Assignment 3: Strategic Plan (Group Assignment) (Week 8)
Phase 1: Assignment Instructions:
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 intext citations and an associated reference list only).
This assignment is the last of three assignments. Students will use the tools and concepts learned in the course and in previous business courses to develop an understanding of how organizations develop and manage strategies to establish, safeguard and sustain its position in a competitive market.
This assignment is a group project. You will be placed into groups consisting of no more than four students each. Groups will be assigned early, and the expectation is that the groups will work on the various parts of the assignment as relevant content is covered throughout the course. The group will act as a selfdirected team, and will therefore determine its own leadership, timetable, task list, guidelines for communication, goals, and so forth. As an individual, you are expected to participate fully in the project. You are required to use the UMUC group area for discussion.
You will actively participate in completing the assignment and group members will receive the same group grade. However, freeriders who contribute little will receive a different grade than the group grade at the discretion of the instructor. If you fail to contribute to the project, a zero for the assignment will be assigned.
Throughout the course, you have learned about the strategic management and have practiced the various stages through the completion of assignments and learning activities. In phase 1 of this final project, you will work in a group to create a strategic plan and present the plan in a professional manner. The plan requires a paper submitted to the Assignment Folder.
You will perform a strategic plan on a company, from the list provided below. However, instructors may elect to assign a company on the list or of his or her choosing or one of their own as long as previous companies provided in the course are not used. Starbucks, Walmart, Amazon and Apple may not be used. Students who fail to use the companies on the list or an unapproved company will receive a zero for the assignment.
Interactive Intelligence Group (NASDAQ: ININ)
Liberty Sirius XM Group (NASDAQ: LSXMA)
Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI)
HMS Holdings (NASDAQ: HMSY)
Ancestry.com (NASDAQ: ACOM)
IPG Photonics (NASDAQ: IPGP)
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)
Regions Financial Group (NYSE: RF)
Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK)
BMGT 495 6380 Strategic Management (2182)
2/9/2018 Project 3: Phase 1-Strategic Plan (Group Project) – Submit Files – BMGT 495 6380 Strategic Management (2182) – UMUC Learning Management System
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/lms/dropbox/user/folder_submit_files.d2l?db=586684&grpid=319226&isprv=0&bp=0&ou=267247 2/6
OvaScience, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVAS)
In completing the assignment, you will perform research on the company provided, answer
the questions below in narrative form and follow the steps provided below.
Step 1: Preparation for the Assignment In writing this assignment, you will read and do the following:
Read the grading rubric for the assignment. Use the grading rubric while writing the plan to ensure all requirements are met.
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). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/firstsecondandthirdperson.
Contractions are not used in business writing, so you are NOT to use contraction in writing this assignment.
You are expected to paraphrase and are NOT use direct quotes unless related to a company’s mission or vision statements. You are expected to paraphrase, which can be learned by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html.
You are responsible for APA only for intext citations and a reference list. Cite the page or paragraph number.
You may use the resources from the course and from your research. You may not use books and page and paragraph numbers must be used.
Read all course material and perform independent research to provide a comprehensive strategic plan.
Step 2: How to Set Up the Plan Create a doublespaced, 12point font Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document. The final product will be no more than 20 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page. Write clearly and concisely. Follow this format for the comprehensive strategic plan:
Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name; introduction vision and mission background organization industry analysis competitive analysis financial analysis not copied data from internet technique analysis IFE, EFE, CPM, BCG matrix, Grand Strategy Matrix, and QSPM alternative strategy generation SWOT analysis strategy and prioritization selection action plan for implementation evaluative plan Reference page
Step 3: Create an introductory paragraph.
Step 4: Develop the plan:
Identify strategies; Discuss strategies used at corporate, business and function levels using the concepts learned in the course; Recommend specific strategies and longterm objectives; Recommend procedures for strategy review and evaluation; Use frameworks and tools discussed throughout the course.
Step 5: Strategy Recommendations
Identify strategy recommendations using the following format for the formulation of strategies.
View Strategy Content Guidelines.
Goal (The desired outcomes to be achieved) Objective (Measurable milestone toward accomplishing the Goal) Strategy (The approach used to achieve the Goal) Tactic (A specific activity undertaken to implement the Strategy) Review this resource to differentiate between strategic planning and operational planning: strategy versus tactics
Step 6: Review
Submit Cancel
2/9/2018 Project 3: Phase 1-Strategic Plan (Group Project) – Submit Files – BMGT 495 6380 Strategic Management (2182) – UMUC Learning Management System
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/lms/dropbox/user/folder_submit_files.d2l?db=586684&grpid=319226&isprv=0&bp=0&ou=267247 3/6
Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.
Step 7: Proofread
Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure; Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper; Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The EWC will provide 4 6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 8: Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder. (The assignment 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 assignment is the correct submission. No exceptions will be considered by the instructor.)
Due Date
Mar 3, 2018 11:59 PM
Hide Rubrics
Note: The ac�vi�es evalua�on will be applied to all members of this group.
Rubric Name: Assignment #3 ‐ Phase 1
Criteria Outstanding Superior Good Substandard
Content: Mission,
Vision and
Objec�ves
0.6 points
Presented mission, vision and objectives of the company accurately and comprehensively identified and correlated to the definitions of each.
(0.54 0.6)
0.51 points
Presented mission, vision and objectives of the company sufficiently identified but not completely accurate or comprehensive correlated to the definitions of each. (0.48 0.53)
0.45 points
Presented mission, vision and objectives of the company were identified but was not complete or needs more clarification on some aspects; no correlation to the meaning of each.
(0.42 0.47)
0.39 point
Presented miss vision and objec of the company attempted but k aspects were m or superficially presented.
(0.36 0.41)
Content: Company
Background
0.6 points
Presented company background accurately and comprehensively presented.
(0.54 0.6)
0.51 points
Presented company background sufficiently but is not completely accurate or comprehensive.
(0.48 0.53)
0.45 points
Company background was discussed but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.42 0.47)
0.39 point
Company backg was attempted b aspects were m or superficially presented.
(0.36 0.41)
Content: Industry
Analysis
1.2 points
Industry analysis was performed accurately and comprehensively.
(1.08 – 1.2)
1.02 points
Industry analysis was performed sufficiently but is not completely accurate or comprehensive.
(0.96 – 1.07)
0.9 points
Industry analysis was performed but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.84 – 0.95)
0.78 point
Attempted to pe an industry ana but key points w missing or superficially presented.
(0.72 – 0.83)
Content:
Compe��ve
Analysis
1.2 points
Competitive analysis was performed accurately and comprehensively.
(1.08 – 1.2)
1.02 points
Competitive analysis was performed sufficiently but is not completely accurate or comprehensive.
(0.96 – 1.07)
0.9 points
Competitive analysis was performed but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.84 – 0.95)
0.78 point
Attempted to pe a competitive an but key points w missing or superficially presented.
(0.72 – 0.83)
Content: Financial 1.2 points 1.02 points 0.9 points 0.78 point
2/9/2018 Project 3: Phase 1-Strategic Plan (Group Project) – Submit Files – BMGT 495 6380 Strategic Management (2182) – UMUC Learning Management System
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/lms/dropbox/user/folder_submit_files.d2l?db=586684&grpid=319226&isprv=0&bp=0&ou=267247 4/6
Analysis Financial analysis was performed accurately and comprehensively.
(1.08 – 1.2)
Financial analysis was performed sufficiently but is not completely accurate or comprehensive.
(0.96 – 1.07)
Financial analysis was performed but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.84 – 0.95)
Attempted to pe a financial analy but key points w missing or superficially presented. Fina data presented little or no analy
(0.72 – 0.83)
Content: Technique
Analysis
1.2 points
Technique analysis was performed accurately and comprehensively.
(1.08 – 1.2)
1.02 points
Technique analysis was performed sufficiently but is not completely accurate or comprehensive.
(0.96 – 1.07)
0.9 points
Technique analysis was performed but needs more clarifica�on on some aspects.
(0.84 – 0.95)
0.78 point
Attempted to pe a technique ana but key points w missing or superficially presented.
(0.72 – 0.83)
Content:
Alterna�ve
Strategy
Genera�on
1.2 points
Alternative strategy generation was presented accurately and comprehensively.
(1.08 1.2)
1.02 points
Alternative strategy generation was presented sufficiently but could be more comprehensive.
(0.96 – 1.07)
0.9 points
Alternative strategy generation was presented but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.84 – 0.95)
0.78 point
Alternative strat generation was attempted but is presented supe or key elements missing.
(0.72 – 0.83)
Content: Strategy
and Priori�za�on
Selec�on
1.2 points
Strategy and prioritization selection was accurately and comprehensively.
(1.08 – 1.2)
1.02 points
Strategy and prioritization selection was sufficiently discussed but is not completely accurate or could be more comprehensive.
(0.96 – 1.07)
0.9 points
Strategy and prioritization selection was presented but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.84 – 0.95)
0.78 point
Strategy and prioritization sel was attempted b is superficial or elements were missing.
(0.72 – 0.83)
Content: Ac�on
plan for
implementa�on
0.8 points
Action plan for implementation was accurately and comprehensively presented.
(0.72 – 0.8)
0.68 points
Action plan for implementation was sufficiently but is not completely accurate or could be more comprehensive.
(0.64 – 0.71)
0.6 points
Action plan for implementation was presented but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.56 – 0.63)
0.52 point
Action plan for implementation was attempted b is superficial or elements were missing.
(0.48 – 0.55)
Content: Evalua�ve
plan
0.8 points
Evaluative plan was accurately and comprehensively presented.
(0.72 – 0.8)
0.68 points
Evaluative plan was sufficiently but is not completely accurate or comprehensive.
(0.64 – 0.71)
0.6 points
Evaluative plan was presented but needs more clarification on some aspects.
(0.56 – 0.63)
0.52 point
Evaluative plan was attempted b is superficial or elements were missing.
(0.48 – 0.55)
Cri�cal
Thinking/Reasoning
3 points
Comments reflect a highly accomplished level of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and reasoning of the case material and case study facts resulting in accurate,
2.55 points
Comments reflect a satisfactory level of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and reasoning of the case material and case study facts resulting in partially correct conclusions that lack development or detail that demonstrates insight into reasoning.
2.25 points
Comments reflect an unsatisfactory level of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and reasoning of the case material and case study facts, resulting in conclusions that are underdeveloped or lack soundly reasoned conclusions.
(2.1 2.39)
1.95 point
Comments refle unsatisfactory le analysis, synthe evaluation and reasoning of the material and ca study facts, resu in conclusions t underdeveloped
2/9/2018 Project 3: Phase 1-Strategic Plan (Group Project) – Submit Files – BMGT 495 6380 Strategic Management (2182) – UMUC Learning Management System
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/lms/dropbox/user/folder_submit_files.d2l?db=586684&grpid=319226&isprv=0&bp=0&ou=267247 5/6
thorough, and soundly reasoned conclusions.
(2.7 3)
(2.4 2.69) lack soundly rea conclusions.
(1.8 2.09)
Applica�on of
Resources
3 points
Presents exceptionally well supported arguments or positions with evidence from the readings/experience; ideas go beyond the course material and recognize implications and extensions of the material and concepts.
(2.7 3.0)
2.55 points
Presents excellent arguments or positions that are mostly supported by evidence from the readings and course content; ideas presented demonstrate understanding of the material and concepts.
(2.4 2.69)
2.25 points
Satisfactory arguments or positions are presented but there is a mix of opinion or unclear view with supported arguments using course readings. Case study facts are occasionally used but arguments would be much stronger with use of facts.
(2.1 2.69)
1.95 point
Arguments are frequently illogic unsubstantiated Limited use of fa case study and essential inform presented in co readings.
(1.8 2.09)
A�en�on to
Instruc�ons
1 point
Demonstrates exceptional understanding of requirements responding completely to each aspect of assignment including minor aspects of the assignment such as using third person writing, required use of course readings, and assignment format.
(0.9 1.0)
0.85 points
Demonstrates excellent understanding of requirements; missed one minor aspect of assignment.
(0.8 0.89)
0.75 points
Demonstrates satisfactory understanding of requirements; missed a key element or two minor aspects of assignment.
(0.79 0.79)
0.65 point
Fails to show a understanding o requirements; m two key elemen several minor a of assignment.
(0.6 0.69)
Wri�ng Mechanics 2 points
Strictly adheres to standard usage rules of written English, including but not limited to capitalization, punctuation, runon sentences, missing or extra words, stylistic errors, spelling and grammatical errors. No errors found. No contractions or jargon used.
(1.8 2)
1.7 points
Excellently adheres to standard usage of mechanics: conventions of written English, including capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. One to three errors found.
(1.6 1.79)
1.5 points
Satisfactorily adheres to standard usage rules of mechanics: conventions of English, including capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Four to 10 errors found.
(1.4 1.59)
1.3 points
Minimally adher standard usage of mechanics: conventions of w English, includin capitalization, punctuation, an spelling. More t errors found.
(1.2 1.39)
APA Style (6th ed.) 1 point
No APA style or usage errors; Proper citation of source material is used throughout paper; Reference titles follow APA with only the first word, the first word after a colon and proper nouns capitalized.
(0.9 1.0)
0.85 points
Attempts intext citations and reference list but one or two APA style errors noted or fails to use APA citations when appropriate 12 times.
(0.8 0.89)
0.75 points
Attempts intext citations and reference lists; APA style errors are noted throughout document; Fails to use APA citations when appropriate 3 times in document.
(0.7 0.79)
0.65 point
Attempts intext citations and reference lists; to use APA citat when appropria times; or presen only 12 intext citations and reference list in paper that requ APA citations throughout the document.
(0.6 0.69)
2/9/2018 Project 3: Phase 1-Strategic Plan (Group Project) – Submit Files – BMGT 495 6380 Strategic Management (2182) – UMUC Learning Management System
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/lms/dropbox/user/folder_submit_files.d2l?db=586684&grpid=319226&isprv=0&bp=0&ou=267247 6/6
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