31 Dec Include a reference slide

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Students will create a strategic business plan in teams for their culminating project in BUS-485. The structure of this assignment is comprehensive and integrative. It requires synthesis and evaluation of information, skills, and knowledge developed throughout the BS program at COB.

With your team, you will be required to submit specific sections of the capstone in each Topic of the course as indicated in the assignment instructions below. Each section will be due by the end of the Topic in which it is assigned. Prepare each assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. Utilize the “Capstone Project Template,” located in the course materials, to organize the individual components into the final strategic business plan due at the end of the course.

For your first assignment, draft an overview of your project (a minimum of 500 words). Refer to Chapter 1 in the textbook for additional information. Include the following in your draft:

1. Briefly describe the context and your organization.

2. Articulate the vision, mission, and strategy of your organization (or business unit or division).

3. Describe the nature of the business opportunity.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

GC BUS485 Week 2 CLC – Environmental Analysis and Industry Analysis Latest 2017 November

Details:

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Using the Segments of the General Environment, write the environmental analysis for your organization developed in Topic 1 (a minimum of 500 words). Refer to Chapters 2 and 8 in the textbook for additional information. Include the following in your draft:

1. Incorporate the Five Forces of Competition to help write the industry analysis for your organization (Chapter 2, Figure 2.2 The Five Forces of Competition Model).

2. Describe your sources of competitive advantage.

3. Using the Modes of Entry and their Characteristics (Chapter 8, Figure 8.5), describe which mode(s) of entry you would use to expand globally and why you selected it (even if expansion is hypothetical at this time). Select one country, such as Canada, and discuss relevant cultural, political, and economic factors, and any language barriers that could impact your entry.

4. Using the Parts of the External Environmental Analysis (Chapter 2, Figure 2.1 and Table 2.2), identify the outlook, forecast, or trends for the type of organization you have selected.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

GC BUS485 Week 3 CLC – Marketing Plan for the Capstone Project Latest 2017 November

Details:

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Write the Marketing Plan for your organization (a minimum of 500 words). Your plan should:

1. Describe the target market.

2. Identify the size of your potential target market.

3. Include a SWOT analysis (use a two by two table in Word).

4. Describe the 4Ps of marketing in your organization (product/positioning, pricing, promotion, and placement). If you have a service organization, in addition you may consider describing the 4Is (intangibility, inconsistency, inseperabilty, and inventory).

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

GC BUS485 Week 4 CLC – Organizational Plan and Operational Plan Latest 2017 November

Details:

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Organizational Plan

Write the Organizational Plan for your organization (a minimum of 500 words). Refer to chapters 4 and 6 in the textbook for additional information.

1. Describe who will comprise your management team and what talents or skills each of the team members will bring to the organization. Include a simple organizational chart.

2. Outline a McKinsey 7-S Assessment/Model (strategy, structure, systems, shared values, style, staff, skills) as it applies to your business. Review the McKinsey 7-S Resources in the topic materials for additional information on completing this section.

3. Describe your business-level strategy (chapter 4 – cost leadership or differentiated) and explain how it fits with the corporate-level strategy (chapter 6 – low, medium, or high differentiation plus value creating, value neutral, or value reducing) for your organization.

Operational Plan

Write the Operational Plan for your organization (a minimum of 500 words). Refer to chapter 3 and pages 88, 113, and 116 in the textbook for additional information. Address the following in the plan:

1. Describe the supply chain for your prospective organization. Where does your organization bring value in this supply chain?

2. Indentify your main partners and suppliers. What are their locations? What is your contingency plan?

3. Explain how you will optimize operational effectiveness in your organization.

4. Consider your operational plan from a value chain perspective and identify and discuss the primary and support activities (financial, human resources, and information systems management).

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

GC BUS485 Week 5 CLC – Financial Plan for the Capstone Project Latest 2017 November

Details:

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Write the Financial Plan for your organization (a minimum of 500 words). Create the accompanying spreadsheet(s) and address the following in your plan:

1. Using Excel, create a three-year pro forma income statement for your organization (or product/service). Review the resources in the topic materials for additional information.

2. Calculate your financial break-even point: BEP= Fixed Costs/ (unit price – variable unit costs).

3. Identify possible sources for investment capital if required (friends, family, banks, USSBA, etc.).

4. Explain how you will use financial information to help you craft your business strategy.

5. Identify the key financial ratios you will use to measure the performance of your organization to determine success.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

GC BUS485 Week 6 CLC Milestones Schedule and Critical Risks Assessment Latest 2017 November

Details:

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Create the Milestones Schedule and Critical Risks Assessment for your organization (a minimum of 500 words). Refer to Chapter 9 in the textbook and the topic material resources for additional information.

1. Describe the preferred timing and objectives for your business plan. Create a visual tht includes critical decisions and dates in any of the following formats: Excel spreadsheet, Gantt chart, network diagram, or task list. Refer to the resources on charting and diagramming project progress in the Topic Materials for additional information on creating your Milestone Schedule.

2. Create contingency plans to address major problems or setbacks as they occur.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

GC BUS485 Week 7 CLC – Strategic Leadership and Entrepreneurship Latest 2017 November

Details:

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Write the Strategic Leadership and Entrepreneurship section for your Capstone project (a minimum of 500 words). Refer to Chapter 12 in the textbook for additional information. Be sure to address the following questions:

1. What is the leader’s sphere of influence in your organization? Based on this, what impact can the leader have on the implementation of your business plan?

2. What potential leadership bias could impact the development or progress of your organization’s development?

3. What hurdles do you anticipate?

4. What leadership style(s) will a leader in your organization have to demonstrate? How could you incorporate Servant Leadership?

5. What are potential strengths and weaknesses as they relate to your business?

6. How can the leadership in your organization impact and influence others and deliver the results you expect?

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

GC BUS485 Week 8 CLC – Final Revised Capstone Business Plan Project Latest 2017 November

Details:

Final Strategic Business Plan

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Integrate the components developed in each topic into a finalized strategic business plan. Incorporate any feedback from your instructor into the final document as well. The document should include appropriate headings for each section. Review “Capstone Project Template” in the Course Materials for a formatting sample. You should cite and reference 7-10 secondary sources in your final draft. Your final document should be between 4,250-5,250 words.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

GC BUS485 Week 8 Benchmark Assignment Capstone Presentation Latest 2017 November

Details:

Create a visually engaging, professionally designed PowerPoint presentation (10-15 slides) to deliver the findings of your Capstone project. Your presentation will be evaluated based on the following:

1. Organization

2. Content

3. Delivery

4. Professional appeal

5. Slide design

6. Effective communication skills

Include a reference slide with a minimum of six reputable sources (e.g., trade magazines, academic journals, professional/government websites) you consulted to locate information for your presentation (these may be resources utilized for your Capstone). Include speaking notes for each slide. Students may take the notes from your Capstone project. Students will be individually graded based on the provided rubric and are required to effectively communicate their group’s business plan in their PowerPoint presentation.

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.