Business Analysis Objectives This Business Analysis assignment gives you the opp

Business Analysis
Objectives
This Business Analysis assignment gives you the opportunity to
study a real business and how it coincides with concepts we study in this
course. This activity will make the course “come alive” through
application of the principles from the textbook, course materials, and
discussions. Assignments such as this also help you develop business-oriented
analytical and communication skills.
The development of this Business Analysis is an integral part of
the course. It will give you the opportunity to demonstrate a good
understanding of what it takes to be a successful business today. Completing
this analysis will require several weeks of research, critical analysis,
critical thinking, and writing.
The way to do well on this project is to begin early and work on
it consistently throughout the entire course as we cover the topics each week.
Overview of Assignment
The BUSN315 Course Project is preparation of a Business Analysis
report of an existing company of your choice. You will research and study all
aspects of your chosen company determining if and how the company follows the
concepts and recommended strategies for today’s businesses to remain
successful. In Week 1, you will submit a proposal for the company that you want
to be the subject of your analysis; in week 5, you will submit a draft of your
analysis covering topics studied in the course up to that point; and in week 8,
you will submit your final report adding topics covered in weeks 5 through 7 as
well as your final analysis of the company.
Companies often hire outside consultants to give them fresh
perspective on what they are – or are not – doing right in the company. In this
analysis, you can consider yourself looking at this company, analyzing it from
the perspective of an outside expert consultant. Your final report might
conclude that the company is doing everything right and should continue as it
is, or your final report might reveal areas that could be improved in some way,
giving your recommendations on what changes to make and how to make them.
Assignment Details
Conduct research online, on the company’s website, and/or in the
DeVry Library, and write a Business Analysis Report studying your chosen
company, following the topics outlined in the Milestones and Deliverables
below.
First, identify a company that you would like to study. This
must be a company that has information you can access either on the internet,
or possibly one where you work or have worked in the past. You will need to
identify factors about how the company operates; therefore, you might search
for available information before you choose a specific company. Most large
corporations will have all company information you need on their internet site.
Be sure you can find information on your company before you submit it for
approval in week 1. Your Business Analysis will be much easier for you to
prepare if you can easily find the information.
All submissions must follow APA formatting with title page,
reference page, matching citations, and APA requirements for the body of the
paper.
Milestones
The Course Project has deliverables in Weeks
1, 5, and 8.
WEEK
DELIVERABLE
Week 1
Business Analysis Company Proposal
Submit a one-page document naming and describing the company
that you would like to be the subject of your business analysis course
project. Explain why you have chosen this company, what is your interest in
this company.
Week 5
Business Analysis Draft
· In weeks 1 through 4, we will study:
· How businesses have changed over time
· Environmental factors that impact businesses
and cause them to change
· Global business
· Business ethics and social responsibility
· Types of business forms (sole
proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
· Accounting, finance, financial markets
In your draft, research and describe the following topics as
related to your chosen company:
1. Include
an introduction of your company, describe it, when it was established, and
what the company provides to consumers.
2. Has
the company changed what it offers over the years? Does it sell exactly the
products; has it changed what it offers; has it added products? If it has
changed or added products, describe the changes or additions. Do they seem to
fit with the overall concept of the company as it was when initially started?
3. Does
the company take part in global business? If so, in what ways?
4. What
is the form of this business? For example, if it is a corporation, what type
of corporation?
5. Describe
the company’s drafted code of ethics.
6. Does
the company take part in any social responsibility efforts?
7. Does
the company sell stock on the open market?
Week 8
Business Analysis Final Paper
· In weeks 5 through 7, we will study:
· Marketing
· Management and leadership
· Operations management
· Quality management
· Technology
In your final report, complete your analysis by adding these
topics that you have researched:
1. Describe
the marketing strategies of the company, addressing all four Ps of the
marketing mix: what is the company’s product and all attributes; what are the
company’s strategies pertaining to place (distribution), price, and
promotion?
2. What
type of management does the company appear to have? What type of management
structure and chain of command are indicated by the company’s organizational
chart?
3. What
type of leadership does the company appear to have?
4. Can
you learn from your research any details of the company’s operations
management?
5. Can
you learn from your research the extent to which technology and/or automation
is used by this company?
6. What
type of quality management programs does this company have? What emphasis
does it put on quality management?
If you cannot find information pertaining to questions 3
through 6, state that you cannot determine this from research available, and
then give your recommendation as to what would work best in this company. For
example, if you cannot determine the type of leadership in place, describe the
type of leadership that you believe would work best in this company.
In the conclusion of your final report, give your overall
analysis of this business. Does it demonstrate the recommended strategies
covered in the course? If not, what strategies are different, and what
recommendations would you provide? Ultimately, do you believe this company is
on track for long-term success, or do you see problems in its future?
Weeks 1, 5, and 8 Rubrics: Course Project Paper Proposal, Draft,
and Final Report
Week 1 Rubric: Proposal
Week 1 Proposal
Points
%
Description
Quality content, clarity of proposal
15
75
Proposed company is appropriate for the study; justification
for choosing the company is clear.
Editing and formatting
5
5
Submission was carefully revised, edited, and proofread.
Follows APA guidelines.
Total
20
100%
A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above
requirements.
Week 5 Rubric: Business Analysis Draft
Week 5 Draft
Points
%
Description
Content
60
60
Relevant and high-quality data and ideas presented as a result
of thorough research and analysis. Covers all sections listed in Milestones
Chart. Follows Course Project guidelines.
Organization and cohesiveness
20
20
Report is well organized in a logical sequence and provides a
clear, cohesive analysis.
Editing
10
10
Report was carefully revised, edited, and proofread.
Content Documentation and formatting
10
10
Report includes title page, reference page, citations, and all
required APA formatting.
Total
100
100%
A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above
requirements.
Week 8 Rubric: Business Analysis Final Report
Week 8 Final Report
Points
%
Description
Content
96
60
Relevant and high-quality data and ideas presented as a result
of thorough research and analysis. Covers all sections listed in Milestones
Chart including topics in draft and final report. Follows Course Project
guidelines.
Organization and cohesiveness
32
20
Report is well organized in a logical sequence and provides a
clear, cohesive analysis.
Editing
16
10
Report was carefully revised, edited, and proofread.
Content Documentation and formatting
16
10
Report includes title page, reference page, citations, and all
required APA formatting.
Total
160
100%
A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above
requirements.
Presentation
Points
%
Description
Engagement
45
1. undefined5
Slides have been developed that inform and engage the
audience.
Editing
45
1. undefined5
Slides were carefully revised, edited, and proofread.
Content
110
55
Relevant and high-quality data and ideas presented as a result
of careful analysis and creative interpretation, manifesting in a practical
implementation plan and given in an effective presentation. Summarizes all
sections of the marketing plan.
Total
175
100%
A quality presentation will meet or exceed all of the above
requirements.
Paper Guidelines
The BUSN315 Course Project is the creation of a Business
Analysis Report (proposal, draft, and final version).
Paper Requirements
Every draft (and the final version) of the
assignment must be formatted per APA 6th edition guidelines (Links to
an external site.) (Links to an external site.),
written in the third person, and include the following:
· Running head
· Page numbers
· Double-spacing
· Times New Roman,
12-point type font
· Headings and
subheadings
· In-text citations
· Title page
· Table of contents page
· Reference page
There must be at least one in-text citation for each of the
references on your reference page. A minimum of five references is required in
addition to the course textbook.
Submit your paper as a Microsoft Word document that is 10-15
pages in length, not including the title and reference pages. (The title and
reference pages are required but are not counted as part of the 10-15 pages.)