Select a company — publicly owned (and one that you don't work for) industry. 

1. Research the history of the company. 

               a. Summarize the general history of the company from its inception to the present day. In the history, include the following: 

         i. Major new product introductions 

         ii. Major product deletions 

         iii. Plant openings and closings 

  b. Describe the company Vs sales history for the past ten years. Provide the overall sales in units and dollars. 

   c. Describe the company Vs financial history for the past ten years. Track its revenues, profits, and level of debt. 

2. Research the industry in which the company competes. 

  a. What is the current structure of the industry? 

          i. How many firms are in the industry? Have they been increasing or decreasing in number? How large are the firms relative to the size of the industry? 

   b. Would you classify the industry as perfectly competitive, monopolistic ally competitive, an oligopoly, or a monopoly? Explain your conclusion. 

   c. What is your assessment of the degree of competition in the industry? Are prices close to or far from marginal costs? What kinds of non price competitions occur in this industry?    

   d. How do government regulations affect this industry? 

   e. How does the U.S. government's economic policy affect this industry? 

            i. Trade policy 

            ii. Domestic economic policy 

3. Research the competitive environment of the company over the past five years. What changes have occurred? 

   a. How has the company's market share changed? 

    b. Which competitors have impacted the company the most and how? 

    c. What important changes have occurred in the industry over the past five years? 

              i. Major new product introductions New technologies 

              II. New markets 

              Ill. iv. Social trends Other important changes