Planning: Analyzing the Situation [LO-1] Kleen Care is an established brand name in premium toiletries for the last five years. At a recent shareholder meeting, it was announced that the company plans to laterally expand its product range by introducing bath accessories such as bathrobes, towels, bath-mats, and loofahs.

The company has yet to decide on whether to indigenously manufacture these products or outsource them to a supplier and market them under the Kleen Care brand. You have been commissioned to analyze whether the company should enter this market, and whether it should manufacture or outsource production of these products. You are to gather competitive information and prepare a business report for the management to review. What steps would you undertake in preparing a work plan for an analytical report that will establish the risks and rewards of introducing this product range?

Include a statement of purpose, a description of what might emerge from your study, the sources and methods of data collection, and a preliminary outline. Would you use a direct or indirect approach in organizing the information in your report?