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.

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.

Refer to the Week 7 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this rubric to assess your work.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Compare your initial posting with that of your colleague, including insights on why diversification can fail to add value.
• Identify in what ways you agree or disagree with your colleague on the value of diversification and how this can enhance or expand innovation or competitive advantage.
• Provide a suggestion for an additional value diversification to better support your colleague’s posting, including a rationale for your suggestion.

Please note that, for each response, you must include a minimum of one appropriately cited scholarly reference.

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.