Guidelines for Writing the BUS-285 Research Paper
1. Each student will chose a Fortune 500 company research project topic of their choice on a First-Come, First-Serve basis. Students should research the major internet search engines such as: www.yahoo.com; www.infoseek.com; www.google.com; etc.; and the college research library for further research material. The research paper will be at least 12 pages of material, not including the title page, table of contents, reference pages.
2. Each student will prepare, present, and turn-in a typed research paper project. It is the responsibility of the student to receive approval for the research project topic before beginning work on the project.
3. The font should be easy to read and consist of ARIAL 12 characters per inch and use 1-inch margins top, bottom, and both sides of the paper.
4. The paper will be 1.5 spacedand each page will be at least ¾ full of material.
5. Proofread your paper carefully. You are expected to use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Present your subject matter in an orderly manner. Ensure continuity in the development of your company research project.
6. Your paper must include at least 5 references. Include all citations in the paper in the List of References. Likewise, ensure that all references listed are cited in the paper. Citations and references must be crosschecked to ensure accuracy. Do not turn in a paper with your best guesses as to how to reference particular sources. Find out exactly how to reference your sources before you turn in your paper.
7. Word-process the paper to facilitate a clean, professional image. Use a good-quality printer with sufficiently dark type to facilitate reading.
BUS 285 Final Project Information
For your final project, you are to evaluate a Fortune 500 company’s strategic management philosophies and determine how effective they are. Students will create a one-page executive summary and the following subject areas on the table of contents (page numbers are only examples; project can be more than 15 pages in length—but not less than 15 pages for full credit).
I. Company Overview
A. Organizational Overview (Corporate Structure, Culture, Sales, History, Industry Position)
B. Mission Statement
C. Strategic Vision Statement
D. Internal Leadership
II. Strategic Analysis
A. Five-Forces Model of Competition Chart (Chapter 3, page 41)
B. SWOT Analysis Table (Chapter 4, page 76)
C. Social Responsibility, Corporate Sustainability and the Environment (Chapter 9, p. 197)
D. Corporate Culture and Superior Strategy Execution (Chapter 10, page 221)
III. Strategic Effectiveness Analysis
A. Organizational Structure and Strategy (Do these work together?)
B. Corporate Cultures and Strategy (Do these work together?)
IV. Conclusion (The Three Tests of a Winning Strategy, Chapter 1, page 8)
Minimum Requirements for Course Research Project:
12 Pages (not including title page, table of contents, reference page, etc.)
MLA Citation Style Format
5 References
Grammatically Correct
Must be Professionally Presented Without spelling Errors
Must incorporate information discussed during the semester (ie. Textbook)