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GROUP
PROJECT #1: BUSINESS RESEARCH
After
reading “The New Frontier: Transformation of Management
for the New Millennium”, select one of the firms mentioned
in the article, or select a company in which you have an
interest. (Hint: The assignment will be easier if you select
an American firm.) Use Internet links (beginning with Hoovers.com)
to answer the following questions. Be brief, but type your
paper. Identify each question. Make sure each contributor’s
name is on the paper. The written assignment is due Friday,
Sep 20.
1.
What is the firm’s business?
While
students tend to think of this as a product issue (what does
3M sell), the issue of more complex. This should lead to an
general inquiry into the nature of a firm's competitive
competencies, the concept of "diversification",
and a particularistic approach to the market.
2.
Identify the 3 top competitors?
Whom
does a diversified firm compete against? This should lead to
a general discussion on the nature of "industry".
3.
Historically why has this firm been successful? (Look
at the firm’s website.)
This
relates to Question 1. The student will need to search for
answers at the web site. With this question, we are raising
a very difficult issue: why do some firms fail and others
succeed?
4.
See if the firm is listed among Fortune magazine’s
500. If so, what is the rank and what is the basis of this
ranking?
This
can be found at Hoover's website- look for the link.
5.
Who is the current CEO of this firm? Who is Chairman
of the Board?
This
can be found at Hoover's website and at the company's
website.
6.
What has been the stock performance of this firm over
the past 5 years (show stock chart)?
Stock
trends are at Hoover's site and at most financial investment
(broker) sites. Copy the 5 year stock chart into your
paper. Students need to learn how to read and
interpret this.
7.
In 1-2 sentences, explain why or why not you would invest in
this firm (buy its stock).
Look
at the stock trend and assess what you have discovered about
this company. If it worth investing your money? Why? Why
not? (I am looking for your reasoning, not your investment
decision.).
GROUP
PROJECT #2: A DEBATE ON CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS ISSUES
This
is a group assignment in two parts:
1.
Fact Paper.- On
Friday you are to turn in a 2-4 page typed paper that lists
the issues and facts that you consider key to defending or
opposing one of the topics provided. This will require
outside research. This assignment concerns fact gathering,
not essay construction, and will be graded by the professor
as to relevance and factual content. Keep a copy of this for
the debate next week. (0-5 points)
Rubric
for Grading Fact Sheet:
| POINTS |
Fact
Sheet Item |
|
1 |
Presentation:
Paper is typed, topic and position
identified, and student names
identified. Format can be a simple list
of your facts or arguments. Do not write
an essay. |
|
3 |
Content:
5-10 "substantial" and
different items, issues, arguments = 1;
11-24 such items = 2 ; 25+ such items =
3
I am not just looking for volume, but
for a number of, what I see as,
"really good" issues and facts
in defense of your position. |
|
1 |
Reliability:
all items are researched with identified
sources and authorities.
Cite your source and use
"authoritative" sources. You
may use your opinion, but identify this. |
| 5 |
Total possible
points for this assignment. |
| |
Penalties
assessed for late submission at
professor's discretion. |
2.
In Class debate: During
next week, your team is paired off against another team to
present your side of one of the topics chosen. Each team
will have allocated time for argument and for rebuttal and
summary. Do not “dress-up”. The class will grade this
assignment.
Topics: Select one. There should be an opposing team – but class numbers may
not permit this.
This
is a group assignment in two parts:
1.
Fact Paper.- On
Friday Sep 27th you are to turn in a 2-4 page typed paper
that lists the issues and facts that you consider key to
defending or opposing one of the topics provided. This will
require outside research. This assignment concerns fact
gathering, not essay construction. See course website for
details on grading. Keep a copy of this for the debate next
week. (0-5 points)
2.
In Class debate: During
next week, Sep 30-Oct 4, your team is paired off against
another team to present your side of one of the topics
chosen. Each team will have 7-10 minutes for argument and 3
minutes for rebuttal and summary. Do not “dress-up”. The
class will grade this assignment – see course website for
details.
Topics:
Select one. There should be an opposing team – but class
numbers may not permit this.
a.
In America, corporate CEOs are overcompensated –
Pro (too high) or Con (about right)
b.
The U.S. should pursue a policy of Free Trade. - Pro
(yes) or Con (against free trade)
c.
Collective bargaining by labor unions is harming
American business and the economy. – Pro (anti-union) or
Con (pro-unions)
d.
The stock options of CEO’s should be shown
as a cost to the company. –
Pro (yes) or Con (not shown as a cost). (Suggested for
finance or accounting majors.)
e.
The World Bank should cancel debits of Third World
Nations. – Pro (cancel debts) or Con (not cancel debts)
f.
U.S. retailers should be prohibited from selling
goods manufactured using foreign child labor, “sweat
shops”, and environmentally harmful processes. – Pro
(prohibit selling these goods) or Con (allow these goods).
g.
The
corporation tax for U.S. businesses should be abolished. –
Pro (abolish the tax) or Con (tax businesses).
How
students will grade the debate teams:
| Points |
Criteria |
| 0-3 |
The arguments
support the team's conclusion. |
| 0-1 |
The facts and
arguments seem truthful. |
| 0-1 |
This team won
the debate |
| 0-5 |
TOTAL |
| 0-2 |
Deduct points:
0-2 if team relied on style over logic
to persuade. |
| |
GRADE POINTS
AWARDED FOR THIS TEAM |
At
the end of class the professor will collect all student
evaluations, tally and average points. Each team will
receive the AVERAGE grade awarded by students.
GROUP
PROJECT #3: CREATING A BUSINESS
Group
Project #3: Creating a Business- Go to http://www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html.
Look at what the Small Business Administration recommends for a
business plan. As a group, develop an idea for a business. Keep
it simple – something that college students might do. Your
project is to complete the “Business Description” for your
idea. This will be a typed paper (or poster, or other visual
presentation) to be presented to the class on Wednesday/Friday
that will address the following elements:
1.
Legalities - business form: proprietorship, partnership,
corporation.
2.
Business type: merchandizing, manufacturing or service.
3.
What your product or service is.
4.
Is it a new independent business, a takeover, an
expansion, a franchise?
5.
Why your business will be profitable. What are the growth
opportunities? Will franchising impact growth opportunities?
6.
When your business will be open (days, hours)?
What
you have learned about your kind of business from outside sources
(trade suppliers, bankers, other franchise owners, franchisor,
publications).
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