Assignment #1: Changing Mindset Case Study Analysis

Purpose: 

An entrepreneur is someone who thinks and does something that they have not done previously.  Entrepreneurship is about having a mindset that focuses on assessing a situation, designing alternatives and selecting a new way of doing something. 

This assignment provides students an opportunity to look at a business situation and use an entrepreneurial mindset to answer questions about a case study presented in week 2. 

This assignment has two parts.

In part 1, students will be provided a scenario that highlights several critical issues related to a corporate mindset versus that of a small business.

In part 2, students will read an article and provide a synopsis of the article as it relates to a learning organization.

Outcomes Met:

• demonstrate an understanding of the small business environment and how to manage in a global marketplace
• develop critical managerial skills and processes to assess and analyze key elements of emerging enterprise organizations

Instructions:

Step 1:  Review "How to Analyze a Case Study" under Week 2 Content.

Step 2:  Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced, 12-point font.  The final product will be between 4-6 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.

Step 3:  Review the grading rubric for the assignment.

Step 4:  Follow this format:

• Title page with title, your name, the course, the instructor's name;
• Introduction;
• Body, in paragraph form using headings:
• Summary paragraph

• • Part 1
    • Use headings for the questions provided but do not include the questions in the paper
  • Part 2

Step 5:  In writing a case study, the writing is in the third person.  What this means is that there are no words such as "I, me, my, we, or us" (first person writing), nor is there use of "you or your" (second person writing).  If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link:  http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person

Step 6:  In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list.  A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.  View the sample APA paper under Week 1 content.

Step 7:  In writing this type of assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes.  Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link:  https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html. 

Step 8:  Read critically and analyze the scenario provided under Week 2 Content. 

Step 9:  Document key facts from the scenario.  Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper. 

Step 10:  Part 1:  Answer the following questions after reading the case study:

a.) Using at least two references explain why an individual would choose to leave a good career to start a small business with no prior experience, no existing model to follow and without significant capital?

b.) Discuss at least three reasons why Andy's Parties achieved success so quickly and has been able to sustain the business over the past 8 years when statistically most small businesses fail within the first few years?

c.) Discuss what Andy and his wife's plans might be for their business going forward?

Step 11:  Part 2: 

a.) Read "Why aren't we all working for learning organisations? e-Organisations and People by J. Seddon and B. O'Donovan located under week 2 content

b.) Provide a synopsis (400-600 words) of the findings related to the article.

Step 12:  Create the introductory paragraph.  The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of the paper but is typically written after writing the body of the paper (Questions students responded to above).  View this website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph:  http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html

Step 13:  Write a summary paragraph.  A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s) of the essay.  Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the essay is complete.  The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.

Step 14:  Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.  This step is probably the most critical and can result in many lost points if instructions are not followed.

Step 15: Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing. 

• Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
• Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
• Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC).  The EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement