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MG 4740 Business Strategy L6 – Capstone Course
Department of Management and International Business, School of Business and Economics
The American College of Greece – DEREE
Second Summative Assessment (Major Written Project)
Professors: Common Assessment
Spring 2022
1. Overview – The major written project in MG 4740 A1 L6 Capstone will challenge each student in
analyzing, formulating, executing and implementing strategy for a business enterprise through the
use of a complex case (case method) selected by the instructors. In the case study method, relevant
data are gathered, organized, evaluated, and generalized. Recommendations and an implementation
plan are provided. The case for analysis is Case 16: Tesla’s Strategy in 2020: Can It Deliver Sustained
Profitability?
Successful completion of this project will contribute to the student’s proficiency in the following
learning outcomes:
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•
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integrate and assess the elements of the internal and external environments of an organization
using appropriate analytical tools
formulate, select and evaluate alternative strategies and strategic approaches
create action plans for strategy implementation considering resource allocation and control
2. Content – The following content is suggested for the complex case analysis. You must, of course,
use your own good judgment, also, as the content and material should be presented in a way that is
most clear and helpful to the reader/decision maker. Please remember that the following are
suggestions, but you are not limited to them. Your work should be robust.
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Introduction/Company Profile – introduction to the company, name, ownership, history,
headquarters, locations, size, product scope, geographic scope, integration, organization
structure, key executives
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Company Direction – vision, mission, values, and major goals
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External Analysis – macro environment (e.g., political/legal, economic, demographic, sociocultural, technology), industry environment (e.g., dominant economic traits, five forces, driving
forces, key success factors), competitor (e.g., strategic group mapping, competitors’ next moves)
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Internal Analysis – resource strengths and weaknesses, capabilities, core competence, distinctive
competence, financial analysis, costs/prices, value chain/value system, competitive strength
assessment, and present company strategy/strategies
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SWOT Analysis – derived from previous two sections of the analysis
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Identification of Front-Burner Issues (strategic issues and problems) – multiple issues that merit
immediate action should be identified; no company is without them
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Identification of Alternative Courses of Action to Solve the Issues and Problems Identified in the
Previous Section – multiple alternatives should be identified for each problem/issue
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Decision Criteria – Identify the decision criteria used in selecting the course of action for each
issue identified
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Recommendations – your decisions with respect to which alternatives to the problems/issues
should be implemented based the identified decision criteria
MG 4740 Business Strategy L6 – Capstone Course
Department of Management and International Business, School of Business and Economics
The American College of Greece – DEREE
Second Summative Assessment (Major Written Project)
Professors: Common Assessment
•
Implementation Plan – “high level” plan(s) to implement the recommendations
•
Any Concluding Remarks
Spring 2022
3. Format – Each student will prepare the major written project using the following required format:
• Title page – includes the title of the project, the student’s name and ID number, the course
number and name (e.g., MG 4740 Al L6 Capstone Business Strategy), the project due date, and
the instructor’s name
• Table of Contents – lists the sections and subsections by name in their order of appearance in
the project, along with the page numbers on which they begin
• Introduction – includes a brief statement of what you intend to accomplish in the project, and
a summary of what follows in main body
• Main Body – see content requirements above; use appropriate headings and subheadings
throughout the written project
• Conclusion – includes a brief statement of what you have accomplished through your discussion
in the main body of the project
• List of References – identifies the academic sources and other published information which you
have used; please refrain from using Wikipedia and other wiki sources as, generally, they are
not considered to be academic sources
• Attachments – includes, e.g., visual aids and graphics that you choose not to place in the main
text
• Appendix – includes related material not deemed necessary to be in the main text
• Turnitin Originality Report – the Turnitin Digital Receipt and the entire Originality Report must
be attached at the end of the project
• Folder – Place the project in a folder of your choice; it should not be submitted only with the
pages stapled or clipped together in the upper left corner
4. Mechanics – Each student should adhere to the following technical requirements:
• Documentation: APA style is required; a guide is available at: libguides.acg.edu – Easybib Pro
• Word length: 4,500-5,000 words; it is compulsory to report the number of words at the end of
the paper. A violation of the specified word range results in a 10% grade penalty for the work.
This project should be double spaced, using Arial font size 12
• Submission: The project must be word processed, and each student will submit the project
electronically and in paper copy
5. Project Due Date – All projects are due on the date and time indicated by your instructor. Please
follow the progress of your work carefully so that you will meet this deadline. Where coursework
is submitted late and there are no accepted extenuating circumstances by the Committee on
Academic Standards and Policies, the coursework will be penalized in line with the following tariff:
submission within 6 working days: a 10% reduction of the original grade for each working day late
down to the 40% pass mark and no further. Submission that is late by 7 or more working days:
submission refused, mark of 0.
6. Evaluation – The written project will be evaluated using the Evaluation Rubric for Major Written
Project – Level 6, a copy of which is available on Blackboard.
7. Contribution to Final Course Grade – The major written project is 70% of the final course grade.
MG 4740 Business Strategy L6 – Capstone Course
Department of Management and International Business, School of Business and Economics
The American College of Greece – DEREE
Second Summative Assessment (Major Written Project)
Professors: Common Assessment
Spring 2022
8. Originality and Authenticity – The rules of academic ethics apply when undertaking this major
written project, including the requirements that the student undertakes the major written project
without improper or unauthorized assistance from anyone. If it is determined that the project is not
done individually and solely by the student, the instructor may grade the major written project as
an F.
9. Turnitin – Each student must submit electronically the major written project to Turnitin.
Name:
Description:
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