1. Critically evaluate an organisation’s internal resources and capabilities and also the external environment to identify changes that may impact the firm’s strategic plans. 2. Demonstrate critical thinking and presentation skills to assess the competitive dynamics and rivalry within industries and how to develop scenarios for an organisation’s future plans. 3. Critically analyse and evaluate business, functional and corporate level strategies available to firms with the aim of achieving superior performance. 4. Evaluate and demonstrate understanding of the application and importance of strategy development, strategic leadership and entrepreneurship. 5. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the importance of evaluation, implementation and monitoring (governance) of formulated strategies. The mark for this Assessment will make a contribution of 30% to the final mark for the course. This Assessment is designed to assess your progress in developing the ability to think strategically. Page 2 of 5 World economic activity is becoming more focused in Asia and the associated expansion of Asian middle classes with this heightened economic activity, has seen a significant increase in the demand for premium and luxury goods and services. Most recently, wine consumption and sales have been stimulated by this trend, which has resulted in increased demand for wine products in the Asian region generally. Resultantly, Australia has enjoyed a significant increase in wine exports to Asia – particularly in the higher quality and higher value segments – and looks set to continue to benefit from this increased demand. China will continue to dominate this emergence in demand along with Japan, Singapore and South Korea and also, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The potential of these markets offers significant opportunities to Australian wine exporters whilst also presenting substantial barriers to success. For the following Case Study of the Hunter Wine Company (HWC) – an hypothetical wine company – develop a Strategic Plan that addresses this opportunity. Your Report should consider, but not be restricted to, the following –  Consider the history of the HWC and its strategic development.  The resources, capabilities and core competencies of the HWC.  Identify any competitive advantages the HWC may have and consider their sustainability.  The internal and external environments of HWC.  Relevant economic market drivers and wine consumption patterns.  International market entry strategies, entry barriers and Trade Agreements.  The potential for mergers and acquisitions.  Blue Ocean strategic opportunities that may exist for the HWC.  The relevance of strategic leadership and entrepreneurship.  Organisational structure, controls and corporate governance. Importantly, the Report should include sources beyond the course readings and differentiate strategically between short term opportunistic wine trading opportunities and longer term substantive wine market development outcomes. Page 3 of 5 Case Study – The Hunter Wine Company History The Hunter Wine Company (HWC), located in the picturesque Hunter Valley of New South Wales, was founded by the Smith family in 1990 with a vineyard of 25 hectares comprised of mostly Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Since that time they have expanded their winery through the acquisition of a neighbouring vineyard, which has not only increased their grape production potential, but also provided additional wine making equipment resources that have significantly increased their wine production capacity. Further, they have developed strong relationships with other Hunter Valley grape producers that now supply additional grape resources to the winery. Production Initial vintages where modest and in both quality and quantity however, a determination to improve both viticulture and viniculture techniques payed off and saw a marked improvement in both the yield and quality of grape production by 2000. Since that time, HWC has further improved yield and quality outcomes and incorporated high quality grape production from other producers, which have increased the winery’s production capacity and quality. They are now recognised as an established producer of medium to high quality wines. The winery has the capacity to produce 10,000 cases annually for each of its four main varieties of Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Awards Since 2000 HWC wines have been exhibited successfully in all major Australian wine shows and have won an impressive array of