project 2 need help businness management 1

Project 2: Report

NOTE: All submitted work is to be your original work. You may not use any work from another student, the Internet or an online clearinghouse. You are expected to understand the Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy, and know that it is your responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources as specified in the APA Publication Manual, 6th Ed. (Students are held accountable for in-text citations and an associated reference list only). Serious sanctions can result from violations of any type of the Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism including a zero on a project, a zero for the course or dismissal from the University.

Purpose:

Throughout the course, you have discussed a wide array of business concepts and theories. This assignment is designed to have you read a case scenario and demonstrate knowledge and application of several of these concepts and theories.

Skill Building:

You are also completing this project to help you develop the skills of research, writing and developing a report. Writing is critical because in business it is important to convey information clearly and concisely and to develop a personal brand. Developing a personal brand is important because it is the ongoing process of establishing an image or impression in the minds of others especially those in positions above you. Having a strong personal brand can lead to opportunities that include promotions.

Skills: Research, Writing, Writing a Report, Developing a Personal Brand.

Outcomes Met With This Assignment:

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• identify the critical business functions and how they interact in order to position the organization to be effective in the current business environment

• explain the importance of the integration of individuals and systems to organizational effectiveness
• describe the ethical and social responsibilities that confront a business

This project is the second of two projects. You will read a case scenario related to starting a small business. Several concepts learned in the course are used in this project. The project requires you to go beyond mentioning concepts but requires you to apply the concepts explaining the ‘why and how’ of the situation.

In this project, you are asked to write a report. A report is a formal document that addresses a specific audience, has a clear purpose and conveys a message about its purpose. Information is presented in a clearly structured format that uses headings to help a reader easily read, follow and locate information. This report does not have recommendations, as it is informational only.

The expectation is that you provide a robust use of the course material and research to support ideas, reasoning and conclusions. This means that you will present an idea, reasoning or conclusion and use the research and the course material to explain what you presented. Stringing one sentence after another using the course readings or research does not meet the requirement and does not demonstrate critical thinking. Critical thinking is demonstrated when the “why and how” and the “who and what” are thoroughly explained.

Read the following case scenario:

Betty Crocker and her husband Bill love to bake. They also love to travel. After a recent trip to Egypt, the couple returned to their home anxious to try to duplicate the two desserts they had found, Umm Alli and Qatayef. Umm Alli is a phyllo pastry layered with milk, double cream, and nuts (sometimes, raisins or dates are added). The dessert is baked in a large pan. When done, the dessert is cut into bars much like brownies. Qatayef, on the other hand, is like Pierogis. They are crescent shaped dough pockets stuffed with double cream, nuts or custard and baked. The treats are very popular in Egypt and frequently sold by street vendors. It is typical to serve coffee with Qatayef. Drinking coffee is a favorite Egyptian past time and social activity, one that has become popular in America as well.

Betty and Bill Crocker live in Atlanta, Georgia. As college professors at Emory University, the couple feels handicapped by having to travel in the summer when travel is most expensive for Americans. The couples’ teaching contracts obligate them to teach at least two summer classes. They are eligible to take one year off every seven years for sabbatical leave. In addition, the couple must show evidence of scholarly work at the end of each year (i.e. book, community clinic service, journal, documentary, etc.). The couple has often thought that they would love to start a small business so that they could have more flexible travel plans. “Truthfully,” Betty says, “we would be truly happy if we had the money and time to travel.”

The last trip abroad gave them a great idea РWhy not start a mobile coffee caf̩ that sells Egyptian coffee and desserts. They could get a small food truck and set up tables and chairs outside the truck bringing them inside at the end of the day. Betty and Bill could move the truck around the city working the hours they wanted and build a broad customer base between the college and downtown businesses. They believe that this concept is a great new twist on a caf̩.

The couple loves the café idea! They have decided to move forward with the idea by researching the commercial viability of the business. They start by consulting other small business owners in the area and made an appointment with the local Small Business Association (SBA) and SCORE, a non-profit associated that helps small businesses get started. The couple wants to gather the critical data needed to determine how best to prepare for opening “Cairo Café”. Betty and Bill uncovered the following facts and articles in researching their business opportunity.

Information:

• Seventy-eight percent of first year small businesses succeed.
• Fifty percent of all small businesses fail after five years
• Thirty-five percent of businesses survive after 10 years in business
• Small business is the backbone of Atlanta, Georgia’s local economy

Articles:

Do you remember the enthusiasm? (2013, October 1). 50 food truck owners speak out: “What I wish I’d known before starting my food truck.” Retrieved from https://foodtruckr.com/2013/10/what-i-wish-id-know…

Food trucks are advertised as (2016). The complete breakdown of food truck operation costs. Food Truck Empire. Retrieved from http://foodtruckempire.com/how-to/costs/

Newtek (2013, February 26). 7 habits of great small business owners. Retrieved from Forbes at https://www.forbes.com/sites/thesba/2013/02/26/7-habits-of-great-small-business-owners/#7c1523f334b3

Instructions:

Step 1: Your Role

The Crockers have come to you for information because they heard you are a small business consultant and business owner who can help explain some of the concerns that their preliminary investigation has revealed.

Below is a list of considerations that the Crockers have developed for further research. The Crockers have asked you to provide information by researching and then putting your findings in a report.

Step 2: Considerations to Address

You must use research, the course material and the case scenario facts to support the ideas and reasoning presented. If you do not understand how to support what you write, then go to Content in the classroom and read the module, Learn How to Support What You Write. The support provided is a key element to this project.

Strategic Plan. The Crockers are educators and have limited knowledge of running a business. Explain what a strategic plan is, explain why is it important for the Crockers to develop a strategic plan and discuss the elements of a strategic plan.

Challenges Facing a Startup Business: Currently, the Crockers make a combined income of $140,000 after taxes from their jobs at Emory University. Explain the challenges the Crockers can expect with starting the business in relation to lifestyle, marriage, time management, obtaining health insurance and personal finances. Be sure to explain why or how these items are challenges using the course material as support.

Strategic Human Resources Planning: The Crockers have a good idea about how many employees the business will need and the skills each employee will possess. The couple is more concerned with adhering to the laws related to hiring the right employees. Identify and briefly discuss the anti-discrimination laws, and explain why it is necessary to comply with these laws.

Effective Communication: As educators, the Crockers pride themselves for having effective communication skills. Students benefit when teachers have good listening skills and are able to explain things clearly. The couple believes this skill set will be transferable to the business. Although the couple has effective communication skills, Betty would like you to identify and discuss how the business will benefit from promoting the development of effective communication among employees.

Marketing:The Crockers know they can create a great product that will be appealing to the public. They know they need to capture the attention of the customers especially since the business is a traveling café. Marketing can be expensive so the Crockers need several inexpensive marketing ideas. Identify and discuss several different inexpensive marketing ideas that the couple can use to promote Cairo Café.

Secondly, the Crockers need advice on how to promote the café as a socially responsible business. The Crockers know that eventually the café will be in a better financial position to engage in socially responsible activities but cash flow is important at this point. What socially responsible acts can the Crockers engage in that will not add significant cost to the business.

Step 3: Conclusion

Write a concluding paragraph that is brief and summarizes the report. Provide specific information related to the major features discussed in the report.

Step 4: Set Up the Report

Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document using 12-point font. A report is left justified with no indentations of paragraphs. Double space between paragraphs to make the report easy to read.

The report will be between 3-4 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page. In business, writing must be concise, easy to read and free of writing and grammatical errors so proof your work. Remember, the work you produce reflects your personal brand.

You are required to use in-text citations and the associated reference will appear in a reference list at the end of the report (on a separate page).

Use the following format in writing the report:

• Title page with the title, your name, course number and name; date, and the instructor’s name;
• Overview (brief summary that tells the reader what the report is about; identifies the purpose and the important features of the report).
• Background (one paragraph and no more than four consecutive words can be used from the case scenario – you are to paraphrase)
• Discussion (covers the elements of the considerations)
  • Strategic plan
  • Challenges Facing a Startup Business
  • Strategic Human Resources Planning
  • Effective Communication
  • Marketing
• Conclusion (brief, clearly written and specific as to the major features discussed in the report)
• References (separate page)

You are going to send this report to the Crockers. Read the report to ensure all required elements are present. Make sure not to talk about the Crockers but instead inform the Crockers.

Make sure the report is audience appropriate, concise, coherent, readable, uses appropriate terminology, is professional, provides a factual tone (no opinion and no recommendations), and is visually appealing.

Proof the report carefully for typos, grammatical errors and ensure the report conveys the points you have been asked to address. Why? Because your work products is a reflection of who you are – it is your brand! A good brand can lead to future opportunities in an organization such as a promotion.

Step 5: Write the Report

When writing the report, it is important to:

• organize the document clearly in a manner that promotes understanding and meets the requirements of the assignment. Use headings identified above.
• develop coherent paragraphs or points so that each is unified with good transitions so that each function as part of the whole document.
• tailor the communication to the audience.
• use sentence structure appropriate to the task, message and audience.
• follow conventions of Standard Written English. Therefore, how the report is written is a critical part of this project. This report is informational so there should be no recommendations made and no opinion offered. Also, avoid posing questions and following the format for a report is a must!

The expectation is that you provide a robust use of the course readings and research to support the ideas, reasoning and conclusions presented. This means that you will present an idea or provide reasoning, and then use your research or the course material to explain the idea, reasoning or conclusion made. Stringing one sentence after another using the course readings or research does not meet the requirement and does not demonstrate critical thinking. Critical thinking is demonstrated when the “why and how” and the “who and what” are thoroughly explained.

Step 6: Review the Report

You are writing this report taking the role of a consultant. The report is going to Betty and Bill Crocker. Read the report to ensure all required elements are present. Make sure not to talk about the Crockers but inform the Crockers.

It is highly encouraged that you use the Effective Writing Center (EWC), which can be found by clicking on Resources on the Main Navigation Bar on Resources.

The following items are required in writing the report. Check off to ensure compliance to the following requirements.

• Use the grading rubric while completing the project to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.
• Third person writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing).
• Contractions are not used in business writing, so do not use them.
• Students will not use direct quotation marks but will instead paraphrase. What this means is that you will put the ideas of an author or article into your own words rather than lifting directly from a source document. You may not use more than four consecutive words from a source document (including the case scenario) or change words in a passage as doing so would require direct quotation marks. Use a passage from a source document by putting into your own words (paraphrase) and attribute the passage to the source document. Changing words from a passage does not exclude the passage from having to have quotation marks.
• Use in-text citations and provide a reference list that contain a reference associated with each in-text citation.
• Provide the page or paragraph number in every in-text citation presented.
• You may not use books other than the e-book provided in the classroom. You will depend on the course material, the article provided above and research. Research is necessary to do well on this project.
• When using the case scenario facts to support your ideas and reasoning, cite the case scenario, using the following: (Case Scenario, Summer 2018, para. number).

Step 7: Submit the Report in the Assignment Folder (The report submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor. It is incumbent upon the student to verify the project is the correct submission. No exceptions will be considered by the instructor).