Assignment 1

Writing assignment has the question and the template is how you should answer the question. You can choose either or. 

BUS 300: Critical Thinking & Persuasion for Business
Spring 2018

Professor Espinosa
Writing Assignment #1 Instructions

You are a consultant for ABC Corp., a professional services company. ABC Corp. has

outgrown its present office space and is considering two possible solutions. Your boss has asked
you to draft a memorandum in which you recommend one alternative over the other. Your
recommendation should be at least loosely presented in the Two-Criteria, Two-Alternative
Decision Template (posted on Blackboard).

You should not use any outside information (e.g., data, studies, reports, etc.) in support of

your recommendation. Instead, you should use only the relevant facts from this business scenario
and your own reasonable inferences from those facts in your analysis. However, to understand
the business concepts implicated in this prompt, you may find it necessary to conduct outside
research for the sole purpose of familiarizing yourself with those concepts and effectively
analyzing the prompt.

Your memorandum should include a proper memorandum heading (including “To”,

“From”, “Re”, and “Date” lines). In addition, you should use Times New Roman 12-font type
with one-inch margins, double-spaced. The word count for this assignment is a minimum of 500
words and a maximum of 800 words (exclusive of the memorandum heading and any interim
headings). Any additional words will not be read. You will not receive credit for any
submissions below 500 words.

Your boss needs your memorandum no later than 8:00 A.M. on February 13. Upload

your memorandum to the folder labeled “Writing Assignment #1” under the “Assignments” tab
on Blackboard no later than the deadline above. If you have trouble uploading your
memorandum, email a copy of the memorandum to your professor by the deadline and reach out
to IT for assistance. In accordance with class policy as stated in the Syllabus, late submissions
will not be accepted, regardless of whether they are submitted one minute or one week
late. Students who fail to submit an assignment at or before the announced deadline will receive
a zero.

If you have any questions regarding Writing Assignment #1, please contact your professor.

 

BUS 300: Critical Thinking & Persuasion for Business
Spring 2018

Writing Assignment #1

ABC Corp., a professional services company occupying a one-story building in an outlying
suburb of a large city, has outgrown its present office space. Two possible solutions are being
considered. One is to enlarge the present building by adding a second story. The other is to move
the company into space available in a large office building in the city. Draft a memorandum in
which you argue for one alternative over the other based on the following considerations:

 ABC Corp. wants to obtain office space that most suits its needs for as little expense
possible.

 ABC Corp. wants to minimize disruptions to its employees.

Approximately 70 percent of ABC Corp. employees live within a half hour’s drive of the
suburb in which the company is located, and roughly 20 percent commute from the city (which is
about an hour’s drive away). The remainder commute from even farther away. It would take
almost a year to add a second story, during which time the construction noise and debris would
be distracting to workers. They estimate that the company would have to be shut down entirely
for four or five weeks. But the addition would be tailored to the company’s needs and would
enable ABC Corp. to continue to be housed by itself in its own building, which is desirable
because the company handles confidential materials and is concerned about their security.

Space in the large office building can be had immediately and the move could be
accomplished in a week or two. ABC Corp. would occupy several floors of the building, at least
one of which it would share with other businesses. The cost, offset by the sale of the present
building, would be significantly less than that of adding a second story to that building. Property
taxes are also lower in the city. The city, however, imposes a 3% income tax on employees and,
in order to retain its employees, ABC Corp. would probably have to raise salaries to compensate
for this tax. There is good public transportation connecting most suburban areas with the city, but
current employees living farthest from the city would face even longer commutes.
 

Formatfor a Two Alternative/Two Criteria Decision Report

BUS300

Version 1 (you may follow either version of this outline)

I. Introduction

A. Identify the issue presented (choice between two alternatives)

B. Identify the criteria for evaluation of the given alternatives

C. State your main conclusion

II. Evaluation of Un-Selected Alternative

A. Discuss weaknesses regarding first criteria

B. Discuss strengths regarding first criteria

C. Discuss strengths regarding second criteria

D. Discuss weaknesses regarding second criteria

E. State your mini-conclusion for the un-selected alternative

I

II. Evaluation of Selected Alternative

A. Discuss strengths regarding first criteria

B. Discuss weaknesses regarding first criteria

C. Discuss weaknesses regarding second criteria

D. Discuss strengths regarding second criteria

E. State your mini-conclusion for the selected alternative

IV. Conclusion

A. Compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of your two mini-conclusions

B. State your main conclusion

Version 2 (you may follow either version of this outline)

I. Introduction
A. Identify the issue presented (choice between two alternatives)
B. Identify the criteria for evaluation of the given alternatives
C. State your main conclusion

II. Evaluation of Selected Alternative
A. Discuss strengths regarding first criteria
B. Discuss weaknesses regarding first criteria
C. Discuss weaknesses regarding second criteria
D. Discuss strengths regarding second criteria
E. State your mini-conclusion for the selected alternative

III. Evaluation of Un-Selected Alternative

A. Discuss weaknesses regarding first criteria
B. Discuss strengths regarding first criteria
C. Discuss strengths regarding second criteria
D. Discuss weaknesses regarding second criteria
E. State your mini-conclusion for the un-selected alternative

IV. Conclusion
A. Compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of your two mini-conclusions
B. State your main conclusion