Final Term Paper
Create a TOWS Matrix and a final draft of your term project. Your papers MUST include the following:
? Write an executive two-page (max.) summary to begin your report. The summary should be easy to read and present your strategic choice recommendation.Recommend a strategy for your firm and justify it using the research results that you presented throughout your course assignments. The strategy chosen should make sense for your firm. The basic questions that you want to answer with this section is; “What is my recommendation for my company to do strategically?”, and “How did I come to this conclusion?” The executive summary should begin your term project.
? Company Introduction: What does your company do? This should give a brief introduction as to the business that your company is in.
? Porter Five Forces analysis of your firm’s industry.
?External Factor Evaluation (EFE). Make sure that the chart begins this section and that your factors are supported by research.
?Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE). Make sure the chart begins this section.
? TOWS Matrix: Evaluate the internal Strengths and Weaknesses, and the external Threats and Opportunities facing your chosen firm. Your TOWS analysis should be the final section of your project and should discuss the strategies that you created through matching Strengths and Weaknesses to Opportunities and Threats.Since the factors are already discussed in your EFE and IFE, the important thing with this tool is to combine internal and external factors in a logical way in selecting strategies that you will recommend per our class discussion. Please justify the strategies chosen as completely as possible in two or three pages following the TOWS matrix under individual headings. In your discussion a complete description will include the type of strategic option and a brief description and justification of the option
?Your project MUST be bound in some significant way; such as, three-ring, wire, etc. Unbound projects will NOT be accepted.
?As this is a research paper, failure to include any research, or the inclusion of merely one or two pieces, will result in your receiving no better than a ‘D’ on your paper.
Required parameters:
• MLA format. Your work must be fully cited and include a bibliography.
• Research materials should be high-quality sources such as those available through the library online databases, books, and other published materials.
• Project should be well organized and encompass the above subject and content guidelines.
• An electronic copy of the project should be submitted via safe assignment.
Requirements:(no format gimmicks please); word count will be used to detect page format gimmicks), 25 pages max
Assessment Rubric
Assessment Criteria Excellent Average Under-performing
Situational Analysis (Internal) Student shows comprehension of the conventions used. Analysis is clear and correctly presents the strengths & weaknesses of the firm. Supporting research is significant.Student justifies their analysis appropriately. Student shows comprehension of the models or conventions used. Analysis is satisfactory but may lack depth. Research generally supports the analysis presented by the student. Student analysis is lacking in several respects. Analysis demonstrates rudimentary understanding of the material and models used. Research is poorly done and presentation is poorly written.
Situational Analysis (External) Student demonstrates thorough understanding of the models used and applies them correctly. Analysis links theory to practice and presents strategic ramifications of external factors in insightful and appropriate ways. Research is significant and relevant. Student shows comprehension of the models or conventions used. Analysis is satisfactory but may lack depth. Research generally supports the analysis presented by the student. Student analysis is lacking in several respects. Analysis demonstrates rudimentary understanding of the material and models used. Research is poorly done and presentation is poorly written.
Industry Analysis Industry analysis model is applied demonstrating thorough understanding by student. Analysis is clear, cogent and correct. Industry analysis is adequate but may be lacking in some respects; i.e., small lapses or gaps in analysis. Student work is largely correct. Industry analysis is poor and demonstrates lack of understanding of the model used. Many errors in analysis.
Strategy Development/ Analysis. Student demonstrates in-depth knowledge, creativity, and superior analytical ability in presenting strategic options, or in firm strategy analysis. Student demonstrates adequate knowledge, creativity and analytical ability in presenting strategies. Analysis may show lack of depth. Student demonstrates little of the ability mentioned, or shows poor motivation in presenting their analysis.
Presentation Project is well-formatted and appropriately organized. Appearance inspires readership. Project is adequately organized and formatted but lacks inspiration. May have few basic presentation issues. Project is poorly organized and lacks cohesive flow throughout. Many required component parts missing.
Research, proper MLA Citation 12+ pieces in total. Source materials are high quality, timely, relevant, and show significant effort in their acquisition. All sources properly cited in MLA format in text and in Works Cited 8-12 pieces. Source materials are mostly high quality, relevant and show effort in their acquisition. Most sources properly cited in MLA format in text and in Works Cited < 8 pieces. Few quality sources. Sources are not properly cited using MLA format
Writing Quality Cohesive business writing that is clear, concise and professional. Few, if any grammatical errors, no spelling errors. Cohesive business writing that is clear but may lack professionalism. Some grammatical and/or spelling errors. Poorly written with unacceptable amount of grammar and spelling errors.
Assessment Criteria Excellent Average Under-performing
Situational Analysis (Internal) 15 11 8
Situational Analysis (External) 15 11 8
Industry Analysis 15 11 8
Strategy Development/ Analysis. 15 11 8
Presentation 10 7 4
Research, proper MLA citation 15 11 8
Writing Quality 15 11 8
TOTAL 100 73 52
