Conduct a strategic analysis using the Executive Summary template. Prepare and submit an executive summary that includes the Statement of Integrity, three-page analysis, and references. The analysis discusses what strategic alternatives are available and needs to provide a recommended strategy.

This supplement to the syllabus is provided to assist you; HOWEVER, it is also a directive on how to adequately accomplish a case analysis. The case format guidelines MUST be followed. CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYSIS As a business/management major, or other major for that matter, and soon to be college graduate, one of the most important skills/abilities you should possess is the ability to engage in critical thinking and analysis (using the skills and knowledge you have learned throughout your education and applying them). You will never have everything presented to you when you are a junior manager/executive, but you are expected to take what you have and use your knowledge and skills to make decisions and to arrive at valid and accurate conclusions, which may and should include "thinking outside the box". To those who think you may have some problems, here are some suggestions and guidance to aid you in your case study preparation: ______________________________________________________________________ The information provided below is designed to assist you in case analysis. Don't make anything up; just take information from the case and the time frame of when the case was written. You are required to use problem solving and critical thinking skills in this analysis. If something isn't specifically stated, then consider the likelihood of it being a possibility for this given firm considering the timeframe that the case is taking place in, and the type of industry that the firm operates in. Also, DO NOT go on the Internet and look at where the firm is today. The only information about the company that I want you to use in your case analysis is what is contained in the textbook or in any approved outside sources specifically listed. a. The case analysis will be based on the time frame of the case. For example, if the case was written in 2006, then students will use information from 2006 or earlier publications. b. Students will use for references other sources of information as well as the textbook. These sources should include business magazines and professional journals. Online sites such as Wikipedia, Portable MBA, Quick MBA are not acceptable references for case analysis in this course. c. Students should use any of the following magazines and publications as references: Barrons, Business Week, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal. However, these aren't the only outside sources that might be

Relevant Factual Information about the Problem or Decision the Organization Faced: State the precise problem or decision the organization faced. The section should include information that addressed the business issue under examination. This section should be no longer than a single paragraph.

Explanation of Relevant Concepts, Theories and Applications Derived from Course Materials: This section should be the bulk of your paper. Analysis of the business problem or decision in light of the course concepts must be presented, as well as the business lesson another organization could learn from this situation. Besides citation to the text, learners must conduct research in the University library related to the top. Citing the textbook only is not enough to demonstrate you understand and can apply the course objectives. Here is where comparative and contrasting positions should be considered and examples and illustrations provided.

Recommendations: Provide logical recommendations to address the business lesson identified above. The recommendations need not to be specific to the organization examined, but should consider how other organizations, if similarly situated, could lessen the impact of the problem or decision identified. Recall, that the organization under examination has already moved pasted this problem so any recommendations made, at this point, are fruitless. The focus of this section should be on what other companies should be aware of to address similar problems or decisions. Citation to the textbook alone is insufficient for analysis in this section. Learners should conduct research in the Universitys library to support their positions. Depth of scholarship is not demonstrated by providing personal opinions alone, but by using examples, analogies, comparison and illustrations from the academic literature. Not only does this synthesize the material to assist the readers understanding, it is an effective way to present the academic sources and extend the discussion of your ideas. This section should be a paragraph or two.

Alternative Recommendations: This section is not a continuation of the prior. Provide suggestions for how to avoid the problem or decision the examined organization faced. Analysis here should be may be forward- thinking, predictive or, most likely, preventative in nature but tied to the thesis statement. Again, opinion is insufficient to provide the required academic analysis. Sources, other than the text, must be provided to sustain the statements made. This section should be a paragraph, at most.

Conclusion: End the assignment with a summary of the important points made in the document. No new information may be presented. Writing a conclusion can be done by rewording the opening or reformulation the topic sentences of each paragraph to make a summary for the reader. This section should be a paragraph, at most.