Discussion: The Value of Diversification

Diversification presents businesses with the opportunity to enter new markets, expand product or service lines, and, if done effectively, broaden the scope or reach of a business. The process of diversification requires the development of effective strategies to be implemented at the business unit level and/or at the corporate level. For this Discussion, you will utilize a specific case to compare these two strategy options. Within this, you will examine the role, challenges, and potential benefits of diversification strategies within an organization.

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To prepare for this Discussion, review the “Cisco Systems: Growth Through Diversification and Acquisition” case found on pages 108–109 of Dyer, Godfrey, Jensen, and Bryce (2016) and consider how companies can utilize diversification strategies to create organizational value and competitive advantage. You may also want to review the video titled “The Upside of Concentrating Risk,” as well as the cases provided in this week’s Optional Resources for further research on diversification initiatives and business strategy effectiveness.

BY DAY 3

Post a comparison of corporate strategy versus business-unit-level strategy. In your comparison, address the following:

How does corporate strategy differentiate from a business-unit-level strategy, including advantages and disadvantages of each?
Which approach for diversification (related-constrained or related-linked) has the strongest return on investment in this case study? Explain, including at least one supportive example.
In your opinion as an independent scholar, why does diversification most often fail to add value? Explain with at least one supportive example.
What factors should executives consider when making a decision to diversify through green field entry over making an acquisition? Explain.

Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and at least one additional scholarly source.

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

REQUIRED READINGS

Dyer, J. H., Godfrey, P., Jensen, R., & Bryce, D. (2016). Strategic management: Concepts and tools for creating real world strategy. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Chapter 6: “Corporate Strategy” (pp. 106–127)

Cretu, R. F. (2012). Corporate governance and corporate diversification strategies. Review of International Comparative Management / Revista de Management Comparat International, 13(4), 621–633. Retrieved from http://www.rmci.ase.ro/
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Walden University. (2015). APA course paper template (6th ed.). Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_i…

Walden Writing Center. (n.d.-a). Annotated bibliography sample document. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_i…

Yigit, I., & Behram, N. K. (2013). The relationship between diversification strategy and organizational performance in developed and emerging economy contexts: Evidence from Turkey and Netherlands. Eurasian Business Review, 3(2), 121–136. doi:10.14208/ebr.2013.03.02.001
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Zhang, P. (2014). Understanding diversification strategy in venture capital market. Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 4(3), 277–296. doi:10.1515/erj-2013-0058
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

REQUIRED MEDIA

Strachan, J. (2005). The upside of concentrating risk [Books24x7 version]. Retrieved from http://common.books24x7.com/toc.aspx?bookid=38341
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.

Strachan, James. ( © 2005). The upside of concentrating risk.[Books24x7 version] Available fromhttp://common.books24x7.com/toc.aspx?bookid=38341.