Assignment
Course: Intro to Micro Economics (01:220:102:09)
Research Writing Assignment:
Choose a public Company and in detail summarize the history of the firm. List of firms can include small to large cap national, multinationals, or even franchises. Briefly describe the beginnings of the firm and outline the extent of growth the firm has experienced from inception to the present. Make sure to include any significant milestones the firm may have experienced in its life. For example, when did the firm go public?
• MLA format recommended: Please include the following
I. Cover page (Include) Name of the firm
II. Industry code SIC (Standard Industry Classification)
III. Industry Structure
a. Purely competitive
b. Monopoly
c. Monopolistic competitive
d. Oligopoly
IV. 4 firm concentration ratio
V. Herfindahl index
VI. The firms growth strategy
a. New Markets?
b. New Products?
c. Acquisition?
d. Merger?
e. Partnerships?
VII. Cost cutting strategies
a. Salary freeze?
b. Layoffs?
c. Outsourcing?
d. Innovation?
e. Employee training
VIII. Firms pricing strategy
a. Premium Pricing?
b. Penetrating Pricing?
c. Economy Pricing?
d. Non-Price strategy (i.e Advertising, Customer service, Warranties)
IX. Firms Capital Structure
a. How is the firm financed?
Required:
1. Write your paper on one Company only
2. The text of the paper must be at least 5 written pages
3. The Title page and the Bibliography do not count as part of the 5 pages
4. The paper must include an opening paragraph (labeled introduction).
5. The paper must also include a closing paragraph (labeled Conclusion)
6. In your conclusion you must summarize the main points of your paper
7. Your sources must include the following
a. At least two published periodicals either in print form or from the library database
b. At least one internet source (You must cite what person or organization is responsible for publishing the source on the internet)
8. MLA formatting is preferable (However do include a cover page)
a. Helpful Link- http://mlaformat.org/the-format-of-the-research-paper/
b. Make sure to cite all sources regarding..
i. Direct quotations
ii. Significant facts or statistics
iii. Ideas that come from other sources
9. For your topic of choice, you should make some reference to an economic theory or concept we have discussed in class.
10. Lastly, you are to work alone. This is not a group project.