For this discussion forum, I expect you to post an initial contribution on one of the threads and make three replies, one on each of the three threads, per the syllabus. Your contributions and replies should be succinct yet comprehensive. As a general guideline I would suggest that they be at least 150-250 words in length, but they should not exceed 300 words without my prior permission. This will be the pattern throughout the course for all eight lessons that focus on discussion forums. I will evaluate your contributions according to the Discussion Forum Evaluation Rubric. Please note that the criteria are weighted equally, meaning that your reply posts are as important as your initial contribution post. To view the rubric, click the three vertical dots near the discussion title, then select Show Rubric.

Additionally, to assist in providing feedback to your posts, I will be using a series of icons to reply to some posts. Please review the discussion icon key to ensure you understand what each one means.

Post your answer or written essay to one of the three threads that I have started below by Wednesday night at 11:59 PM (ET), applying relevant content from the lesson:

Thread A: What is the major impediment preventing your organization from conducting a more effective external audit to facilitate development of a comprehensive and accurate External Factor Evaluation (EFE) Matrix (refer to Tables 3-8 and 3-9)?

Thread B: In performing a Porter’s Five-Forces Model of competition, discuss what possible substitutes exist for the products or services provided by your organization’s industry and how that affects the attractiveness (i.e., profitability potential) of your industry (refer to Figure 3-3). You might need to think “outside the box”, and that’s fine. If you present a possible substitute that your organization hasn’t considered, that’s even better.

Thread C: Suggest specific ways for your organization to construct a (more) comprehensive and (more) useful Competitive Profile Matrix (refer to Tables 3-10 and 3-11).

If you lack sufficient professional experience to make a meaningful contribution, do some research and prepare your post accordingly, providing a link to your source material to share with others.

After the deadline for submission of your initial post, read what your classmates contributed, consider the requirements below, and make your three replies, one on each of the three threads, by Sunday night at 11:59 PM (ET):

For all three of your replies, carefully and thoughtfully select one of your classmates’ posts, and reply to that student. Your reply should either state what you learned from that post and how you can apply it, or why you found that post valuable or interesting, or suggest advice to a classmate who is confronting a challenge at his/her organization, or offer a respectful counter-argument (if appropriate).

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