Q This discussion thread is worth 20 points and is available for one week. Before working on your posts, make sure you are clear about the expectations. Check out the Discussion Thread Grading Rubric Actions and the example of a good discussion question post. As a reminder, your posts will be evaluated based on the following two criteria. 1. Your understanding and application of course theories and concepts. To be successful in discussion, you must demonstrate your knowledge of course theories/concepts and your ability to apply these theories/concepts to discussion questions. It is thus important that you complete all the readings and gain an appropriate understanding of the course materials. When participating in discussion, be mindful to closely base your arguments on the theories, frameworks, and concepts from the readings. 2. The quality of your ideas, arguments, and analysis. It is critically important that you support your ideas, arguments, and analysis with evidence and sound reasoning. Simply saying that you agree or don't agree with something without providing evidence of your rationale or the reasoning behind your thinking is just an unsupported opinion. Strategy is about research and fact-based analysis, and thus should be supported with data, factual evidence and logical reasoning. If your evidence and reasoning is based on course materials, clearly state so. If they are from external sources, please provide a link to the appropriate website. Please pick and respond to ONE of the following two questions (Disney OR AT&T). Q1. The chart below illustrates the business segments of the Walt Disney Company. Use the chart as a starting point and draw on resources from the Internet to answer the following question. In what ways does the Walt Disney Company derive synergies from these businesses? Your response must be based on theories and concepts from Chapter 6. Hint: Economies of Scope (through levering core competencies? Sharing activities?)? Market Power (through pooled negotiating power? Vertical integration?)? * If the chart is not visible on Safari, try to open it on Google Chrome. Q2. AT&T completed its acquisition of Time Warner Inc. in June 2018 (Note it's "Time Warner Inc.", NOT "Time Warner Cable"). “The $85 billion deal puts the many massive media properties owned by Time Warner — including HBO, Warner Bros., and CNN — under the ownership of one of America’s largest internet, TV, and phone service providers” (The Verge, June 14, 2018. AT&T finishes acquiring Time Warner, becoming massive media conglomerate). More information at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2016/10/24/why-att-is-buying-time-warner/#451d2b99758d (Links to an external site.) https://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_time_warner_inc.html (Links to an external site.) Q2-1. In your opinion, is this acquisition a diversification initiative of AT&T? If yes, is it related diversification or unrelated diversification? Why? If not, why not? Q2-2. Do you think this acquisition is a case of vertical integration for AT&T? If yes, is it backward integration or forward integration? If not, why not? Q2-3. In what ways can AT&T derive synergies through this acquisition? Suggested answer - Disney Actions Suggested answers - AT&T Actions Honor code You are expected to adhere to the Student Honor Code (view the complete Honor Code at Student Rights and Responsibilities) which is a commitment by students of Northern Kentucky University to uphold the highest degree of ethical integrity in academic conduct. You should not lie, cheat, or plagiarize to gain an academic advantage over fellow students or avoid academic requirements. To avoid any allegations of plagiarism, your should not claim someone else's work as your own, and you should cite sources whenever another person's ideas, models, text, graphs, figures, spoken word, photos or internet statements are used. Specifically, if you take more than five words directly from a source, you must use quotes and cite that quote in the text as well as include that source in the references. If you put information from a source into your own words, you must cite that source in the text and include the source in the references. Please read my policy on plagiarism and academic integrity in the syllabus. Course instructions and materials are for instructional use only. All other uses are strictly prohibited. Republication or reproduction of course instructions or materials is strictly forbidden. Discussion/quiz/exam questions or answers from this course must not be shared with any other individual who is not part of this course or on any other platform on the Internet.