Business Question

Overview

The assignments in this course are framed around a scenario in which you are hired by a company as a consultant to provide a recommendation on solving a challenge or capitalizing on an opportunity. You will draw upon your knowledge and skills around operations, finance, marketing, leadership, etc. for each assignment. The assignments will be completed in a PowerPoint presentation template and will be combined into a final pitch deck that you can add to your portfolio. In your Week 3 assignment you shared important data and insights about your company. In this assignment, you will continue in your role as a hired consultant and analyze that data to create a recommendation for your company to either solve a problem or capitalize on an opportunity. This will be the 2nd part of your pitch deck presentation.

Instructions:

The assignment must be completed in the provided PowerPoint template.

Download and save the

Week 6 Assignment Template [PPTX]

Download Week 6 Assignment Template [PPTX]

.

Follow the guidelines provided in the Strayer Library:

SWS Guidelines for Slideshow Presentations

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Review the rubric carefully before you begin working on the assignment.

Using the template, create an eight-slide presentation that will be part of a pitch deck for the company that hired you as a business consultant.

Each slide should include 1-2 paragraphs of speaker notes that will be utilized to explain the content to the company leadership during your presentation. (Note: A video tutorial has been provided under the resources section below.)

For Slide 1.Title slide – add the name of the company as a subtitle and your name and the date.

For Slide 2.Identify one challenge or opportunity that you will address as a consultant. In your speaker notes, explain the basis or rationale behind this selection. Remember, you are creating a pitch to the company leadership. Convince them why they should address this challenge or opportunity.

For Slides 3-4 research close competitors of the company to determine their approach to a similar challenge or opportunity.

Slides 3-4. Analyze similar solutions for the challenge or opportunity from two competitors. Be sure to provide specific, relevant details to connect the competitors’ approach to your recommendation. (Detailed explanation should be placed in the speaker notes.)

Slides 5-7. Recommend an approach to solve the challenge or capitalize on the opportunity identified for the company. Include specific details explaining which areas in the company would be the focus of your recommendation. (e.g. human resources, management, accounting/finance, marketing, etc.) (Detailed explanation should be placed in the speaker notes.)

Slide 8. Sources slide. Use three or more quality sources to support your writing. Choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate. Cite each source listed on your source slide at least one time within your assignment.

For help with research, writing, and citation, access the

library

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Upload your completed assignment template as a PowerPoint presentation file (PPT or PPTX) and submit it using the provided link in Week 6.

Note: Speaker notes are not visible in the Canvas preview but will be visible when the instructor downloads them for grading.

Produce writing that is clear and well organized and applies appropriate Strayer Writing Standards (SWS) style. Writing contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling.

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Resources

SWS Guidelines for Slideshow Presentations

The following tools available in the Strayer Library will help you with your research:

Company, Industry, and Market Research using Business Source Ultimate (Start with this resource – it will be very helpful as you search for specific information.)

Business Source Ultimate Library Guide

Business Source Ultimate Database

(Tip: Search for case studies as a document type or add an NAICS code based on industry and then enter the type of issue into the search bar.)

Market Line Company Profiles

– Type the company name in the 2nd field (Note: your company may or may not be listed here.)

SWOT analyses can be found under the publication type

IBISWorld Database – Library Guide

(This is a good resource for researching competitor information.)

Library of Congress Research Guides.Links to an external site. (See their left-hand menu – use this resource to look for competitor information on public and private companies.)

The following websites can provide helpful data on budgets and spending:

U.S. National Debt: Implications for Organizations

Government spending (Mind map)

Fiscal Data US Treasury Dept.Links to an external site.

USA Spending.Links to an external site.

There are also many other relevant internet resources (e.g., Yahoo Finance).

Business Consulting Plan Part 2
Subtitle
Name
Date
PRESENTATION TITLE
Challenge or Opportunity
Use this space to add the information required in the
assignment instructions. Don’t forget your detailed
speaker notes to explain your basis or rationale. (delete
this guidance text).
• Insert challenge or opportunity here.
PRESENTATION TITLE
2
Competitor Solutions – Competitor 1
Competitor 1 (replace with
name)
Competitor 1 (replace with
name)
•
•
Insert a few bullets here
Insert a few bullets here
PRESENTATION TITLE
3
Competitor Solutions – Competitor 2
Competitor 2 (replace with
name)
Competitor 2 (replace with
name)
•
•
Insert a few bullets here
Insert a few bullets here
PRESENTATION TITLE
4
Recommendation
Subtitle (use this space to add a catchy
subtitle for your recommendation)
PRESENTATION TITLE
5
Recommended Approach
(There are two slides for the recommendation. Use this space to add the information required in the assignment instructions. Be
specific and add detailed speaker notes – don’t forget to delete this guidance text.)
• Insert a few bullets here
PRESENTATION TITLE
6
Recommendation Focus
(Use this space to detail your recommendation. Include images, charts, graphs, tables, etc. as needed Include detailed speaker
notes and delete this guidance text.)
• Insert a few bullets here
PRESENTATION TITLE
7
Sources
Refer to the SWS Guidelines for Slideshow Presentations link in the assignment
instructions to complete this slide (delete this guidance text).
PRESENTATION TITLE
8
Business Consulting Plan Part 1
Patagonia, Inc
###
07/17/2024
PRESENTATION TITLE
Company Background
• Name of Company: Patagonia, Inc
• Year Founded: 1973
• Industry and what the company does: Outdoor recreation clothing and equipment.
• Customers Served: Environmentally conscious consumers, outdoor enthusiasts, and
individuals looking for durable, ecological clothing.
• Mission (Purpose) Statement: “We’re in business to save our home planet.”
• Vision Statement: “To use business to inspire and implement solutions to the
environmental crisis.”
PRESENTATION TITLE
2
•:
•:
Operations
• HQ Location Ventura, California,
USA
• Number of Locations: Numerous
stores globally, with a strong presence
in North America, Europe, and Asia
• Number Employees: Over 2,000
employees worldwide
• CEO : Ryan Gellert
• COO: Doug Freeman
• Chief Product Officer: Lisa Williams
PRESENTATION TITLE
3
Key Financial Data
• Annual Revenue: US$8.2 million (Year End 2023
• Cash Flow: Positive
• Profit: net positive
• Stable or Growing Revenues : Stable and growing
• Dividends : Not specified
• Losses/Negative Cash Flow/Declining Revenues/High Debt Levels : No significant
losses or high debt levels reported
PRESENTATION TITLE
4
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
• Strong brand reputation
• High production costs
•
Commitment to sustainability • Limited market presence in emerging markets
Opportunities
Threats
• Expansion into new markets
• Increasing competition
• Development of new
sustainable technologies
• Economic fluctuations affecting consumer
spending
PRESENTATION TITLE
5
Challenges or Opportunities
Challenge one
• Challenge 2
•
High Production Costs: Implementing
cost management strategies to mitigate
environmental costs.
•
Opportunity one
•
Sustainable Innovation: Investing in
research and development for new
sustainable technologies.
Expanding Market Presence:
Substantial capital investments
needed for new market penetration.
Opportunity two
▪
Brand Loyalty: Leveraging strong
brand reputation to drive consumer
engagement and sales.
PRESENTATION TITLE
6
Sources
Schillmann, C. (2020). Patagonia Inc. under a sustainability perspective.
O’Rourke, D., & Strand, R. (2017). Patagonia: Driving sustainable innovation
by embracing tensions. California Management Review, 60(1), 102-125.
PRESENTATION TITLE
7