Capstone Student Project on Nike's Bussiness Strategy

This sample paper reveals the purpose and description in capstone project. This capstone project will be focused on determination whether Nike's strategy is achievable and provide suggestions on what the focus should be. Also, it shows how purpose and description of capstone project can be applied practically.

The purpose of a capstone project is to provide students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their academic journey to a real-world problem or project. It serves as a culminating experience that integrates various aspects of their learning and allows them to demonstrate their readiness for professional or academic endeavors. On the other hand, the description of a capstone project outlines the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes of the project. It provides a clear overview of the topic or problem being addressed, the methodologies or approaches utilized, and the anticipated deliverables. The description should highlight the significance of the project in the context of the discipline or industry, emphasizing its potential impact, originality, and relevance.

Statement of Scope

This capstone project will be used to determine if the ways Nike, Inc. believes it would remain competitive in a highly competitive market is a viable strategy. Nike is currently heavily invested in sport apparel in order to appeal to current and new customers. 

Company Background and Business Problem

Nike, Inc. was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports company by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in Beaverton, Oregon. It is a global company that is engaged in design, manufacture, and marketing footwears, apparels, equipment, and accessory merchandize. Globally, Nike is the leading seller of athletic footwears and apparels. Nike had retail distributors and outlets in over 170 nations by the early 21st century (Nike, Inc., n.d.). Part of Nike, Inc.’s success is owed to endorsements by athletes, such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Lebron James, and Mia Hamm. Michael Jordan’s endorsement on the other hand was a smash hit for Nike, Air Jordan hit the market to make a revenue of over $100 million by 1985 end. In 2019, Nike landed among top 15 financial analyst stock pick among DOW.

The business problem facing Nike Inc. currently is staying profitable and relevant in a highly competitive athletic footwear and apparel market with high performing rivals such as Adidas, Reebok, Under Armour, New Balance, Asics, as well as others. As consumers of its product have multiple options for athletic merchandises, Nike must ensure they continue to provide merchandises consumers desire. Nike has recently attempted to do so by investing heavily in young athletic apparels and footwears.

Data Gathering

All Nike, Inc.’s information gathered including its financial statements, reference materials, and past supporting or opposing studies can be found on Nike’s official website, Business Insider, Forbes, and SEC historical database.

All methods that was applied in this capstone project are previously learned during my MBA experience at Capella University. There are no additional materials or special circumstances necessary in this capstone, and Microsoft office programs, specifically Excel, Word, and Visio will be utilized programs.

Risks that may be encountered includes inconclusive documentation, coming to an inaccurate assumption, and incorrect formatting. All of the mentioned risks can all be addressed through peer review, published research, and using resources provided by the University Library for accurately referenced research.

Expected program outcomes demonstrated by:

1. Implements stability of practical understanding of a range of business processes, systems and technology implemented across major facets, and implement the right approach.
2. Describing Nike Inc.’s several practical standards, practices, and theories as they pertain to the company’s current outlook, past behavior and future projection. SWOT, VUCA, and VRIO analysis will be implemented.
3. Assesses all the supportive and conflicting information such as data, insights, customer reviews, etc. Integrate strategic and functional insights holistically and individually to the business system.
4. Defining several characteristics on how Nike presently functions including customers perception compared to employee satisfaction, cost of merchandises in compared to its generated revenue.
5. Establish compelling solutions based on perceptions, data retrieved, business analysis, or best practices to resolve business problems and create opportunities important to stakeholders.
6. In the highly competitive athletic merchandize market, will investments in digital sales and kids’ footwear and apparel truly set Nike apart from its competitors or a bad financial decision.
7. Incorporates methods that are sustainable, innovative and achievable to business, challenging the current state of business.
8. Nike has chosen a potentially high-risk investment in digital sales and kids’ footwear. This capstone will be used to decide if the intended investment blends with Nike’s internal practices.
9. Evaluates leadership approaches in a globally, and socially diverse world, incorporates malleable perspectives and collective methods in its business doings.
10. Nike, Inc.’s past leadership will be defined in this capstone. Its leadership structure will also be defined for its current state. The overall capstone will illustrate the future projects Nike implements.
11. Conclusion

In order to determine if Nike, Inc., a publicly traded company is currently making positive business decisions to remain relevant in a highly competitive athletic footwear and apparel market. The history of Nike, Inc. will be addressed, the current business state, business structure, SWOT, VUCA, VRIO, business strategies, internal structure, internal processes, current financial state, and employee and customer perception on the company. Then, current strategy and feasibility study will be discussed including marketing, financial, communications, merchandise price increase, and social controversies. If this business approaches are found viable, reasons for my conclusion will be justified. If not, then the best direction for Nike, Inc. follow will be recommended.

References

• Meyer, J. (2019, August 14). History of Nike: Timeline and Facts. Retrieved from https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/history-of-nike-15057083
• Nike, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nike-Inc