Assessment 1 MBA FPX5910

Create a 24 page (single-spaced) project summary that describes your chosen organization, defines the scope of a business problem or opportunity in that organization, and provides a strategy for how you will go about your capstone project. Include a discussion of the type of data you will need, and how your topic allows you to demonstrate each of the MBA program outcomes.

Then create a 25 page annotated outline that includes the sections to be analyzed, ethical decision-making aspects of the topic, main points of the recommendation, and credible evidence you plan to use for supporting the analysis and recommendations.

Collapse AllIntroduction

This course revolves around the creation of a single, significant capstone project. In other words, a project that caps off your learning and your program, allowing you to demonstrate the competencies of leadership and collaboration, ethical and evidence-based decision making, and innovative and strategic thinking.

For your capstone, you will choose a real company and analyze it in a way that demonstrates your understanding of the MBA program outcomes. You will turn your analysis of that company into a written report with recommendations and a formal presentation for your intended audience.

Project Summary

Having a solid, doable scope is an important part of creating a successful capstone project, and the exact scope is up to you. To help you establish a realistic scope, you will start with the project summary. Be careful to consider the scalability of your project scope, ensuring that it demonstrates your ability to lead in a business environment and showcases your achievement of all MBA program outcomes.

Examples

A scope that is poorly defined:

• I want to write a general analysis of the bookseller, Barnes & Noble.
• This topic is too broad, and it would probably require hundreds of pages to address all of the possible analyses.

A scope that is better defined:

• I want to focus on how Barnes & Noble has managed to survive the Internet age while Borders has crumbled.
• What makes this a better scope? The scope is grounded in a problem (such as how to survive Internet competition) or opportunity (such as the area lacking a business that you plan to open), which allows you to focus the analysis.
• It must also allow for you to analyze and suggest evidence-based recommendations, takeaways, or actionable next steps as the crux of your project.

Important note: You must be able to prove the problem with evidence. So in the above example, you would also provide data showing that Barnes & Noble is profitable, perhaps comparing Barnes & Noble income or profits to Borders in its last years.

Annotated Outline

While everyone has their own process for writing, creating an outline is often an important early step in the process in all types of writing, even for the most seasoned writers. By creating an outline, you draft a plan that organizes your thoughts, helps you see gaps in your thought process, and enables you to decide where in your paper you will address particular issues.

An annotated outline is a document that organizes the main sections to be included in your paper. The annotations are based on thinking through your approach to the paper and developing enough detail that anyone who reads the outline can follow your thought process.

The purpose of this annotated outline is as follows:

• To build an annotated outline that shows the key sections of your analysis, the ethical considerations, and the leadership and collaboration aspects that you intend to include in your capstone project. With this outline, faculty can understand the organization and purpose of your paper; upon approval, you may move forward to writing the capstone project (Assessment 2).
• To help you manage your work because you will need to start researching now (if you have not already) to create your annotated outline.
• To demonstrate that you know how to cite in APA format by including some quotations or paraphrases from researched sources. The sources you include in the outline may or may not be used in your actual paper.
• To demonstrate your ability to create a well-organized document, suitable for academic or business, that meets established criteria.

Preparation

Read the .

Instructions

Capstone Project Summary

For this section of the assessment, introduce the organization you have chosen to research, why you chose it, the scope of your project, and how it will allow you to demonstrate all of the MBA program outcomes.

Write a 24 page project summary, in professional writing style, that details the topic and scope of your capstone project. Your project summary should be clear and concise yet thorough enough for faculty to provide feedback and guidance. Your project summary should be well-organized and include the following section headers:

• Organization: Describe the background of your chosen organization.
• Provide a brief background of your selected organization. For instance, discuss its product lines, number of years in business, organization structure, location, et cetera.
• If you choose an organization for which you work, your introduction must include a statement that you received permission to use the company from a supervisor.
• Scope: Describe a business topic, problem, or opportunity within that organization that you intend to research.
• Describe the problem or opportunity you see that makes this company a good choice.
• Explain the scope of your project by clearly identifying the topics or areas you intend to research.
• Provide a general action plan on how you will research, analyze, and identify recommendations or solutions to this business challenge or opportunity.
• Establish the premise of your paper (the problem or need) with evidence. For example, if your plan is to talk about how Dillard’s department store can come back after a huge financial loss, you should include citations that establish its dramatic financial loss.
• Data: Explain the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.
• Discuss the general type of data sources you will be using to inform your analysis. Provide at least two specific sources that you are considering. These resources should be from credible sources such as the Wall Street Journal, IBIS, et cetera. Use the excellent for locating credible resources from the Capella library’s business databases and article collections.
• Include the process or steps on how you will access the data necessary for analysis of a business topic or challenge.
• Identify any special requirements that you might need to meet to access the data you will need.
• Explain risks you think will be encountered and the mitigation plan to manage those risks.
• Demonstrating MBA program outcomes: Explain how your topic will allow you to showcase your leadership ability by demonstrating each MBA program outcome.
• List out each program outcome clearly, and then explain in 34 sentences how your topic will allow you to demonstrate each. The MBA program outcomes are listed in the MBA Capstone Project Description document.
• Identify specific items of your project summary that you believe demonstrates the outcome.
• Conclusion.
• Wrap up your paper with a clear, concise conclusion that summarizes your plan. Just a couple sentences is fine.

Annotated Outline

For this part of the assessment, create an annotated outline that provides a framework of your capstone project. Begin by reviewing the . Your annotated outline must state the name of your chosen organization and must include the following items:

• Identify the main sections to be developed in the paper and tie them to the project objectives.
• In your key sections, you should use at least four main headings; these sections make up the body of your outline.
• Each heading must have at least two sub-points to develop the detail required.
• Include a description of each major point.
• Identify where each supporting reference will be integrated.
• Include at least one reference to support each major point of the paper.
• Incorporate relevant quotes or paraphrases from a source that you might use for support, with an APA in-text citation.
• Identify main points that address ethical aspects associated with your chosen business.
• Ethical considerations/aspects should also be one of the headings of your outline.
• Use the program outcomes to help determine the areas of ethics that you might want to cover.
• Include at least one reference to elaborate on how you intend to cover ethics in your project.
• Identify main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with your chosen business.
• Leadership and collaboration considerations/aspects should also be one of the headings of your outline.
• Review the program outcomes to determine the areas of leadership and collaboration that you should consider.
• Include at least one reference to elaborate on how you intend to cover leadership and collaboration in your project.
• Identify main points of your recommendations. Your recommendations should also be one of the headings of your outline.
• Identify credible evidence to support an analysis.
• For the evidence you provide, include key points to clarify why it matters and how it will inform the analysis.

Your annotated outline section of the assessment should have these section headers:

• An executive summary.
• An introduction.
• The body of your outline should comprise at least four main headings with additional subheadings and points. (Never use the word Body as a heading or subheading.)
• A conclusion.
• References. Use APA style and formatting for all the sources you use in the annotated outline.

Submission Requirements

Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:

• Style:
• Your project summary should follow the corresponding MBA Academic and Professional Document guidelines (available in the ) for academic style. It should be single-spaced, use subheadings, and be well-organized and well-written.
• Your annotated outline should be written in academic format; refer to the corresponding MBA Academic and Professional Document Guidelines (available in the ). It should be single-spaced, use subheadings, and be well-organized and well-written.
• Communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message and quality.
• APA guidelines: Format paper and citations according to current APA style and formatting.
• Resources:
• Your project summary: At least one resource should be a scholarly article or other content found in the Capella library, and one should be from the Wall Street Journal. If using Internet sources, evaluate them appropriately to make sure they are credible resources.
• Your outline should use at least four resources from credible resources.
• The total length of your assessment should be 49 pages:
• Your project summary should be 24 pages.
• Your annotated outline should be 25 pages.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

ePortfolio

You should consider adding this to your and personal portfolio. Being able to demonstrate the organization necessary to construct an outline is a valuable skill set. Additionally, your finished capstone project should be added to your ePortfolio, and by having the annotated outline, you can show how you arrived at the final deliverable.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Apply foundational knowledge and an understanding of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines.
• Identify the main sections to be developed in the paper and tie them to the project objectives.
• Competency 2: Integrate information across disciplines and from differing perspectives.
• Describe the background of the chosen organization.
• Identify where each supporting reference will be integrated.
• Competency 3: Think critically and analytically to provide evidence-based solutions to business challenges and opportunities.
• Describe an intended business topic, problem, or opportunity to research.
• Explain the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.
• Explain how the topic will allow showcasing of leadership ability by demonstrating some MBA program outcomes.
• Identify main points of recommendations.
• Competency 5: Lead and collaborate in virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments.
• Identify main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with the chosen business.
• Competency 6: Integrate principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions.
• Identify main points that address ethical aspects associated with the chosen business.
• Competency 7: Communicate clearly and effectively in a business environment.
• Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional.
• Cite sources and references in proper APA format.

Scoring Guide

Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.

Collapse AllCriterion 1

Describe the background of the chosen organization.

Distinguished

Describes the background of the chosen organization; includes factors or characteristics about the organization that makes it appropriate to use for the capstone project.

Proficient

Describes the background of the chosen organization.

Basic

Identifies an organization but does not describe sufficient details to gauge whether the organization is an appropriate selection for use in the capstone project.

Non Performance

Does not identify a specific, real organization.

Criterion 2

Describe an intended business topic, problem, or opportunity to research.

Distinguished

Describes an intended business topic, problem, or opportunity to research; provides concrete examples and citations that support selection of the business and the scope of research.

Proficient

Describes an intended business topic, problem, or opportunity to research.

Basic

Identifies a business topic, problem, or opportunity, but the research intent and scope is unclear.

Non Performance

Does not identify a business topic, problem, or opportunity.

Criterion 3

Explain the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.

Distinguished

Explains the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine a business topic, problem, or opportunity; outlines the process for obtaining the data and mitigating risks in obtaining the data.

Proficient

Explains the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.

Basic

Identifies the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.

Non Performance

Does not identify the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.

Criterion 4

Explain how the topic will allow showcasing of leadership ability by demonstrating some MBA program outcomes.

Distinguished

Explains how the topic will allow showcasing of leadership ability by demonstrating some MBA program outcomes; the explanation includes specific details and examples.

Proficient

Explains how the topic will allow showcasing of leadership ability by demonstrating some MBA program outcomes.

Basic

Explains how the topic will allow demonstration of each MBA program outcome; however, the explanation does not support the alignment of topics to the program outcomes.

Non Performance

Does not explain how the topic will allow demonstration of MBA program outcomes.

Criterion 5

Identify the main sections to be developed in the paper and tie them to the project objectives.

Distinguished

Identifies the main sections to be developed in the paper and ties them to the project objectives, taking care to clarify the importance of each section.

Proficient

Identifies the main sections to be developed in the paper and tie them to the project objectives.

Basic

Identifies some key sections to be developed in the paper and somewhat ties them to the project objectives.

Non Performance

Does not identify key sections to be developed in the paper.

Criterion 6

Identify where each supporting reference will be integrated.

Distinguished

Identifies where each supporting reference will be integrated; incorporates relevant quotes or paraphrases from credible sources.

Proficient

Identifies where each supporting reference will be integrated.

Basic

Identifies where each supporting reference will be integrated; however, the quotes or paraphrases lack relevancy or credibility is suspect.

Non Performance

Does not identify where each supporting reference will be integrated.

Criterion 7

Identify main points of recommendations.

Distinguished

Identifies main points of recommendations; includes specific details to connect analysis with recommendations.

Proficient

Identifies main points of recommendations.

Basic

Identifies some points of recommendations but lacks clarity.

Non Performance

Does not identify main points of recommendations.

Criterion 8

Identify main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with the chosen business.

Distinguished

Identifies main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with the chosen business; includes specific details that address leadership and collaboration considerations.

Proficient

Identifies main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with the chosen business.

Basic

Identifies main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with the chosen business; however, the description is incomplete or somewhat aligns and sources are from questionable sources.

Non Performance

Does not identify main points that address leadership and collaboration aspects associated with the chosen business.

Criterion 9

Identify main points that address ethical aspects associated with the chosen business.

Distinguished

Identifies main points that address ethical aspects associated with the chosen business; includes specific details for conveying the ethical context, situation, or consideration.

Proficient

Identifies main points that address ethical aspects associated with the chosen business.

Basic

Identifies main points that address ethical aspects associated with the chosen business; however, the ethical aspects are not clear.

Non Performance

Does not identify main points that address ethical aspects associated with the chosen business.

Criterion 10

Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional.

Distinguished

Writes coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional; writing is free from errors and formatted appropriately for the purpose or audience.

Proficient

Writes coherently with minimal or minor errors to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional.

Basic

Writes somewhat coherently to support ideas, but writing has some grammar, mechanics, or other errors that detract from credibility as a business professional.

Non Performance

Does not write coherently nor use grammar and mechanics as expected of a business professional; writing has major errors.

Criterion 11

Cite sources and references in proper APA format.

Distinguished

Cites sources and references in proper APA format with no errors.

Proficient

Cites sources and references in proper APA format.

Basic

Cites sources and references but not in proper APA format.

Non Performance

Does not cite sources and references.