Assignment: Defining a Business Problem
The purpose of this assignment is to select and further define the topic for your research paper, Solving a Business Problem, due in Unit 9.
Preparation: Finalize a Topic
Reflect on what you have learned about RPZ Marketing. Think about what you see as the company's current strengths and opportunities, as well as its potential weaknesses and challenges. Review what you wrote in the Unit 3 discussion, Identifying a Business Problem.
Use one of the following sample topic areas or create your own:
• Strategic planning for mergers and acquisitions.
• Deciding to acquire a company or compete with it.
• Deciding to supplement consulting staff by outsourcing.
• Using training to develop employee skill.
Instructions
Describe Your Area of Interest
Begin your assignment by addressing the following:
1. Describe your area of greatest interest in the RPZ case. Sample: I would like to know what works: what makes leaders successful in situations like this?
2. Describe the ideas, factors, or issues you believe are most closely related to this area of interest. Sample: I think there are many factors that leaders have to be concerned about, including how to structure the merged company, who should be in charge of what, how to keep people productive, and how to keep the company on track during the change.
3. Describe what you are assuming is true about this situation. Sample: First, I am assuming that it can be done, that some companies really do succeed at this. Second, I am assuming that there are things that leaders can do in this situation that are more likely to result in success. I am also assuming that others have been through this successfully.
4. Explain what major aspect of this problem you think is worth exploring. Sample: I am guessing that certain decisions have to be made about people and the structure of the organization, that some kind of process should be followed, and that plans will be needed. What interests me most is how to best make those decisions about people and structure.
Develop Your Problem Statement
Based on your answers to the previous prompts, develop a problem statement specific to the problem facing RPZ. This statement will be used to guide your research in Unit 7 and your writing in Unit 9.
A problem statement is more than a sentence that describes a topic or poses a question. A problem statement includes a series of one to three bold sentences that presents a point of view, an opinion, or an idea that is arguable. Because it is arguable, a problem statement goes beyond making an observation; it makes a case for or against something. Developing a problem statement requires that you consider a variety of information and perspectives about your topic.
Your problem statement should describe:
• The focus of your topic.
• The business problem your topic will address.
• How your topic relates to RPZ Marketing.
• The significance of the topic: why solving this problem is important to RPZ.
Sample statement:
One way that organizations can continue to grow is to acquire other organizations. Even when an acquisition seems to make sense, putting the companies together is not an easy task, and can lead to disruptive times for both the acquirer and the acquired. Leaders of RPZ Marketing have a critical role in guiding that process through strategic planning.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.