Overview
The assignments in this course are framed around a scenario in which you are hired by a company as a consultant to provide a recommendation on solving a challenge or capitalizing on an opportunity. You will draw upon your knowledge and skills around operations, finance, marketing, leadership, etc. for each assignment. The assignments will be completed in a PowerPoint presentation template and will be combined into a final pitch deck that you can add to your portfolio. In your Week 3 assignment you shared important data and insights about your company. In this assignment, you will continue in your role as a hired consultant and analyze that data to create a recommendation for your company to either solve a problem or capitalize on an opportunity. This will be the 2nd part of your pitch deck presentation.
Instructions:
The assignment must be completed in the provided PowerPoint template.
Download and save the Week 6 Assignment Template [PPTX] Download Week 6 Assignment Template [PPTX].
Follow the guidelines provided in the Strayer Library: SWS Guidelines for Slideshow Presentations.
Review the rubric carefully before you begin working on the assignment.
Using the template, create an eight-slide presentation that will be part of a pitch deck for the company that hired you as a business consultant.
Each slide should include 1-2 paragraphs of speaker notes that will be utilized to explain the content to the company leadership during your presentation. (Note: A video tutorial has been provided under the resources section below.)
For Slide 1. Title slide – add the name of the company as a subtitle and your name and the date.
For Slide 2. Identify one challenge or opportunity that you will address as a consultant. In your speaker notes, explain the basis or rationale behind this selection. Remember, you are creating a pitch to the company leadership. Convince them why they should address this challenge or opportunity.
For Slides 3-4 research close competitors of the company to determine their approach to a similar challenge or opportunity.
Slides 3-4. Analyze similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors. Be sure to provide specific, relevant details to connect the competitors’ approach to your recommendation. (Detailed explanation should be placed in the speaker notes.)
Slides 5-6. Recommend an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company. Include specific details explaining which areas in the company would be the focus of your recommendation. (e.g. human resources, management, accounting/finance, marketing, etc.) (Detailed explanation should be placed in the speaker notes.)
Slide 7. Sources slide. Use three or more quality sources to support your writing. Choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate. Cite each source listed on your source slide at least one time within your assignment.
For help with research, writing, and citation, access the library.
Upload your completed assignment template as a PowerPoint presentation file (PPT or PPTX) and submit using the file upload function in the Week 6 Assignment.
Note: Speaker notes are not visible in the Canvas preview but will be visible when the instructor downloads them for grading.
Produce writing that is clear and well organized and applies appropriate Strayer Writing Standards (SWS) style. Writing contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Resources
SWS Guidelines for Slideshow Presentations
The following tools available in the Strayer Library will help you with your research:
Company, Industry, and Market Research using Business Source Ultimate (Start with this resource – it will be very helpful as you search for specific information.)
Business Source Ultimate Library Guide
Business Source Ultimate Database (Tip: Search for case studies as a document type or add an NAICS code based on industry and then enter the type of issue into the search bar.)
Market Line Company Profiles – Type the company name in the 2nd field (Note: your company may or may not be listed here.)
SWOT analyses can be found under the publication type
IBISWorld Database – Library Guide (This is a good resource for researching competitor information.)
Library of Congress Research Guides.Links to an external site. (See their left-hand menu – use this resource to look for competitor information on public and private companies.)
The following websites can provide helpful data on budgets and spending:
U.S. National Debt: Implications for Organizations
Government spending (Mind map)
Fiscal Data US Treasury Dept.Links to an external site.
USA Spending.Links to an external site.
There are also many other relevant internet resources (e.g., Yahoo Finance).
Video Tutorial: How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint:
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is the following:
Recommend an effective strategy to resolve a business challenge or capitalize on an opportunity.
View RubricWeek 6 Assignment – Business Consulting Plan Part 2: Analysis and RecommendationWeek 6 Assignment – Business Consulting Plan Part 2: Analysis and RecommendationCriteriaRatingsPtsDetermine the specific challenge or opportunity to address as a consultant. In your determination be sure to explain the basis or rationale behind the selection. Speaker notes are used correctly for detailed explanations.30 to >27 ptsExemplaryDetermined one challenge or opportunity to address as a consultant including a detailed explanation of the basis or rationale behind the selection. Explanations are clear and detailed and support the selection.27 to >24 ptsCompetentDetermined one challenge or opportunity to address as a consultant including an explanation of the basis or rationale behind the selection. Explanations lack detail to support the selection.24 to >21 ptsSatisfactoryDetermined one challenge or opportunity to address as a consultant including an explanation of the basis or rationale behind the selection. Explanations lack clarity, accuracy and/or detail needed to support the selection.21 to >18 ptsNeeds ImprovementIdentified one challenge or opportunity to address as a consultant. Did not explain the basis or rationale behind the selection.18 to >0 ptsUnacceptableDid not submit or did not identify the challenge or opportunity./ 30 ptsAnalyze similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors. Be sure to provide specific, relevant details to connect the competitors’ approach to the proposed recommendation. Speaker notes are used correctly for detailed explanations.45 to >40.5 ptsExemplaryAnalyzed similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors. Supported the analysis with specific, relevant details to connect the competitors’ approach to the proposed recommendation.40.5 to >36 ptsCompetentAnalyzed similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors. Analysis lacked the necessary details to connect the competitors’ approach to this recommendation.36 to >31.5 ptsSatisfactoryDescribed similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors. Did not provide a complete analysis or specific details to connect the competitors’ approach to this recommendation.31.5 to >27 ptsNeeds ImprovementIdentified a similar challenge or opportunity but did analyze a solution or connect it to a competitor.27 to >0 ptsUnacceptableDid not submit or did not analyze similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors./ 45 ptsRecommend an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company. Include specific details regarding which areas in the company would be the focus of the recommendation. Speaker notes are used correctly for detailed explanations.45 to >40.5 ptsExemplaryRecommended an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company. Supported the recommendation with specific details regarding the areas of the company that would be the focus of the recommendation.40.5 to >36 ptsCompetentRecommended an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company. Supported the recommendation with details regarding the areas of the company that would be the focus of the recommendation.36 to >31.5 ptsSatisfactoryRecommended an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company. Did not support the recommendation with details regarding the areas of the company that would be the focus of the recommendation.31.5 to >27 ptsNeeds ImprovementIdentified an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company but did not make a clear recommendation supported with details.27 to >0 ptsUnacceptableDid not submit or did not recommend an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company./ 45 ptsUse at least three quality sources to support your writing. Choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate. Cite each source listed on your source page at least one time within your assignment.15 to >13.5 ptsExemplaryCited three or more credible, relevant, and appropriate sources.13.5 to >12 ptsCompetentCited two credible, relevant, and appropriate sources.12 to >10.5 ptsSatisfactoryCited one or two sources or one source was not credible, relevant, or appropriate.10.5 to >9 ptsNeeds ImprovementCited sources that are not credible, relevant, or appropriate.9 to >0 ptsUnacceptableDid not cite any sources./ 15 ptsProduce writing that is clear and well organized and applies appropriate SWS style. Writing contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling.15 to >13.5 ptsExemplaryProduced writing that is clear and well organized and applies appropriate SWS style. Writing contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling. Errors are minimal (0–3).13.5 to >12 ptsCompetentProduced writing that is clear and well organized and applies appropriate SWS style. Writing contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling. There may be minor errors (4–5), but they do not impact the ability of the reader to understand the writing.12 to >10.5 ptsSatisfactoryProduced writing that attempts to be clear and well organized and to apply appropriate SWS style. Writing contains some errors in grammar, mechanics, and spelling. Overall, errors are moderate (6–7) and have some impact on the ability of the reader to understand the writing.10.5 to >9 ptsNeeds ImprovementProduced writing that has noticeable issues with clarity, organization, and the application of SWS style. Errors in grammar, mechanics, and spelling detract from readability. Overall, errors are major (8–9) and have a definite impact on the ability of the reader to understand the writing.9 to >0 ptsUnacceptableProduced writing that lacks clarity, organization, or does not apply SWS style. There are significant issues with grammar, mechanics, and spelling. Overall, errors are significant (10 or more), and the reader will have difficulty understanding the writing./ 15 ptsTotal Points: 0