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Strategic Planning and Implementation-provides a sufficient background on the topic and previews major points.

Final Strategic Plan

Final Strategic Plan Grading Guide
STR/581 Version 12		 2

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Final Strategic Plan Grading Guide
STR/581 Version 12
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Copyright
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Individual Assignment: Final Strategic Plan

Purpose of Assignment

The Strategic Plan is composed of four parts that the student worked on during this course. This provides students the opportunity to research and create strategies for a company based on real scenarios and bring together all the concepts they learned throughout the course and MBA program. The objective is to create and sell the strategic plan to investors or the Board of Directors.

Resources Required

Strategic Plan, Parts 1-4

Grading Guide

Content Met Partially Met Not Met Comments:
The final project includes all the elements of the previous parts of the strategic plan assignments.  
The final project includes a table of contents.
The final project includes an executive summary (350-700 words).
The final project includes company background.
The final project includes a mission statement.
The final project includes a vision statement.
The final project includes a value statement.
The final project includes an environmental scan.
The final project includes an internal and external environmental analysis.
The final project includes a strategic recommendation.
The final project includes an implementation plan.
The final project includes organizational change management strategies.
The final project includes a risk management plan.
The final project includes a conclusion.
The final project includes references.
The presentation includes all elements of Parts 1-4 of the strategic plan.
The presentation is 25-35 slides with speakers’ notes and includes appropriate images and graphics.
Total Available Total Earned
7
 #/7
Presentation Guidelines Met Partially Met Not Met Comments:
Organization
The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment.
The introduction provides a sufficient background on the topic and previews major points.
Major points are stated clearly; are supported by specific details, examples, or analysis; and are organized logically.
Paragraph transitions are present, logical, and maintain the flow throughout the paper.
The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points.
Mechanics
The presentation is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles, font sizes, and white space.
Intellectual property is recognized with in-text citations and a reference slide.
Sentences are complete, clear, and concise.
Rules of grammar and usage are followed including spelling and punctuation.
Total Available Total Earned
  3
 #/3
Assignment Total # 10 #/10
Additional comments:
Copyright © 2017 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
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Create the Final Strategic Plan. The Final Strategic Plan contains the elements of all the previous weeks' components and incorporates instructor feedback. The strategic recommendations will be evaluated and the best options chosen for recommendation. The final strategic plan contains: 

The week 6 final project will consist of the expansion and inclusion of papers 2 through 5 for both the final paper and final presentation. You will need to submit a full strategic plan paper and separate Power Point presentation.
Create the Final Strategic Plan. The Final Strategic Plan contains the elements of all the previous weeks’ components and incorporates instructor feedback. The strategic recommendations will be evaluated and the best options chosen for recommendation. The final strategic plan contains: 

  • Table of Contents
  • Executive Summary (350 to 700 words)
  • Company Background
  • Mission Statement
  • Vision Statement
  • Value Statement
  • Environmental Scan
  • Internal and External Environmental Analysis
  • Strategic Recommendation
  • Implementation Plan
  • Organizational Change Management Strategies
  • Risk Management Plan
  • Conclusion
  • References

Create a 25- to 35-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation with speaker notes to present the strategic plan, combining all relevant elements from previous weeks. The objective is to sell the strategic plan to investors or company directors.
Format the assignment according to APA guidelines.

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Capstone Project: identify and explore an emerging technology-Nanotechnology

Course Project: The Capstone Assignment
Objectives
This capstone course concludes with a research-based Course Project that starts during the first week of the session and continues throughout the duration of the course. It culminates with the submission of a formal, written report in Week 7.
For the project, each student will identify and explore an emerging technology. This will be a technology that may already exist but is drawing attention because of new applications, anticipated impacts, or potential controversies. Examples could include, but are in no way limited to, the following subjects. If you are thinking of a topic that is not on the list, please check with your instructor before proceeding.
· Nanotechnology
· Genetically modified organisms
· Drones
· Self-driving cars
· Remote or robotic surgery
· Wireless electricity
· Gene editing
· Virtual reality
· Artificial intelligence
· Cyber-warfare

· Hydraulic fracturing

Topics to avoid—these are old or have just been done too often.

· Online dating

· Identity theft

· ATMs

The student will address the historical, social, cultural, moral, and ethical issues presented by their selected technology.


]

 define the chosen topic, provide a brief description of the emergent technology, and write a thesis statement (refer to the tutorial on Thesis Statements found in the Writing and Research Help area for help on this assignment). The proposal must then be submitted by the end of the week.

 

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Corporate risk-Wilson Corporation: evaluate and calculate a company's weighted average cost of capital and use the analysis to make company investment decisions

Purpose of Assignment
should understand corporate risk and be able to use the financial models learned in the class to evaluate and calculate a company’s weighted average cost of capital and use the analysis to make company investment decisions.
About Your Signature Assignment
Assignment Steps
Scenario:
Wilson Corporation (not real) has a targeted capital structure of 40% long term debt and 60% common stock. The debt is yielding 6% and the corporate tax rate is 35%. The common stock is trading at $50 per share and next year’s dividend is $2.50 per share that is growing by 4% per year.
Prepare a minimum 700-word analysis including the following:

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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Choose a common myth associated with managed care. You may use one of the myths discussed in this week's reading assignment, or come up with one on your own. Write a 1-2 page analysis on why you think this myth came about and why it still may be prevalent today. Explain to what degree the myth is based on facts, truths, and misunderstandings.

 
Choose a common myth associated with managed care. You may use one of the myths discussed in this week’s reading assignment, or come up with one on your own. Write a 1-2 page analysis on why you think this myth came about and why it still may be prevalent today. Explain to what degree the myth is based on facts, truths, and misunderstandings.
Summarize the evidence from research that counters or supports the premise of your myth. Conduct research in at least two sources, not including your textbook. Cite your sources using APA style guidelines.

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Analyzing a legislative action-Discuss why you feel the legislative action chosen best coincides with the position and facility that you've chosen

Healthcare policy has been a critical aspect of political administrations over the past 100 years. Understanding the political process and how healthcare policy has changed over the past century is an important start.
Part I:
Write a 2-3 page paper analyzing a minimum of one legislative action that would have an impact on the position and facility you selected. Make sure to include the following:

  1. Discuss      the purpose of the legislative action.
  2. Describe      the problem/problems that the legislative action is trying to solve or      prevent.
  3. Discuss      other viewpoints or opposing viewpoints of the action.
  4. This      portion of your assignment will require you to research and examine      information from various sources. Use a minimum of three credible sources      for your paper, with three being an academic source  (don’t forget to include in-text citations      throughout your paper with paraphrasing or quoting)
  5. Make      sure to include your APA formatted reference page.

Part II: Memos are not a thing of the past. Many organizations use memos as a way to share important information. Write a standard memo to your supervisor highlighting the key points of each arena (Hint: Microsoft Word has many memo templates). SkillSurfer in the online tutoring platform offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced tutorials on Microsoft Office products. Make sure to include the following in your memo:

  1. Discuss why you feel the legislative action chosen best coincides with the position and facility that you’ve chosen.
  2. Discuss      your stance on the chosen legislative action and how it impacts the core      beliefs and ethics of the facility you that you’ve chosen.
  3. Make      sure to use audience specific language and tone in your memo. Remember,      you are writing to your supervisor. Also, remember to use correct      formatting for a business memo.
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You have been invited to speak to a group of newly hired managers at your place of work about management’s role in building and sustaining an organizational culture of ethics and integrity. To prepare for your talk, research and describe five different types of ethical dilemmas that are common in the workplace.

You have been invited to speak to a group of newly hired managers at your place of work about management’s role in building and sustaining an organizational culture of ethics and integrity. To prepare for your talk, research and describe five different types of ethical dilemmas that are common in the workplace. Next, describe the potential impact of each dilemma on the organization, its employees, and stakeholders. Discuss management’s role in preventing unethical behavior among the workforce and describe five strategies that managers can implement to create an ethical workplace culture. Your research for this assignment should include current literature on the topics of workplace ethics, management’s role in creating an ethical work culture, and strategies for preventing unethical behavior at work.
Make sure your paper reflects the concepts addressed in our course materials. Your paper, not counting the title page, reference list, etc., should be no longer than 5 pages. Please provide a minimum of 4 citations within your paper and in your reference list at the end of your paper.

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case study will be about Tesla-identify the forces affecting car manufacturing of alternate energy vehicles

business strategy

Case study 1: Tesla
Practical information
Your first case study will be about Tesla. The deadline for submitting the case is Wednesday, February 21. Please submit as hard copy in class. The maximum length of your submission is 5 pages plus any appendices (e.g. figures or tables).
Information about the case
You are asked to answer three questions about Tesla:
1. Conduct a PORTER’S FIVE FORCES Analysis to identify the forces affecting car manufacturing of alternate energy vehicles.
2. Conduct a PESTEL Analysis to assess the overall external situation under which Tesla and its competitors operate.
3. Conduct a SWOT analysis to analyze internal and external conditions Tesla must consider going forward.
Information about Tesla and the industry of alternate energy vehicles
You are encouraged and required to do your own research from various sources. Remember to reference your data sources.
Here is some additional information and sources to get you started:
Elon Musk is a serial entrepreneur who previously founded Zip2 (an online software provider, sold to Compaq) and PayPal (an online payment processor, sold to eBay). He is now a portfolio entrepreneur with a stake in three Silicon Valley firms: SolarCity (solar panel manufacturer), SpaceX (satellite space exploration), and Tesla Motors (electric car maker). Musk has been lauded for his ability to bring good ideas to life but criticized for his lack of staying power, and the case suggests he sees Tesla as an opportunity to leave a legacy.
The history of Tesla Motors: Tesla was founded by Martin Eberhard and Mark Tarpenning in 2003, with Elon Musk as one of the first investors. Musk took over the lead engineering and managerial roles after discovering that Tesla was losing $50,000 on each Roadster (its electric sports car model) it sold in December 2006. The redesigned Roadster then sold for $109,000 before it was later discontinued in favor of the Roadster 2 and Roadster Sport, as well as designs targeted at larger markets. The Model S (family sedan) prototype was unveiled in 2009, and it received over 2,000 orders, with customers putting down a minimum $5,000 down payment. The Model S received approximately 12,000 orders by 2012 when deliveries began. It is manufactured in a California factory purchased from Toyota. The Model X (family SUV) is planned for release in 2014. An IPO in 2010 that involved a strategic partnership with Toyota (3% stake) helped provide needed cash, but Tesla did not become profitable until 2013.
While it is beginning to expand internationally, Tesla largely competes in the U.S. where the automotive industry has historically been dominated by GM, Ford, and Chrysler. In 2009, the market share of the “Big Three” dropped below 50 percent for the first time as a result of increased competition from German, Japanese, and Korean auto manufacturers. U.S. automakers profited during the “SUV craze” of the 1990s, but were slow to adapt to shifting customer preferences for less expensive, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the 2000s. Their financial troubles were further compounded by high fixed costs for unionized labor, with the result that both GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy following the 2008 financial crisis. GM has largely recovered, but a failed merger with Daimler led to a restructuring, where 25% of the company is now owned by Italian carmaker Fiat, and GM’s pension fund has majority ownership. Ford avoided the need for a government bailout by mortgaging almost all of its assets, including its blue oval trademark that it regained control of in 2012.
Today, the U.S. automotive market has significant competition from foreign firms that began following the oil price shock in 1973–74. Competition largely resulted from German, Japanese, and Korean firms that offered higher quality and better fuel efficiency. From Japan, Toyota, and Honda have a large part of the U.S. market and produce vehicles in the U.S. following voluntary export restraints (VERs) established in 1981. Producing cars in the U.S. helped decrease the liability of foreignness. The three largest German auto manufacturers are Daimler, BMW, and Volkswagen, and they are noted for superior engineering and design. Korean manufacturers, such as Kia and Hyundai, are gaining increased acceptance as lower-cost alternatives that provide fuel-efficiency.
The history of alternative propulsion systems: The U.S. “Big Three” have not been at the forefront of the search for more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly engines. Rather, they respond when necessary due to changing consumer demands (for example, the oil embargos of the 1970s) or the passage of new legislation (for instance, California’s zero-emission vehicle [ZEV] mandate in the 1990s). The ZEV mandate is credited with stimulating early research into electric-car prototypes, but these models were quickly abandoned once automakers defeated the mandate in federal court. Environmental concerns and rising gas prices have increased interest in alternative energy, and a competition for establishing a new standard appears to be emerging among several technologies, including:
· Pure battery electric vehicles (e.g., Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Tesla’s cars)
· Advantages include low noise, no exhaust gases, lower maintenance, and high torque over a larger range of speeds.
· Disadvantages include battery weight and expense, long charging times, and limited range per charge.
· Hybrid gas/electric vehicles (e.g., Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and Chevy Volt)
· Advantages include those of pure electric vehicles without range restriction.
· Disadvantages include weight, cost, and technological complexity.
· Biofuels and natural gas (generally existing models are converted to use these fuels)
· Derived from natural products and do not contribute to CO2 emissions.
· Contribute to increased food prices, farming process uses carbon-based fuels, and governmental subsidies skew prices.
· Hydrogen and fuel cells (largely limited to prototypes)
· May work through combustion or fuel-cell conversion.
· Lack of infrastructure to support refueling.
For electric vehicles, batteries are the “#1 constraint.” Several corporations are investing in battery technology, and no clear standard exists. Initial efforts targeted nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, but their high weight has shifted attention to lithium-ion batteries that provide longer ranges. Still, lithium-ion batteries have safety concerns related to high heat that can lead to fires (e.g., Dell laptops, Boeing 787). Elon Musk is a strong opponent of hybrid vehicles and criticizes the added complexity and weight dedicated to both electric and gas.
The discussion of alternate technologies also identifies two emerging competitors to Tesla. First, is BYD motors of China, which offers electric vehicles and also is investing in battery technology, and boasts Warren Buffett as an investor. Second, Quantum Technologies and Fisker Coachbuild are producing the Fisker Karma, a luxury hybrid.
The lack of a clear standard has hindered the development of needed infrastructure to support alternative-energy vehicles. The U.S. government offers incentives for electric vehicles and recognizes infrastructure is needed to increase adoption by developing a smart grid. Better Place, a California startup, offered another approach whereby consumers buy battery-charged minutes at service stations. The stations provided too many restrictions on design, and the company went bankrupt in 2013. Another idea was to replace the electrolyte in batteries in a format similar to existing stations. In advancing its design as the standard, Tesla has begun a network of service stations that allow customers of its Model S vehicles to charge batteries or have fully charged batteries swapped into their vehicles.
Tesla’s current challenges and strategic choices: Additional alliances with other automotive firms and new alliances with battery manufacturers represent a valid consideration. Additionally, electric vehicles face price and performance pressure from consumers, who expect similar cost and performance to gas vehicles. This has led to Tesla moving from outsourced production of the Roadster to internal manufacturing of the Model S and Model X in its California plant where production has ramped up from only 5 vehicles a month to over 500 vehicles a month in under a year. The expansion of capacity is further constrained by high expectations for quality in Tesla’s vehicles. Increased attention of Tesla vehicles following the Model S being named “car of the year” by Motor Trend was followed by negative articles recounting the difficulty of taking a road trip in a Model S.
Additional Resources
1. Elon Musk discussing first Tesla Model S fire (2:30), see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3Si8FWb18. The problem led to a Model S software change that keeps the car higher off the ground at highway speeds.
2. Elon Musk discussing Tesla Model S fires after the third fire, comparing electric car safety to gasoline-powered vehicles (1:07), see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGoobeIU4bQ
3. German auto safety agency determines Tesla Model S design is free of defects following three fires, see: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/12/02/tesla-model-s-fires-germany/3815687/
4. Planned locations of Tesla’s stations, see: http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/30/autos/tesla-west-coast-supercharger/index.html?iid=HP_LN
1. Tesla website (http://www.teslamotors.com/models) has worthwhile information on its different models, including cost comparisons. The website changes fairly often, so it is best to start at the homepage and review it before class.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XdiGMIUxeY (7:24). Video of Tesla media event comparing the speed of refilling a car with gas or swapping a battery out of a Model S at a Tesla station.
3. For additional reading, a July 2013 Bloomberg Businessweek article entitled: “Why everyone loves Tesla,” see: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-18/the-tesla-electric-cars-creators-chase-their-iphone-moment. It also includes a video of Tesla’s manufacturing facility.
4. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tesla-has-a-big-lead-over-its-rivals-in-one-chart-2016-01-14