THE INTERNAL FACTOR EVALUATION (IFE) MATRIX:Explanation

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Strategic Management MGT603

Lesson 17

THE INTERNAL FACTOR EVALUATION (IFE) MATRIX

Objectives:

In multidivisional firms, each autonomous division or strategic business unit should construct an IFE

Matrix. Divisional matrices then can be integrated to develop an overall corporate IFE Matrix.

Both external and internal evaluation together called SWOT analysis for any business firm.

After reading this lecture you will be able to prepare IFE and EFE matrixes for any business planning.

The Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) Matrix

A summary step in conducting an internal strategic-management audit is to construct an Internal Factor

Evaluation (IFE) Matrix. This strategy-formulation tool summarizes and evaluates the major strengths

and weaknesses in the functional areas of a business, and it also provides a basis for identifying and

evaluating relationships among those areas. Intuitive judgments are required in developing an IFE

Matrix, so the appearance of a scientific approach should not be interpreted to mean this is an all-

powerful technique. A thorough understanding of the factors included is more important than the

actual numbers. Similar to the EFE Matrix and Competitive Profile Matrix, an IFE Matrix can be

developed in five steps:

List key internal factors (10-20)

o Strengths & weaknesses

Assign weight to each (0 to 1.0)

o Sum of all weights = 1.0

Assign 1-4 rating to each factor

o Firm's current strategies response to the factor

Multiply each factor's weight by its rating

o Produces a weighted score

Sum the weighted scores for each

o Determines the total weighted score for the organization

Highest possible weighted score for the organization is 4.0; the lowest, 1.0. Average = 2.5

Explanation:

1. List key internal factors as identified in the internal-audit process. Use a total of from ten to twenty

internal factors, including both strengths and weaknesses. Always list strengths first and then

weaknesses. Be as specific as possible, using percentages, ratios, and comparative numbers. The list

of all strength and weaknesses should consist of 10-20 factors.

2. Assign a weight (either in %age or in numerical value) that ranges from 0.0 (not important) to 1.0

(all-important) to each factor. The weight assigned to a given factor indicates the relative

importance of the factor to being successful in the firm's industry. Regardless of whether a key

factor is an internal strength or weakness, factors considered to have the greatest effect on

organizational performance should be assigned the highest weights. The sum of all weights must

equal 1.0.

3. Assign a 1-to-4 rating (rating means what is the capability of the firm to meet its strength and

weaknesses) to each factor to indicate whether that factor represents a major weakness (rating 5 1),

a minor weakness (rating 5 2), a minor strength (rating 5 3), or a major strength (rating 5 4). Note

that strengths must receive a 4 (for average strength) or 3 (for normal strength) rating and

weaknesses must receive a 1 (for normal weakness) or 2 rating. Ratings are, thus, company based,

whereas the weights in Step 2 are industry based.

4. Multiply each factor's weight by its rating to determine a weighted score for each variable.

6. Sum the weighted scores for each variable to determine the total weighted score for the

organization.

Highest possible weighted score for the organization is 4.0; the lowest, 1.0. Average = 2.5

Regardless of how many factors are included in an IFE Matrix, the total weighted score can range from

a low of 1.0 to a high of 4.0, with the average score being 2.5. Total weighted scores well below 2.5

characterize organizations that are weak internally, whereas scores significantly above 2.5 indicate a

strong internal position. Like the EFE Matrix, an IFE Matrix should include from 10 to 20 key factors.

Strategic Management MGT603

The number of factors has no effect upon the range of total weighted scores because the weights always

sum to 1.0.

When a key internal factor is both strength and a weakness, the factor should be included twice in the

IFE Matrix, and a weight and rating should be assigned to each statement. For example, the Playboy

logo both helps and hurts Playboy Enterprises; the logo attracts customers to the Playboy magazine, but

it keeps the Playboy cable channel out of many markets.

An example of an IFE Matrix for XYZ Casino Enterprises is provided in Table. Note that the firm's

major strengths are its size, occupancy rates, property, and long-range planning as indicated by the

rating of 4. The major weaknesses are locations and recent joint venture. The total weighted score of

2.75 indicates that the firm is above average in its overall internal strength.

A Sample Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix for XYZ Casino

Weighted

Key Internal Factors

Weight

Rating

Score

Internal Strengths

1. Largest casino company in the United

.05

.20

States

2. Room occupancy rates over 95% in Las

.10

.40

Vegas

3. Increasing free cash flows

.05

.15

4. Owns one mile on Las Vegas Strip

.15

.60

5. Strong management team

.05

.15

6. Buffets at most facilities

.05

.15

7. Minimal comps provided

.05

.15

8. Long-range planning

.05

.20

9. Reputation as family-friendly

.05

.15

10. Financial ratios

.05

.15

Internal Weaknesses

1. Most properties are located in Las Vegas

.05

2. Little diversification

.05

.10

3. Family reputation, not high rollers

.05

.10

4. Laughlin properties

.10

5. Recent loss of joint ventures

.10

TOTAL

1.00

2.75

XYZ Casino (in the previous example), has a total weighted score of 2.75 indicating that the firm is

above average in its overall internal strength

Strategic Management MGT603

The next stages for the strategic business planning are goals setting and strategy formulation. Then

strategy implementation and feed back control will be the next steps in considering the strategy

planning stages.

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