Industry Analysis

The industry analysis is conducted according to Porter's five forces. The first is rivalry among present competitors. This is affected by investment intensity, the existence of dominant firms, product differentiation, and the ease with which customers can switch from one seller to another. For Acadia, its greatest strength is its product differentiation. Whereas many other universities struggle financially and make their classes as large as possible as a result, Acadia's commitment to educational excellence is such that it has committed itself to personalized education. The best way to accomplish this is by smaller sized classes, where each student has the opportunity to excel as a result.

In terms of the threat of new entrants, the education industry is set up in such a way that there are several barriers to this threat, of which one of the most significant is capital requirements. The establishment of Acadia University was the result of community effort. Its existence over more than a century also precludes any great threat of new entrants. Furthermore its strong product differentiation, as seen above, protects it against new entrants.

The bargaining power of suppliers and buyers also poses no great threat to the university, as its current financial status is both stable and significant in size. Hence its ability to provide financial assistance to students who may need this.

The threat of substitute products should also not be great cause for concern. The university's unique combination of environmental and educational products provides its students with products that cannot be found at rival institutions. Furthermore, the scale of its educational products cannot easily be rivaled...

Hence, there is little threat of substitute products.
Opportunity Analysis and Mission

The attractiveness of opportunities is dependent upon three factors. The first is the possession of something that other companies cannot easily duplicate or imitate; the second the ability to develop superior organizational processes, capabilities, or resources that are difficult to imitate or duplicate, and the third the economic viability of the company's business model. These factors are directly related to the company's mission statement.

Acadia University's mission statement reads as follows:

"The mission of Acadia University is to provide a personalized and rigorous liberal education; promote a robust and respectful scholarly community; and inspire a diversity of students to become critical thinkers, lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and responsible global leaders."

This mission also includes a Strategic Plan document, titled "Personalized Education for a Complex World," in which the specific steps towards the fulfillment of its mission are outlined. It therefore appears that the university has made full use of all its resources and unique opportunities to create a fully engaged learning experience for its students. In terms of the future, it is recommended that the university continue to use its innovative prowess to maintain its connection to its environment and its students' requirements. This can be done by engaging a dedicated department that works with research and development.

In conclusion, the Acadia University appears to be well positioned to provide its students with excellence not only in education but also in the development of their lifelong goals.