Project Assignment -
Step 1: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business: Gather and Analyze Information
You go to your office to begin the task at hand-the preparation of a narrated PowerPoint presentation to potential investors that will address all of the issues involved in making this decision. For critical background information, see Creating Sunburst: Legal and Organizational Considerations. You will need this information to make the best legal and organizational decisions for your business.
Since one of the investors will not be able to attend a presentation in person, you need to prepare and record a narrated PowerPoint, so she can listen at her convenience. In order to complete this task, you realize that you must do some research to address the legal and strategic implications if your business is to get off the ground.
- What types of business organizations are available to entrepreneurs?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative?
- What are the two best choices and why?
- How would you explain your choices to your investors?
Be sure to discuss the following information in your plan (refer to Legal Forms of Business before you begin writing):
What are the different legal forms of business that you might consider? You remember that there are at least six factors that will influence your choice:
- creation and maintenance
- continuity
- ownership and control
- personal liability
- compensation and division of profits
- taxation
What is your proposed choice for the legal form of business? Include your reasoning based on the preceding six factors and any other relevant factors.
When your research is complete, continue to the next step, in which you will create the Powerpoint presentation for your investors.
Step 2: Prepare Your Presentation
Using the information you gathered in the previous step, prepare a narrated PowerPoint. Because you will not deliver this presentation in person, it should follow the form of asynchronous presentations. Be sure to meet the following requirements:
- Include a title slide, with your name on it, introducing the presentation.
- On the presentation slides, include only the major bullet points for each issue.
- Include no more than 15 slides (not counting title page or references list).
- Cover all the elements of your plan as outlined in Step 1.
- Use your narration to provide the supporting rationale for each major bullet point.
- Include a script of your narration in the notes section of PowerPoint.
- The final slide must present a clear summary of your major conclusions and any recommendations.
- Include a reference page in APA format citing any sources you used to develop your presentation.
- Title your files using this protocol: yourlastname_Business Form_date.
When your presentation is complete, continue to the next step, in which you will gather information about the potential organization structure for your business.
Step 3: Determine Your Organization's Structure: Gather and Analyze Information
Now that you have decided on a legal organization form for your business, which currently has a single location, you need to decide on an organization structure. Organization structure determines such things as what departments the organization will need, who will report to whom, how many levels you will have in your organization's hierarchy, and how many individuals will report to each manager (span of control). An effective structure should promote communication and coordination of efforts across the entire organization. See: Organization Structure and Design.
You begin your research by formulating a number of questions, the answers to which will be reflected in a short paper that includes your mission statement, organization chart, and your rationale for these recommendations.
1. Sunburst's primary goals are innovation and customer responsiveness. How should your mission statement articulate these goals? How can this statement be drafted so that it is clear, concise, and meaningful to organization stakeholders?
2. What key tasks must be accomplished in order to meet the organization's goals? What individuals or groups will have responsibility for delivering these processes or items?
3. Will individuals have titles and, if so, which individuals? What will those titles be?
4. To whom will individuals report? Why?
5. What are the possible impacts of outsourcing the HR function? What are the pros and cons of doing so? Make a recommendation in your paper. If you decide to keep HR in house, make sure its place in your business structure is reflected in your organization chart.
6. Consider all other relevant factors (for example, will your business structure be functional, centralized, or decentralized, etc.).
When you have formulated your preliminary thoughts and questions, begin your research. The resources below are a good start, but you should also conduct your own research to enhance your knowledge and the final product.
When your research is complete, continue to the next step, in which you will write your short paper, which will include a mission statement, organization chart, and summary of the rationale behind your decisions.
Step 4: Integrate Your Thoughts and Material
You've formulated your key questions; you've done your research; you've analyzed and refined your information and thoughts. Now it's time to put it all together and start drafting your deliverable.
Assemble a short paper that contains the following:
- your mission statement of no more than one paragraph
- your organization chart
- your rationale, no more than five pages (12 point type, double-spaced), for your chosen mission statement and organization structure as displayed in your chart
Be sure to attribute any sources you use in the creation of any of the documents you submit.
Include a reference page in APA format citing any sources you used in your short paper.
Use the following file naming protocol: yourlastname_organization _date
When your mission statement, organization chart, and rationale statement are complete, continue to the next step, and submit your work.
Step 5: Submit Your Materials
By the end of Week 7, submit the following files to the Structuring a Business folder.
- narrated PowerPoint with recommended legal form of business
- short paper including mission statement, organization chart, and rationale
Before you submit your assignment, review the competencies below, which your instructor will use to evaluate your work. A good practice would be to use each competency as a self-check to confirm you have incorporated all of them in your work.
- Create neat and professional looking documents appropriate for the project or presentation.
- Create clear oral messages.
- Develop well-reasoned ideas, conclusions or decisions, checking them against relevant criteria and benchmarks.
- Analyze the legal forms of business organization and make recommendations to support business decisions.
- Design organizational structure, systems and processes that support the strategic goals of the organization.
- Make strategic managerial decisions for obtaining capital required for achieving organizational goals.
- Create and implement new initiative or enterprise.
- Create and manage a new enterprise.
Step 6: Flaming Phones
Phone and Build has been manufacturing Flaming Fast brand mobile phones in Johannesburg, South Africa. These phones are sold locally in South Africa and in North America and Europe.
The Flaming Fast phones went on the market six months ago and are selling out in the United States as well as in Europe and South Africa. Unfortunately, consumers have reported that some Flaming Fast phones that were shipped to the United States have overheated and ignited. In a few cases, the phones have burned users and damaged property.
In order to address these issues, you will need background information on Cross-Cultural Ethical Business Decision Making, Tort Damages, and Negligence and Product Liability.
Belinda has asked you to write a memo with recommendations for how Phone and Build should handle this situation. As you prepare to make these recommendations by considering each of the following questions, take notes and create an outline for your memo:
- Given what is happening with Phone and Build's new phones, list the types of claims that the US customers could file in court and the arguments they might make for each element of their cause of action. What types of damages could be awarded under any of the causes of action listed in response to the previous question?
- What defenses might Phone and Build have for each claim? How likely is it that Phone and Build will win each claim?
In the next step, you will write your memo.
Step 7: Prepare Your Memo
Using your outline and research notes, write a memo for Belinda, the CEO. Be sure to meet the following requirements:
- Format your memo following the example linked above, including APA-formatted in-text citations and an APA-formatted reference list (do not format the body of the memo using APA style, just the reference list). See references and citations for details.
- Include a specific recommendation on what action, if any, the CEO should take based on your analysis and conclusions.
- Support your conclusion with references to legal principles and laws.
- The memo should be no more than five pages (double spaced, 12-point font; the reference list does not count towards page limit).
- Title your file using this protocol: teamName_FlamingPhones_date.
In the next step, you will read more details about the fourth case the CEO needs your help with.