Options
Organization's Current Strategy
Strategy Recommendation I
Unrelated In-Store Diversification
Strategy Recommendation II
Strategic Alliances
Strategy Recommendation III
Leveraging Core Competencies
Evaluation of Recommendations and Strategic Choices
Strategic Implementation and Control Mechanism
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Management strategies and leadership style may be the weakest link in Home Depot's overall strategy. In the past, the company has made poor decisions regarding how to increase their net profits and when to let go of underachieving sectors of their company. An example these bad decisions, would be when corporate rewarded managers for lowest store payroll hours and by keeping the lagging HD Supply Company. However, both of these issues were attributed to the former CEO who recently resigned."

Sample of Sources Used:

"Basic Charts." 2008. Yahoo Finance. 7 Dec 2008 <http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=1y&s=LOW&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=HD>.
Baue, Bill. "Corporate Accountability Improves, Progressing on Stakeholder Engagement But Not Assurance ." Social Funds. 29 Nov 2006. 15 Apr 2007<http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2171.html>.
Dess, Gregory, G.T. Lumpkin, and Alan Eisner. Strategic Management. 3rd. New York: Mcgraw-Hill Irwin, 2007.
"Glossary." Online Learning Center. 2003. 7 May 2007 <http://highered.mcgraw- hill.com/sites/0072443715/student_view0/glossary.html >.
Grow, Brian. "Renovating Home Depot." Business Week. 06 Mar 2006. 7 May 2007 <http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_10/b3974001.htm>.