M1 Exercise

In this exercise, you will individually analyze a corporation’s external and internal environment using core strategic management frameworks from the textbook. You will use company-specific evidence—not general examples or theory explanations—to support your analysis.

This is a formative exercise designed to help you practice how to connect theory to verified business data before completing the final team report later in the course. You will receive feedback on this exercise and are expected to apply that feedback in subsequent exercises and in the final project.

You are required to use AI tools responsibly as part of the research process. This mirrors how professionals increasingly use AI to locate and synthesize information while remaining accountable for accuracy, theory application, and source quality.

While AI tools may assist with research, all analysis and explanations in this exercise must be written in your own words and reflect your understanding of the textbook concepts.

Purpose
In real life, you will constantly be asked to make decisions with incomplete information—at work, in your career, and even in your personal life. You may be choosing a job offer, evaluating a company you want to work for, deciding whether to trust a business claim, or using AI tools to help you gather information quickly.

This exercise helps you practice those skills in a low-risk environment. You will learn how to separate facts from opinions, how to support your claims with credible evidence, and how to use AI responsibly and professionally rather than blindly trusting its output.

By completing this exercise, you will be better prepared to:

Explain and defend your decisions using clear, verifiable evidence
Avoid being misled by vague claims or unsupported data
Use AI tools at work without violating ethical or professional standards
Communicate more confidently when others challenge your reasoning
These are skills you will use long after this course ends—whether you work in business, nonprofit organizations, public service, or run your own venture.

Tasks
Research the corporation’s website and annual report selected by your team:
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Links to an external site. 10K filing Links to an external site.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc Links to an external site.., 10K filing Links to an external site.
Schneider National, Inc Links to an external site., 10K Filing Links to an external site.
Complete Exercise 1 individually using the Exercise 1 template . Your task is to analyze:

The corporation’s strategic statements
The external environment (general environment and Porter’s Five Forces)
The internal environment (value chain and resource-based view)
An integration of findings using a SWOT analysis
For each concept, you must:

Identify the relevant concept
Describe how the concept applies to the selected corporation
Support your claims with company-specific, verifiable evidence
Cite high-quality sources that allow your claims to be verified
The same standards for evidence, citations, and company (or industry) specificity apply equally to all sections of this exercise.

Complete the Self-Checklist and confirm that each item has been reviewed.
Submit your exercise by Saturday (Week 2)
Instructions
You are required to use AI tools (IU AI tools Links to an external site. are the best options for privacy protection) to find evidence (see a modeling interaction with AI). You must then verify the accuracy of the AI-generated information using only acceptable sources (see at the bottom of this page). This process mirrors how professionals combine AI-assisted research with critical evaluation in real business analysis.

General Rules (Non-Negotiable Requirements that apply to ALL Sections)

This is an evidence-based assignment. Every analytical claim must be supported by company-specific evidence.
General examples, hypothetical scenarios, or summaries of theory do not count as evidence.
Include verifiable evidence. Evidence must refer to specific actions, data, outcomes, strategic priorities, investments, or performance indicators.
Use in-text citations to indicate the source of the information.
Each response must both identify and describe the textbook concept as it applies to the corporation.
Partial responses (only identifying or only describing) will receive partial credit.
Theories must come from the textbook only. Do not ask AI to explain or define theories.
Complete a required AI Use Disclosure to document how AI tools were used and verified.
Click below to read the step-by-step instructions to fill out the templates.

Analyze the Strategic Statements
Analyze the External Environment
Analyze the Internal Environment
Complete the Analysis Integration
Things to Keep in Mind
AI Use Disclosure

AI tools may be used in this exercise in the same way they are increasingly used in professional settings—to locate information, summarize public data, and support research. However, you remain fully responsible for the accuracy, interpretation, and presentation of your work.

Rules

AI may be used to locate or summarize factual, company-specific information
AI may not be used to explain or define strategic management theories
All AI-generated information must be verified with credible external sources
All final analysis must reflect your own understanding of the textbook concepts
Submissions that rely primarily on AI-generated language or structure, even if cited, will not meet the expectations of this course.
Disclosure Required

You must complete the AI Use Disclosure section in the template, including:

How AI was used
Confirmation that AI was not used to explain theory
One example of an AI-generated claim that was verified, revised, or corrected
The AI prompts used
Failure to disclose AI use or misuse of AI may result in a failing grade for the course, in accordance with university policy.

Formatting

You must use the official Exercise 1 template. The template is designed to:

Clearly separate each required response
Make your analysis easy to follow
Allow for faster, more accurate feedback
Submissions that do not follow the template or merge multiple responses into one section will receive reduced credit, even if the content is correct. In addition:

Submit one file with all sections completed
Write in clear, professional language
Use complete sentences (bullet points should be limited)
This exercise prioritizes clarity and evidence, not perfect writing style. Responses that are difficult to locate due to missing or merged sections may receive reduced credit, regardless of content quality..

Sources and references

Use at least three high-quality, credible sources only
Acceptable sources include:
Company website (mandatory)
Annual report / 10-K (mandatory)
MarketLine
ABI/Inform
Business Market Research Collection
The Wall Street Journal
The Economist
Unacceptable sources:
Blogs
Consultancy websites
Homework-sharing sites
Unverified AI output
Use in-text citations throughout the different sections.
A reference list must be included at the end.
APA formatting does not need to be perfect at this stage, but sources must be identifiable and verifiable.
Note: contact the instructor if you have doubts about the quality of the sources.