1.   What is an acquisition?  Why might organisations undertake acquisitions of other businesses?

2.    Summarise the key features of the acquisition of the Mobil/Quix branded stores undertaken by 7-Eleven Australia.  Outline the main reasons why you think 7-Eleven Australia undertook this acquisition?

3.    What is a change management process?  Why is it important for organisations to use a change management process to manage strategic change?

4.    Use examples from the case study to outline the steps that 7-Eleven Australia undertook to manage the acquisition as part of a change management process.

5.    What is a SWOT diagram?  Why would it have been vital for 7-Eleven Australia to undertake a SWOT analysis prior to the acquisition?

6.    Outline the strategies that 7-Eleven Australia utilised as part of the transition phase so as to ensure effective engagement among its new employees.

7.    Explain the key tasks and activities that needed to be undertaken as part of the store conversion program.

8.    Describe the timeline associated with the store conversion process.  Evaluate how well 7-Eleven Australia has performed in respect to the planned conversion timeline.

9.    Discuss how three existing 7-Eleven Australia processes or systems could assist the newly converted stores to be more successful. 

10.  Evaluate the success of the acquisition undertaken by 7-Eleven Australia using key evidence.  

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

SWOT Diagram

SWOT diagrams are an important management tool to help an organisation assess its current situation.  SWOT diagrams should also be undertaken periodically as part of an ongoing process, especially if the organisation is undergoing significant change

• Break into groups of 3-4 students
• Research the other case studies on 7-Eleven Australia available through this website.
• Prepare a SWOT diagram for 7-Eleven Australia based on its position after its acquisition, but also taking into account what you have learned from the other case studies.
• Clearly identify and describe key strengths and weaknesses.  Give reasons/evidence to support these.
• Clearly anticipate and describe key opportunities and threats.  Give reasons/evidence to support these.
• Form into different groups consisting one member from each of the previous groups, with each new group focusing on strengths, or on weaknesses, or on opportunities or on threats.
• Combine, refine and create a master list for each SWOT category based on all the group members’ input, and then present the list to the class.

What’s next?

7-Eleven is a store that is constantly evolving and 7-Eleven Australia is constantly innovating.  You are required to act as a consulting team responsible for the next stage of developing the company.

• After visiting your local 7-Eleven, suggest some in-store innovations that might help boost sales and profitability.  Also see if you can visit a converted store.  Compare the offerings from different stores, i.e. roadside fuel vs inner-city convenience.
• Get permission to talk to the owner, employees and customers if possible, and ask them their views.
• Assess the company’s product range and suggest some potential offerings.  What do you think the store is lacking?  What can be done about this?
• Leverage existing strengths. What is working well and how can this be extended or applied to other products – (both goods and services)?
• Develop some new promotional contests.  Develop an online or social networking marketing/advertising platform for a product range or for one-off promotions.
• Discuss whether the chain should keep expanding.  Why/why not?  What are key pressures and opportunities associated with expansion?  Can a company become too big?
• If it should expand – then how so?

Invite your local 7-Eleven owner/manager to the presentation and/or offer your best ideas to 7-Eleven Australia.