QSPM

Develop
Bring Products to a Continue to Rebuild
Alternative
New Demographic the Company
Office Supplies

Key External Factors Weight AS TAS AS TAS AS TAS

Opportunities
1. Diversify from traditional
0.2 4 0.8 - - 2 0.2
office supplies
2. Shift Focus to South America
0.1 - - 4 0.4 3 0.3
or Africa
3. Broaden the types of goods
0.1 2 0.2 - - 3 0.3
to their customers
4. Global Expansion 0.1 - - 4 0.4 4 0.4
Threats
1. Intense price competition from
0.25 4 1 1 0.25 - -
secondary firms.
2. Paperless Transactions 0.25 4 1 - - 1 0.25
3. Two other Office Supply
0.15 1 0.15 1 0.15 2 0.3
Companies
4. Emergence of secondary
0.35 1 0.35 2 0.7 2 0.7
online office supply stores
TOTAL 1 3.5 1.9 2.45

Strengths
1. Business Segmentation 0.05 - - 1 0.05 - -
2. Lost less money in 2010 than in
0.15 - - - - 1 0.15
the previous two years
3. Closed nearly 100 less stores
in 2010 the 2009 in the U.S. & 0.15 - - 2 0.3 1 0.15
Canada
4. Reduction in Accounts Payable
0.05 - - - - - -
over each of the last 3 years.
5. Utilizes website in 40+ countries
0.15 - - 4 0.6 4 0.6
outside of North America
Weaknesses
1. Have lost money every quarter
0.15 - - 1 0.15 1 0.15
in 2011
2. Closed close to 20 more stores
Internationally than the previous 0.1 - - 1 0.1 2 0.2
year.
3. Decrease in Stockholders
0.1 2 0.2 - - - -
Equity
4. Reduction of Current Assets
0.05 2 0.1 - - - -
from the previous year.
5. Deduct of property plant and
equipment each of the last three 0.1 - - 2 0.2 - -
years
TOTAL 1 3.8 3.3 3.7

The alternative strategy that best fits Office Depot, Inc would be to develop an

alternative to the common office supply. The best idea would be for Office Depot to develop a

database software that companies can use for multiple functions. This helps Office Depot

provide a product that follows after the paperless movement. Inside the software clients can

share files, e-mail, collaborate, and post their work. This allows Office Depot to get ahead of the

game. When evaluating this move on an ethical standpoint it received an 82 from the Markula

Center for Applied Ethics app. It was determined that the thought for Office Depot to develop

an alternative to the common office supply was an ethically sound decision. It takes into

consideration those who will be effected by the outcome. Also, it is noted that there is some

financial risk involved, it is with the best interest of everyone that has a stake in the matter.