Company Description and Mission Statement
Company Description and Mission Statement Attachment
Throughout this course, you will develop assignments that you will later combine into a complete business plan for your chosen company. That final assignment is due in Week 10.
You have a choice between writing a business plan for:
A snack food company.
A startup company of your choice (instructor approval required).
Read the guidelines for each option. Once you select an option, you will work on that company during this entire course.
Snack Food Company Guidelines [DOCX].
Company of Your Choice Guidelines [DOCX].
All discussions and assignments in this class will focus on the company you select and describe in the Week 1 discussion.
Your faculty member will approve your selection in a reply to your Week 1 discussion post.
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
Create your company name and explain its significance.
Describe the product or service you will produce or sell.
If you are focusing on the snack food company, clarify the key ingredients and any flavors you plan to offer.
If you choose your own company, and it is a service company, clarify the service options you plan to offer.
If you choose your own company and product, specify the options (flavors, versions of the product, et cetera) you will offer to consumers.
Develop your company’s mission statement.
Enclose your mission statement within quotation marks.
Reminder: After submitting your post, watch for your faculty member’s approval in a reply to your post. You must have this approval to proceed.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
Use headings for each section of this posting.
Textbook Chapter 5, “Company Description,” pages 67–86, provides additional detail about this topic.
You will revise this week’s discussion posting as part of your Week 3 assignment, Company Description and SWOT Matrix.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 2 Discussion
SWOT Matrix Attachment
Complete the SWOT Matrix [DOCX] to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the company (as approved by the instructor) you described in the Week 1 discussion.
Your selected company may be a startup company of your choosing or it may be based on the snack food company scenario provided to you.
Include four items in each category.
As you complete each quadrant of the SWOT Matrix, consider these questions:
Strengths.
What are your selected company’s likely strengths?
Is your product or service in a growing industry and does it lack an entrenched competitor?
Are you in a niche market with great potential?
What strengths do you and other team members bring to the company?
Weaknesses.
What are your chosen company’s likely weaknesses?
How entrenched is the competition in your industry segment?
Is your management team inexperienced?
How challenging will it be to produce the product or offer the service and maintain quality?
Opportunities.
What are your company’s opportunities?
Does your segment have more demand than supply?
Have larger corporations stopped serving smaller or niche markets that you could enter?
Is a new market emerging because of demographics, immigration, changing tastes, et cetera?
Threats.
What are your company’s threats?
Does a clear market leader exist that will be hard and expensive to displace?
Are downward-pricing pressures in the segment making profit margins slim?
Are there few or no barriers to entry for new competitors?
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
Textbook Chapter 9, “Strategic Position & Risk Assessment,” pages 143–162, provides additional detail about this topic.
You will revise this week’s discussion post as part of your on the Week 3 assignment, Company Description and SWOT Matrix.
Important notes:
1. Complete the SWOT matrix in Word and then copy from there and paste it in the discussion window.
2. DO NOT attach the Word document to the discussion window.
3. Include your company name and a brief description of what business you are in, as well as the product(s) and service(s) you offer for sale. Provide this information in your response for this week to remind everyone about your business.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 3 Discussion
Target Market Attachment
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
Describe the target market for your chosen company, whether it’s based the snack food company scenario or a start-up company of your choosing. Be sure to include the following:
Demographic Description: Age, income range, gender, family size, education, occupation, et cetera.
Example: A likely user for X product is a male aged 25–34 who earns between $35,000 and $55,000 per year and has a four-year college degree.
Geographic Description: Area you would like to serve, density (urban, rural), nature of location (mall, business center, et cetera), climate condition.
Example: Atlanta.
Lifestyle Description: Where do your customers shop, what do they do for leisure, what kind of clothes do they wear, what type of cars do they drive, et cetera?
Psychographic Description: How would you describe your target market, for example, socially responsible, trendsetters, or fun-seeking?
Purchasing Pattern Description: How will your target market use the product, how many times will they buy it, where do they buy the product, how do they pay for it, et cetera?
Buying Sensitivities Description: What factors are important to the customer before they buy (price, quality, customer service. packaging, et cetera)?
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
Textbook Chapter 7, “Target Market,” pages 105–122, provides additional detail about this topic.
You will revise this week’s discussion post as part of your work on the Week 5 assignment, Marketing Plan and Budget.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 4 Discussion
Marketing Strategy Attachment
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
Complete the Marketing Vehicles Table, identifying the marketing vehicles you will use to reach your customers.
Be sure to include the cost of each marketing vehicle.
Add any additional notes under the table.
Delete the italicized examples.
Marketing Vehicles Table
Marketing Vehicle
Frequency
Cost/Month
Example 1
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
2–3 times per week
$600 per month
Example 2
TV Stations: Local Station, WTC
1 time per week
$1,000 per month
Example 3
Free Samples
2 events
$500 per month
Copy and paste the Marketing Vehicles Table into the discussion area.
Complete the Setup worksheet in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template according to the instructions in the guidelines.
Snack Food Company Guidelines [DOCX].
Company of Your Choice Guidelines [DOCX].
Input the marketing vehicles’ costs into the appropriate areas of the Marketing Budget worksheet in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template.
Attach the entire Business Plan Financials Excel Template to the discussion thread before clicking Submit.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
Textbook Chapter 10, “Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy,” pages 163–194, provides additional detail about this topic.
You will use the:
Marketing vehicles information from this post in your Week 5 assignment, Marketing Plan and Budget.
Information from the Setup and Marketing Budget worksheets in Section 2 of your Week 5 assignment.
If you are new to Excel, you may want to view these LinkedIn Learning courses on working with Excel. These courses focus on performing data entry in Excel.
Build Your Foundation in Excel [Video].
Getting Started with Microsoft Excel [Video].
You may also find these LinkedIn Learning courses on how to interpret a business’s financials useful:
Finance Essentials for Small Business [Video].
Finance for Non-Financial Managers [Video].
Finance Foundations for Solopreneurs [Video].
You may also find Stephanie Morrow’s article “Cost of Marketing: What Is the Average Budget?” on how to set up a marketing budget helpful to complete this discussion and your Week 5 assignment.
Important notes:
1. Complete the table in Word and then copy from there and paste it in the discussion window.
2. DO NOT attach the Word document to the discussion window.
3. With your response, include a brief description of your company: name, what business you are in, and the products or services you offer for
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 5 Discussion
Operations Attachment
Before working on this discussion post, review the appropriate guidelines for your selected company:
Snack Food Company Guidelines [DOCX].
If you are focusing on the snack food company, use the information contained in the guidelines first. Then add to the information according to your specific product.
Company of Your Choice Guidelines [DOCX].
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
Describe how your business operations will work. In other words, you want to explain the day-to-day flow of activities necessary to deliver your product or service to customers. Wherever applicable, identify costs. Be sure to address the following, if applicable to your chosen business, in the post:
Facilities.
Describe the facility, including its location.
Specify whether it is rented or owned; include any associated costs.
Estimate the cost of utilities, such as water/sewer, gas, electricity, and trash removal.
Production Process.
Describe the production process (how you will produce the product) or describe how your business will operate if retail or service company.
Identify the equipment you will use and associated costs.
Describe the capacity to produce the product.
Explain your approach to quality control.
Explain your approach to inventory, as applicable.
Where do your supplies come from?
What is your turnaround time to produce your product once you have received an order?
Research and Development.
Explain how you will stay abreast of new industry developments.
Describe the new products or services that are in development.
Personnel Needs in Operations.
Specify the number of operations employees you plan to have.
Describe their roles.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
Textbook Chapter 11, “Operations,” pages 195–224, provides examples, worksheets, and a sample operations plan.
You will be using the information from this discussion post and the feedback you receive in your Week 8 assignment, Operations, Technology, Management, and Social Responsibility Plan (With Financials), to complete the Operations section of your business plan.
Note:
With your response, include a brief description of your company: name, what business you are in, and the products or services you offer for sale.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 6 Discussion
The Triple Bottom Line Attachment
The concept behind the triple bottom line is that companies are responsible to all their stakeholders. This includes everyone involved with the company, whether directly or indirectly. It also includes the planet on which we all live. This approach views shareholders as very important stakeholders. This approach also recognizes the need for companies to consider other important stakeholders in the company, including employees, customers, vendors, and the larger community.
Before writing this week’s discussion posting, review this MindTools article, “The Triple Bottom Line: Measuring Your Organization’s Wider Impact,” for more details on the triple bottom line.
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
How would you implement the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) concept at your chosen company, whether you are using the snack food company scenario or the company of your choice?
Keep the following format in mind as you complete this week’s discussion:
Profit: When looking at profit from this theory’s perspective, the idea is that profits will help empower and sustain the community as a whole. Profits are more than just a benefit for shareholders. Briefly explain your approach.
People: Describe your approach to caring about suppliers, customers, employees, and the community. For example, one way to care about employees is to provide a good working environment, training and development opportunities, and health care.
Planet: Explain your approach to minimizing your company’s impact on the environment. For example, your company might develop a process to minimize waste or reduce energy usage, such as using recycled materials in its production process.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
Textbook Chapter 14, “Social Responsibility & Sustainability,” pages 259–270, provides additional detail on this topic.
You will use the information from this discussion post and the feedback you receive in the Social Responsibility section of your Week 8 assignment, Operations, Technology, Management, and Social Responsibility Plan (With Financials).
Note:
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 7 Discussion
The Business Plan Financials Attachment
This week’s discussion is worth 70 points. Before completing this discussion post, review these resources:
Textbook Chapter 16, “The Financials,” pages 289–332.
Your business plan.
Also review the appropriate guidelines:
Snack Food Company Guidelines [DOCX].
Company of Your Choice Guidelines [DOCX].
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
Complete all worksheets in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template using your business plan and the appropriate set of guidelines for the company, whether it is a startup company of your choosing or based on the snack food company scenario.
If you are working with the Snack Food Company, input the applicable numbers from the guidelines.
Completing all these worksheets will enable you to finalize the Income Statement, Cash Flow Projections, and Balance Sheet worksheets in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template.
Attach the Business Plan Financials Excel Template to the discussion submission area and click Submit.
To do this, choose one of these options:
Click on the Browse the Computer button under the discussion area.
Select the Attachment option within the discussion window.
No additional text needed.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 8 Discussion
Plan Assumption and Financials
Before beginning work on this discussion post, review Chapter 16, “The Financials,” in your textbook. You have already read this chapter during the previous week. With your review this week, specifically examine:
“Assumption Sheet,” pages 323–324 and “Sample Plan: Assumptions,” page 332.
“Sources and Use of Funds,” page 317 and “Sample Plan: Sources and Use of Funds,” page 331.
“Break-Even Analysis,” pages 320–321.
The financial plan must be based on decisions and facts. Investors want to know whether your business plan is realistic.
For This Week’s Discussion, Please Respond to the Following
Provide a written overview of the plan assumptions and key financials based on the information contained in your business plan and your Business Plan Financials Excel Template.
Use headings (bold) to address each required topic.
Key Financial
Specific Worksheet in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template where the information can be found
Projected Sales
Sales Projections worksheet
Personnel Overview
Setup and Staff Budgeting worksheets
Financing to Date and Funds you plan to raise from investors
Capital Investments worksheet
Use of Funds
Capital Expenditures worksheet
Break-Even Analysis
Break-Even worksheet
Projected Profits
Income Statement worksheet
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 9 Discussion
Elevator Pitch Attachment
To prepare for this week’s discussion post:
Watch these LinkedIn Learning videos from the series Giving Your Elevator Pitch with Todd Dewett (use your student login for LinkedIn.com if prompted):
Benefits to an Elevator Pitch.
Making an Initial Connection.
Structuring Your Pitch.
Read Robert W. Bly’s article “The 3-Part Elevator Pitch Formula You Need to Know.”
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
Develop a 30-second elevator pitch for your selected company (whether you’re working with the snack food company scenario or the company of your choice), using the tips provided in the videos and article.
Enclose your elevator speech within quotation marks.
Provide a rationale for the components included in your pitch.
Optional: Week 9 Video Response Challenge
You may choose to make a video of your elevator speech if you wish, but this is not required. This will give you excellent practice for doing a “live” elevator speech someday!
Reminder: If you do choose to make a video of your speech, you still need to provide your written elevator speech that includes a rationale for the components included in your pitch.
You will find this resource, Kaltura Help [PDF], useful when recording your video and uploading it to the discussion thread.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 10 Discussion
Presenting Your Business Idea Attachment
Before beginning work on this week’s discussion post, complete these preparatory activities:
See “12 Critical Slides,” pages 349–352 of your text, for a sample PowerPoint presentation to investors.
View Shark Tank pitches for ideas on how to create a brief but compelling presentation of a business.
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, create a brief presentation addressing the following:
Your business plan is now complete. Imagine you are in front of a group of investors, presenting your business idea and encouraging them to invest in your chosen company.
Title Page with the company name and your name.
Outline of What You Do.
Target Market.
Market Size.
How big is the market or industry on which you’re focusing?
What are the growth opportunities?
Competition.
Who are your key competitors?
Your Management Team.
Who runs the business?
What are their roles and key skills?
Business Model.
How will your business make money?
Financials.
What key financial information does your audience need to decide whether to invest in you and your business?
Funding You Are Seeking.
Why Will Investors Want to Invest in This Business and in You?
Formatting
Select one of these formats:
PowerPoint with notes; no more than 10–12 slides.
Audio over PowerPoint.
Video presentation over PowerPoint
Storytelling (video recording)—no Power Point needed for this option.
Reminder: You have been working with the information for this presentation all quarter in the discussion and assignments. This is not new information. Now is your chance to succinctly show investors what your chosen business is all about and why they should want to invest in you and your company.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
If you select one of the PowerPoint formats, include bullets, relevant images, and the like; do not include paragraphs or full sentences on the slides.
Your presentation needs to impress the investors; make it creative and interesting, while including all the relevant information.
You may find this resource on Kaltura Help [PDF] useful to you if you decide to do a video recording.
BUS599 Strategic Management
Week 11 Discussion
Reflection Attachment
You have learned a great deal this term! You can now bring so much more to the table as a strategic manager. With the knowledge you’ve gained over the last eleven weeks, you’re also better prepared to contribute to the overall success of your team, project, or business.
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
What have you learned in this course and program?
What would you have liked to learn in this class or program that was not covered?
Share three strengths you’ve acquired or existing skills in which you’ve become more proficient during this course.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
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