Core Assessment – Problem-Solution Business Report with Research
Due Date: By 11:59m., Sunday, CT.
The final assignment in this course will bring together all the business communication skills you have learned throughout the term. Your final writing project for this course is a 9-10 page formal business report in which you will:
- specify a real organization you have worked in/with
- identify a real problem or situation within that organization that needs addressing
- conduct research to help you analyze the problem and weigh possible solutions
- describe the problem and recommend a course of action in a formal report that
- targets a specific decision-making audience within the organization
How do I choose an organization?
You get to choose your problem and organizational context you wish to write in, but the important thing is that you choose an organization you actually are familiar with as a participant, as this tends to make better reports. You don’t want to just choose a random company like Nike if you have never worked for them, as you will not be able to really identify an actual problem within the company, or be able to suggest solutions that would actually work in that particular organization. You also wouldn’t have any ideas about how to persuade your audience, as you likely would not know who your report would be directed to or what their needs, expectations, beliefs, or values are.
You can choose organizations you currently work for or have worked for in the past, but you might also consider other organizations that you are involved with, for example, non-profit or religious organizations, military branches, student groups, parent groups, clubs, or hobbyist organizations. Sometimes students have not had jobs before – that is ok, as you have certainly been part of some organization in your lifetime; in fact, you are part of an organization right now by participating in this class! Park University does count as an organization you are part of and can propose solutions to.
What makes a good problem?
This is an important question to really think about as not every problem makes for a good report. One thing to consider is whether a formal report would even be appropriate or necessary to solve the problem you have identified. Some problems are fairly easily solved, have obvious solutions, or do not require research to find a solution. You want to choose problem that is
- Researchable
- Not yes/no or too obviously solved
- A real problem that affects actual people, or that affect the organization’s productivity, effectiveness, morale, or profitability
Can you give me some examples?
Yes! Here are some real examples of reports other Park students have written:
Example 1:
Bailey recently got a new job in a preschool as a classroom teacher. When filling out her paperwork, she was asked to sign a Gossip Policy in which she was asked to agree that she could be terminated immediately without severance if she gossiped at work. The policy was fairly vague about what gossip actually is, and Bailey has doubts about the legality or effectiveness of this policy, so she decides to conduct research on gossip policies, gossip in the workplace, and effective strategies for preventing unproductive gossip in the workplace.
During her research, she discovers through industry magazines for human resources personnel that gossip policies are a new trend in HR and have spread like wildfire throughout many companies in the last few years. She also finds out from news sources that these policies have already have been challenged in court and might be considered by the National Labor Relations Board to be a constitutional violation of the 1st amendment. By using the library databases, she finds lots of scholarly research on gossip in the workplace, including articles that suggest that gossip policies could be discriminatory (since published research shows that women are more likely to be perceived as gossiping). She discovers some organizational communication research that shows that there is both positive and negative workplace gossip, and she also finds sources that address how to discourage workplace toxicity.
Bailey uses the information she gathered from her diverse sources to write a formal report to the director of her pre-school in which she shows how the current policy is problematic from both a legal and morale perspective, and suggests a more effective method of discouraging negative workplace gossip.
Example 2:
Ben is an international student at Park University, who struggled during his first year to adapt to an American context and educational system. Although Park University offers some resources for international students to help them adjust and be successful, Ben wonders if other schools have more effective orientation programs for international students. Ben reviews the websites for international student programs at other colleges and universities, and he also discovers that there is a wealth of academic research on international students, and innovative programs for helping international students succeed. Ben uses this research to propose a new orientation program for international students to the Director of Park’s Office of International Education.
Some shorter examples:
Julie works for a local retail store with several branches in the area. Several of the branches have been robbed in recent weeks. She researches how retail stores like hers can discourage robberies, and she discovers that there are a number of tactics that have been shown by research to reduce theft and robbery. She writes a report to her district manager suggesting changes to store layout, inventory management, installation of cameras and mirrors, discounts and perks for law enforcement, and use of greeters at the door.
Jim is a former Marine and is interested in helping veterans with PTSD and sleep disorders. He does research on effective sleep therapy tactics used with veterans, such as sleep journals, and suggests a special program to a director at Veteran’s Affairs as a supplement to their already existing programs for veterans with PTSD.
Eddie works in a food-service industry characterized by toxic workplace relationships including both verbal (and even sometimes physical) confrontations between employees. He researches conflict resolution and management training programs to suggest a new training program to his district manager to improve employee relationships, improve management intervention, and to promote productive conflict solutions in his workplace.
How will this project be completed?
To prepare for completion of the final draft of the report, you will:
- Discuss organizations, problems, and audiences in Unit 1
- Propose a topic and audience and do some preliminary research in Unit 4,
- Prepare a first draft in Unit 6,
- Receive peer and instructor feedback in Unit 7
- Submit the final revised report in Unit 8
This is a term-long assignment, so you should be working on it a little bit each unit, even if the assignments or discussions during a particular unit may address other assignments. Feel free to bounce ideas off your instructor or fellow students in the discussion areas related to the assignment or ask questions about your project in the instructor’s office area of the course.
What are the requirements for the assignment?
We will use the medium level of formality for the report, which you can find in a table on pg. 597. For our purposes, we will also add a bibliography page to cite your sources.
That means that your report must have each of these parts, correctly formatted according to the guidelines found on the sample report beginning on page 598.
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- Executive summary
- Introduction
- Body (with headings/subheadings as you choose)
- Conclusion and Recommendations
- Bibliography
Visuals
Your report must use at least one visual you composed yourself, though you may also use other images so long as you cite the image source under the image. We will talk in more detail about visuals in Unit 6, but keep in mind that visuals could include photographs, diagram, charts, graphs, tables, etc.
To make data visualizations, you can use data from your research which you can then turn into a graph or chart. Both Word and Excel can make simple visualizations, and there are a range of free data visualization and image manipulation programs available. For example, say a research article gives you some statistics in the form of percentages. You could turn those numbers into a pie chart. Make sure to cite your data source under the images you compose (differentiate between image source and data source, please, so your instructor can tell the difference between images you have borrowed and cited from elsewhere, and images you made yourself).
A good report will:
- Follow the guidelines and format on report writing
- Use effective organization and document design
- Use sources effectively to construct and support your position
- Use effective and grammatically correct business style
- Use you-attitude and positive emphasis
- Use at least one visual you composed yourself, effectively
- Be revised and edited, with the assistance of your peers and instructor
- Cite sources appropriately in the text and in the reference page using a citation style appropriate to your field of study (MLA or APA style; other styles as permitted by your instructor).
Running head: EXPANSIVE MARKETING IN WALMART 1
EXPANSIVE MARKETING IN WALMART 7
Instructor comments: Roderick, you have a well written explanation of your report focus. Annotated Bibliography also looks good — but review APA fotmatting
Expansive Marketing in Walmart
Roderick Hooks
Park University EN306B
Expansive Marketing in Walmart
Organization
Walmart is a multinational retail company. The corporation has established a wide operational base globally. Today, it has over 10,000 stores across the globe making it the largest retail store in the world. Despite the fact the company enjoys a wide range of market, it still seeks to expand further and improve is operational efficiency. It is evident that the store is not fully effective in other markets such as Africa and Asia. The company is keen at ensuring that it enjoys the market within the areas. Despite the fact of employing over 2.1 million employees the company seeks to come up with better strategies that would enable it to be highly effective within the market. the company is keen at adopting strategies that would enable it expand within the market. The paper addresses the need of the company to apply expansive marketing.
Problem
The failure of the company to expand to the African and Asian markets is a key issue of concern that affects the operations of the company negatively. It is evident that the markets would enable the company to increase its revenue in a positive way. Despite of the positive image that the corporation has within the global market, it has failed to identify the correct way forward, a look at the porter five forces explains the situation that the company faces in a broader perspective. the fact that they are some other established companies within the market affects the ability of the company to experience an easy entry (Sudit, 2014). The need to come up with an expansive marketing strategy perfectly plays out in this case as it would enable the company to tap the African and Asian markets effectively. Comment by Bradley Lycan: comma Comment by Bradley Lycan: cap Comment by Bradley Lycan: APA citation looks good Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good report focus
Country Overview
Expansion into the African and Asian market is a key problem of the retail corporation. The company lacks the ability to be fully effectual in the expansion of the markets within the region. Despite the expansive measures that the company takes plays an effectual part in this respective case. It facilitates the promotion of better practices that are focused on the interest of the company in a positive way (Arun & Meenakshi, 2017). The marketing department plays an important role in the promotion of positive aspects that leads to the expansion of the company activities. the need to come up with a strategic way of expanding to the specified markets have proven to be quite hard based market tastes and preferences. The company needs to come up with a productive way of ensuring that it expands to the market. Comment by Bradley Lycan: Yes—proposal statement
Primary Decision-Making Audience
The top management of the company plays an effective role in the promotion of appropriate company practices. the management needs to ensure that it comes up with a reliable framework that facilitates smooth decision-making process. apparently, the CEO of the company together with the other members of the board have already identified the problem. It is a key issue of concern that calls for the corrective action based on the fact that the previous attempts that the company has made have not succeeded (Sudit, 2014). The process is affected by the long decision-making process and the decentralized system of management that affects the top management structure to get the correct set of information that is required. It is evident that the management plays an effective part in ensuring that the matter is appropriately addressed with respect of the case which is an important matter of concern in this case. Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good observation
The CEO of the company plays an effectual part in the promotion of better processes that are effectual in the implementation of a better framework. in this case. The company needs to ensure that it development of better practice that would focus on the market expansion strategy. The process comes with the implementation of reliable frameworks that leads to the increase of the funding to ensure that the expansion steps are given the utmost consideration (Kahn, 2016). The process comes with the implementation of better notions that are focused on the long-term interest of the company. The top management needs to make the decision to focus on the African and Asian market for the company to increase its productivity in a positive way. It is a measure that is developed through effective collaboration and other effective measures that are important for the retail corporation.
Questions
What are the countries that the company would focus on? Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good areas to explore
The cultural skeptics are the key issues of concern that the company would be keen at addressing
Political
Social
Cultural
economics
Which expansion strategy should be applied by the company?
A look at the existing marketing skeptics that would be effectual if they are appropriately addressed. the practice comes with the adoption of measures that are proven to be effectual. factors such as social media advertisings and television adverts would consider.
Is the expansion measure effective?
A look at the proven results to evaluate the situation plays an effectual part in the provision of a long-lasting solution in relation to the matter being addressed.
Is the expansion technique cost effective?
Looking at the costs involved also plays an effective part in this case. They address the practices that need to be placed under a broader consideration based on the fact that various issues are addressed.
What are the expected outcomes?
The results are expected to be effective as it addresses the different forms of positive outcomes that are positively related to the practices. the company is likely to expand in the markets if key [practices are put into practice.
Annotated
Bibliography Comment by Bradley Lycan: List reading sources in alphabetic order
Sudit, E. F. (2014). Productivity Based Management. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Sudit is keen at identifying positive practices that reflects on the expansive marketing. The author addresses expansive marketing through productivity-based management that has proven to be highly effectual if appropriate measures are put in place. He explains the procedures that need to be taken to ensure that a better structure is implemented by the company that represents its full interest in a positive way. The measure comes with the promotion of better management measures.
The source is credible based on the fact that author conducted a detailed research on management before authoring the book. It outlines all the necessary practices that need to be observed to ensure that companies would be effective in their expansion. It is a measure that continues to be expansive and effective only if appropriate management practices are put into place with respect to marketing.
Arun, K., & Meenakshi, N. (2017). Marketing management. Noida: Vikas Publishing House.
The authors are keen on explaining marketing management which is a beneficial practice that focuses in the interest of the company. It explains the effectual ways in which the company is highly effectual in the promotion of better practices that focuses on the long-term expansion of companies. The authors explain how marketing departments need to candidate with each other to promote expansive marketing. The practice leads to the expansion of better practices that focuses on the interest of the company marketing prospects in a beneficial manner. the activity leads to the promotion of better measures that is effectual for the company progress.
The source is a valid one based on the fact that it addresses all the necessary aspect of marketing that the company needs to implement. It explains the necessary information that is clearly validated which is a key issue of concern that needs ti be appropriately promoted.
Kahn, K. B. (2016). New product forecasting: An applied approach. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Kahn explains the key aspects of forecasting that are important to understand and implement. He explains how the aspect is utilized by mots companies before expanding to the market. it is a key practice that involves the effective collaborations of various departments to ensure that better measures are implemented. The practice promotes positive measures that promotes positive practices that involves the interest of the company alone which is an essential issue of concern. Walmart can adopt the practice to promote better management skeptics. It is a measure that is highly effective if the company is keen at observing the appropriate measures that involves the company.
The source is valid based on the fact that reliable research was done to come up with an appropriate solution to the issue that the company faces. It is a practice that depends on the willingness of the company to clearly adopt and promote positive measures.
References
Sudit, E. F. (2014). Productivity Based Management. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Arun, K., & Meenakshi, N. (2017). Marketing management. Noida: Vikas Publishing House.
Kahn, K. B. (2016). New product forecasting: An applied approach. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Running head: EXPANSIVE MARKETING IN WALMART 1
EXPANSIVE MARKETING IN WALMART 2
Roderick: you have a fine report draft in development and format. Polish what you want to compete your report for this EN306b class.
APA citation and APA Ref. page good.
Expansive Marketing in Walmart
Roderick Hooks
Park University EN306B
Expansive Marketing in Walmart
Organization
Walmart is a multinational retail company. The corporation has established a wide operational base globally. Today, it has over 10,000 stores across the globe making it the largest retail store in the world. Despite the fact the company enjoys a wide range of market, it still seeks to expand further and improve is operational efficiency. It is evident that the store is not fully effective in other markets such as Africa and Asia. The company is keen at ensuring that it enjoys the market within the areas. Despite the fact of employing over 2.1 million employees the company seeks to come up with better strategies that would enable it to be highly effective within the market. the company is keen at adopting strategies that would enable it expand within the market. The paper addresses the need of the company to apply expansive marketing. Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good statement of report focus
Problem
The failure of the company to expand to the African and Asian markets is a key issue of concern that affects the operations of the company negatively. It is evident that the markets would enable the company to increase its revenue in a positive way. Despite of the positive image that the corporation has within the global market, it has failed to identify the correct way forward, a look at the porter five forces explains the situation that the company faces in a broader perspective. The fact that they are some other established companies within the market affects the ability of the company to experience an easy entry (Sudit, 2014). The need to come up with an expansive marketing strategy perfectly plays out in this case as it would enable the company to tap the African and Asian markets effectively. Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good use of APA citation Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good proposal idea statement
Dealing with the foreign market is a key matter of concern that the company is focused at addressing based on the long-term interest that comes with the practice. The need to develop an operational framework that focuses on the interest of the people is a basic matter of concern. The activity entails understanding how the market operates and come up with a realistic framework that focuses on the interest of the [people in a positive way (Sudit, 2014). Ideally, the use of porter five forces is a key factor of concern that involves positive operational measures that clearly reflects on the will of the market. The African and Asian markets have key operational factors that the company needs to focus on in order to create a perfect operational network that would enable the company to operate in the markets. Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good assessment of your market plan focus
Country Overview
Expansion into the African and Asian market is a key problem of the retail corporation. The company lacks the ability to be fully effectual in the expansion of the markets within the region. The countries act as the potential market that the company could focus on. The ability of majority of the populous to purchase the product of the company is a positive matter of concern. However, the dynamic nature of the markets of the countries in the region create a complicated network that the company could operate on (Arun & Meenakshi, 2017). It creates a difficult time for the company in drafting a strategy that deals with the company network. It is a key factor that leads to the positive operational strategies that the marketing department needs to deal with based on operational complications. Today, the marketing departments tries to identify the perfect way in which it would be able to deal with the market if the strategies come to work. The application of operational strategies also plays out in this specified case.
Despite the expansive measures that the company takes plays an effectual part in this respective case. It facilitates the promotion of better practices that are focused on the interest of the company in a positive way (Arun & Meenakshi, 2017). The marketing department plays an important role in the promotion of positive aspects that leads to the expansion of the company activities. the need to come up with a strategic way of expanding to the specified markets have proven to be quite hard based market tastes and preferences. The company needs to come up with a productive way of ensuring that it expands to the market. Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good reading and discussion
Primary Decision-Making Audience
The top management of the company plays an effective role in the promotion of appropriate company practices. the management needs to ensure that it comes up with a reliable framework that facilitates smooth decision-making process. apparently, the CEO of the company together with the other members of the board have already identified the problem. It is a key issue of concern that calls for the corrective action based on the fact that the previous attempts that the company has made have not succeeded (Sudit, 2014). The process is affected by the long decision-making process and the decentralized system of management that affects the top management structure to get the correct set of information that is required. It is evident that the management plays an effective part in ensuring that the matter is appropriately addressed with respect of the case which is an important matter of concern in this case.
The primary decision-making unit plays an important role in the implementation of better operational skeptics that focuses on the interest of the company. The top management and middle management make up the decision makers. The middle management is mostly utilized in situation where short-term operational decisions take place (Sudit, 2014). This is based on the fact that they are responsible for the promotional methods that the company has already approved and normally make small decisions in regards to it. the decisions making on major issues relies on the top management. The top management is made up of managers that are in charge of various departments and their decision normally reflects the will of the company to adjust buy the changes that involves the positive management of the company which is a key matter of concern that needs to be positively addressed in this case.
The CEO of the company plays an effectual part in the promotion of better processes that are effectual in the implementation of a better framework. in this case. The company needs to ensure that it development of better practice that would focus on the market expansion strategy. The process comes with the implementation of reliable frameworks that leads to the increase of the funding to ensure that the expansion steps are given the utmost consideration (Kahn, 2016). The process comes with the implementation of better notions that are focused on the long-term interest of the company. The top management needs to make the decision to focus on the African and Asian market for the company to increase its productivity in a positive way. It is a measure that is developed through effective collaboration and other effective measures that are important for the retail corporation.
Questions Comment by Bradley Lycan: Good questions
What are the countries that the company would focus on?
The cultural skeptics are the key issues of concern that the company would be keen at addressing
Political
Social
Cultural
Economics
The question focuses on the countries that the company would focus on based on the fact that Africa and south America is made up of numerous countries. The careful selection of the country plays an important role in the general operations of the company as the company interest would be positively reflected which is an important unit of concern that the company might focus on based on the importance of the entire process in the interest of the company.
Which expansion strategy should be applied by the company?
A look at the existing marketing skeptics that would be effectual if they are appropriately addressed. the practice comes with the adoption of measures that are proven to be effectual. factors such as social media advertisings and television adverts would consider.
The selection of the expansion strategy is a key matter of concern that determines the success of the company. It is a measure that comes with the application of the appropriate technique to ensure that the company is highly effectual in the strategy that it selects. The strategy expansion strategy is a measure that comes with the observation of order and understanding which is a key factor that assures the positive operational skeptics of the company within the industry.
Is the expansion measure effective?
A look at the proven results to evaluate the situation plays an effectual part in the provision of a long-lasting solution in relation to the matter being addressed. The questions involve conducting a detailed assessment on the correct way forward that the company could apply. A look at the success of the expansion measure effectiveness is a positive issue of concern that positively focuses on the interest pf the company. The factor plays an important role in enabling the company to come up to with drawbacks measures and alternatives that would give the company a better position of the company within the market.
Is the expansion technique cost effective? Comment by Bradley Lycan: Tis always takes details for a real-to-life action plan
Looking at the costs involved also plays an effective part in this case. They address the practices that need to be placed under a broader consideration based on the fact that various issues are addressed. Focusing on the cost effective on the expansion measure is a key factor of concern that the management can focus on is a positive matter of concern that comes with the adoption of key company measures that reflects the interest of the company. The assessment of the cost’s effectiveness is a measure that is promoted by team coordination.
What are the expected outcomes?
The results are expected to be effective as it addresses the different forms of positive outcomes that are positively related to the practices. the company is likely to expand in the markets if key [practices are put into practice.
Looking at the expected outcomes is a key measure of concern that the company is focused at addressing. This is based on the fact that the expansive strategy needs to be successful for it to represent the positive needs of the company which plays an important part in directing the future direction that the company needs to take to make its operations to be more effective. The practice facilitates the positive development of concepts that are focused on the assessment of basic issues such as customer feedback, brand image and company sales within the new markets which are important issues that requires further assessments for them to be fully effective within the market in a positive way which is an essential issue of concern that needs proper assessment to determine the success levels.
Annotated Bibliography Comment by Bradley Lycan: good
Arun, K., & Meenakshi, N. (2017). Marketing management. Noida: Vikas Publishing House.
The authors are keen on explaining marketing management which is a beneficial practice that focuses in the interest of the company. It explains the effectual ways in which the company is highly effectual in the promotion of better practices that focuses on the long-term expansion of companies. The authors explain how marketing departments need to candidate with each other to promote expansive marketing. The practice leads to the expansion of better practices that focuses on the interest of the company marketing prospects in a beneficial manner. the activity leads to the promotion of better measures that is effectual for the company progress. The management of marketing is a key focus of the authors in this case. It is a measure that is highly effective based on the fact that it provides the clear way forward that companies could approach marketing operations without any form of complication. It is a practice that comes with addressing positive operational skeptics that involves the interest of the company in a positive way which is an essential unit of concern that has proven to be highly productive.
The source is a valid one based on the fact that it addresses all the necessary aspect of marketing that the company needs to implement. It explains the necessary information that is clearly validated which is a key issue of concern that needs ti be appropriately promoted.
Kahn, K. B. (2016). New product forecasting: An applied approach. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Kahn explains the key aspects of forecasting that are important to understand and implement. He explains how the aspect is utilized by mots companies before expanding to the market. it is a key practice that involves the effective collaborations of various departments to ensure that better measures are implemented. The practice promotes positive measures that promotes positive practices that involves the interest of the company alone which is an essential issue of concern. Walmart can adopt the practice to promote better management skeptics. It is a measure that is highly effective if the company is keen at observing the appropriate measures that involves the company. The applied approach that is applied in the product forecasting is a measure that the author explains in a perfect way. Ideally, it provides a directional skeptic that facilitates the company to be fully productive in its daily operations. The use of the source is a key factor that has enabled the company to continue being productive in a positive way within the market.
The source is valid based on the fact that reliable research was done to come up with an appropriate solution to the issue that the company faces. It is a practice that depends on the willingness of the company to clearly adopt and promote positive measures.
Sudit, E. F. (2014). Productivity Based Management. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Sudit is keen at identifying positive practices that reflects on the expansive marketing. The author addresses expansive marketing through productivity-based management that has proven to be highly effectual if appropriate measures are put in place. He explains the procedures that need to be taken to ensure that a better structure is implemented by the company that represents its full interest in a positive way. The measure comes with the promotion of better management measures. The source has emphasis on the positive aspect that is associated with the management that is based on productivity. The author elaborates on the positive aspects associated with the application of the activity to the general operations of the company. The initiative has proven to be fully effective based on the operational framework that is applied in the normal company operations. It is a positive activity that facilitates the decision-making process that Walmart may apply. It application is a basic matter of concern that would guide the decision making process of the company in a positive way that is fully effective if key considerations are put in place.
The credibility of the source is something that cannot be ignored based on the positive result associated with it. The source is credible based on the fact that author conducted a detailed research on management before authoring the book. It outlines all the necessary practices that need to be observed to ensure that companies would be effective in their expansion. It is a measure that continues to be expansive and effective only if appropriate management practices are put into place with respect to marketing.
References Comment by Bradley Lycan: APA looks good
Arun, K., & Meenakshi, N. (2017). Marketing management. Noida: Vikas Publishing House.
Kahn, K. B. (2016). New product forecasting: An applied approach. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Sudit, E. F. (2014). Productivity Based Management. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.