Business Management Capstone Written Project (UG, QGT1-0515)

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Business Management Capstone Written Project (UG, QGT1-0515)

QGT1 Task 1
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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE

Competency 981.1.1: Capstone – The graduate integrates and synthesizes competencies from across the degree program and thereby demonstrates the ability to participate in and contribute value to the chosen professional field.

Introduction:

For the capstone project, you will create a business plan for a hypothetical start-up company using the scenarios provided below. In the business plan, you will need to demonstrate the integration and synthesis of competencies in all domains required for your degree program.

Scenario:

Select the business plan scenario assigned to your degree program from the list below:

Information Technology Management Majors:

Develop a business plan for a start-up company that sells computer services, equipment, or software. Select the type of products that the company will offer. The products can be real or potential.

Marketing Management Majors:

Develop a business plan for a start-up company that provides some type of marketing product or service (e.g., advertising campaigns, sales, online promotions). Select the type of products or services that the company will offer. The products can be real or potential.

Accounting Majors:

Develop a business plan for a start-up company that offers some type of accounting service. The type of services offered could include bookkeeping, auditing, tax preparation, accounting software, or some other type of current or potential service.

Finance Majors:

Develop a business plan for a start-up company that offers some type of financial service. The products or services provided by the company might include banking, financial planning, investments, stockbroking, mortgage lending, etc.

Management Majors:

Develop a business plan for a start-up company that plans to sell a product or service in a local market, in a national market, or on the Internet. Select one of your favorite products as the basis for the company, or invent a product.

Human Resource Management Majors:

Develop a business plan for a company that offers human resources products or services. Examples might include a temporary or staffing agency, a benefits consultant, a training company, etc.

Requirements:

Create a business plan for your hypothetical start-up company in which you do the following:

Note: You are required to utilize both the attached “Business Plan Template” and the attached “Financial Plan Template” in creating your business plan. If the attached WGU templates are not completed and submitted, your work will automatically be returned to you without being evaluated. These templates are located in the “File Attachments” section of the Taskstream Capstone instructions.

A. Write an executive summary (suggested length of 1–2 pages) in which you do the following:
1. Identify the company’s name and location.
2. Describe the mission of the company.
3. Discuss two business goals in support of the company’s mission.
4. Discuss three keys to success for the company.

B. Write a company summary (suggested length of 4–6 pages) in which you do the following:
1. Describe the history of the industry in which the company will operate.
2. Identify the legal form that the company will take.
3. Describe the location and type of facilities needed for the company.
4. Describe the management structure, including key positions and specific responsibilities.
5. Describe the products and services offered by the company.

C. Develop a market analysis (suggested length of 3–5 pages) in which you do the following:
1. Describe the target market for the company’s products and services, including the specific location, demographics, etc.
2. Complete an industry analysis for the company, including current trends and statistics.
3. Complete a four-square SWOT analysis for the company in which you do the following:
a. Identify three strengths, three weaknesses, three opportunities, and three threats.
b. Explain each of the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

D. Develop a market strategy (suggested length of 3–6 pages) in which you do the following:
1. Discuss each of the four Ps of marketing as they relate to the company’s products and services.
2. Develop a price list for the company’s products and services.
3. Develop a promotional strategy including specific tasks, target dates, and responsible parties.
4. Develop a monthly sales forecast for the first year of operations, including a discussion of expected market conditions.

Note: The sales forecast will be used as the basis for your revenue in your financial statements.

E. Develop an implementation strategy (suggested length of 3–6 pages) in which you do the following:
1. Summarize the overall strategy that will be utilized to launch your business, including target dates and goals for implementation.
2. Develop a post-launch monitoring plan (e.g., financial impact, quality control, customer satisfaction, monitoring schedule) to evaluate the success of the company in meeting milestones.

F. Calculate and develop the financial statements and projections (suggested length of 2 pages) for the first year of business by doing the following:
1. Develop a month-by-month forecasted profit and loss statement using an estimate of revenues and operating costs based on the sales forecast.
2. Develop a forecasted balance sheet for the end of year one.

G. Write a financial report (suggested length of 1–2 pages) in which you do the following:
1. Summarize the financial projections and the assumptions used in estimating the financial statements.
2. Describe the company’s financial position at the end of the first year.
3. Describe the company’s initial and future estimated capital/investment needs.

H. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.

Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the Evaluation Procedures section.

Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in an assessment, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the assessment.

Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from outside sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the APA Guidelines section.

File Attachments:
1. Business Plan Template link opens in new window
2. Financial Plan Template link opens in new window
Web Links:
1. APA Style link opens in new window
2. WGU Writing Center link opens in new window
Evaluation Method

QGT1 Task 1 (0515) Export to Word link opens in new window value: 0.00 value: 1.00 value: 2.00 value: 3.00 Score/Level Articulation of Response (clarity, organization, word usage, ease of understandability) There is no evidence of response to the prompts. The articulation of the response is weak. The articulation of the response is adequate. The articulation of the response is skillful. Accuracy of Mechanics (grammar, punctuation, spelling) The work includes several major errors that disrupt the meaning or flow of the response. The work includes a few major errors and/or many minor errors that interfere with the clarity of the response. The work includes a few minor errors but no readily detectable major errors. The work includes no readily detectable major or minor errors. A1. BUSINESSIdentification The candidate does not identify the company’s name or location. Not APPLICABLE. Not APPLICABLE. The candidate identifies the company’s name and location. A2. Mission The candidate does not describe the mission of the company. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the mission of the company. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the mission of the company. The candidate provides a precise description of the mission of the company. A3. Business Goals The candidate does not provide a discussion of any business goals in support of the company’s mission. The candidate provides a logical discussion of 1 business goal in support of the company’s mission. Not applicable. The candidate provides a logical discussion of 2 business goals in support of the company’s mission. A4. Keys to Success The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of any keys to success for the company. The candidate provides a logical discussion of 1–2 keys to success for the company. Not applicable. The candidate provides a logical discussion of 3 keys to success for the company. B1. Industry History The candidate does not describe the history of the industry in which the company will operate. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the history of the industry in which the company will operate. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the history of the industry in which the company will operate. The candidate provides a precise description of the history of the industry in which the company will operate. B2. Legal Form The candidate does not identify an appropriate legal form for the company to take. Not APPLICABLE. Not applicable. The candidate identifies an appropriate legal form for the company to take. B3. Location and Facilities The candidate does not describe the location and type of facilities needed for the company. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the location and type of facilities needed for the company. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the location and type of facilities needed for the company. The candidate provides a precise description of the location and type of facilities needed for the company. B4.Management Structure The candidate does not describe the management structure, including key positions and specific responsibilities. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the management structure, including key positions and specific responsibilities. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the management structure, including key positions and specific responsibilities. The candidate provides a precise description of the management structure, including key positions and specific responsibilities. B5. Products and Services The candidate does not describe the products and services offered by the company. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the products and services offered by the company. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the products and services offered by the company. The candidate provides a precise description of the products and services OFFERED by the company. C1. Target Market The candidate does not describe the target market for the company’s products and services, including the specific location, demographics, etc. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the target market for the company’s products and services, including the specific location, demographics, etc. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the target market for the company’s products and services, including the specific location, demographics, etc. The candidate provides a precise description of the target market for the company’s products and services, including the specific location, demographics, etc. C2. Industry Analysis The candidate does not complete an appropriate industry analysis for the company, including current trends and statistics. Not APPLICABLE. Not APPLICABLE. The candidate completes an appropriate industry analysis for the company, including current trends and statistics. C3a. SWOT The candidate does not complete a plausible four-square SWOT for the company in which the candidate identifies 3 strengths, 3 weaknesses, 3 opportunities, and 3 threats. Not applicable. Not applicable. The candidate completes a plausible four-square SWOT for the company in which the candidate identifies 3 strengths, 3 weaknesses, 3 opportunities, and 3 threats. C3b. Explanation of SWOT Analysis The candidate does not explain each of the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The candidate provides an illogical explanation of each of the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The candidate provides a logical explanation of each of the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The candidate provides a credible and well-supported explanation of each of the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. D1. Four Ps The candidate does not provide a logical discussion of any of the 4 Ps of marketing as they relate to the company’s products and services. The candidate provides a logical discussion of 1–3 of the 4 Ps of marketing as they relate to the company’s products and services. Not APPLICABLE. The candidate provides a logical discussion of all 4 of the 4 Ps of marketing as they relate to the company’s products and services. D2. PRICE List The candidate does not provide an appropriate price list for the company’s products and services. The candidate provides an appropriate PRICE list, with insufficient detail, for the company’s products and services. Not applicable. The candidate provides an appropriate price list, with sufficient detail, for the company’s products and services. D3. Promotional Strategy The candidate does not provide an appropriate promotional strategy including specific tasks, target dates, and responsible parties. The candidate provides an appropriate promotional strategy, with insufficient detail, including specific tasks, target dates, and responsible parties. Not applicable. The candidate provides an appropriate PROMOTIONAL strategy, with sufficient detail, including specific tasks, target dates, and responsible parties. D4. Sales Forecast The candidate does not provide an appropriate monthly sales forecast for the first year of operations, including a discussion of expected market conditions. The candidate provides an appropriate monthly sales forecast, with insufficient detail, for the first year of operations, including a discussion of expected market conditions. Not applicable. The candidate provides an appropriate monthly sales forecast, with sufficient detail, for the first year of operations, including a discussion of expected market conditions. E1. Overall Strategy The candidate does not provide a summary of the overall strategy that will be utilized to launch the BUSINESS, including target dates and goals for implementation. The candidate provides an imprecise summary of the overall strategy that will be utilized to launch the business, including target dates and goals for implementation. The candidate provides a reasonable summary of the overall strategy that will be utilized to launch the business, including target dates and goals for implementation. The candidate provides a precise summary of the overall strategy that will be utilized to launch the business, including target dates and goals for implementation. E2. Monitoring Plan The candidate does not provide a post-launch monitoring plan to evaluate the success of the company in meeting milestones. The candidate provides an imprecise post-launch monitoring plan to evaluate the success of the company in meeting milestones. The candidate provides a reasonable post-launch monitoring plan to evaluate the success of the company in meeting milestones. The candidate provides a precise post-launch monitoring plan to evaluate the success of the company in meeting milestones. F1. Profit and Loss Statement The candidate does not provide an appropriate month-by-month forecasted profit and loss statement using an estimate of revenues and operating costs based on the sales forecast. Not applicable. Not APPLICABLE. The candidate provides an appropriate month-by-month forecasted profit and loss statement using an estimate of revenues and operating costs based on the SALES forecast. F2. Forecasted Balance Sheet The candidate does not provide an appropriate forecasted balance sheet for the end of year one. Not applicable. Not applicable. The candidate provides an appropriate forecasted balance sheet for the end of year one. G1. Financial Projections The candidate does not provide a summary of the financial projections and assumptions used in estimating the financial statements. The candidate provides an imprecise summary of the financial projections and assumptions used in estimating the financial statements. The candidate provides a reasonable summary of the financial projections and assumptions used in estimating the financial statements. The candidate provides a precise summary of the financial projections and assumptions used in estimating the financial statements. G2. Financial Position The candidate does not describe the company’s financial position at the end of the first year. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the company’s financial position at the end of the first year. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the company’s financial position at the end of the first year. The candidate provides a precise description of the company’s financial position at the end of the first year. G3. Capital/Investment Needs The candidate does not describe the company’s initial and FUTUREestimated capital/investment needs. The candidate provides an imprecise description of the company’s initial and future estimated capital/investment needs. The candidate provides a reasonable description of the company’s initial and FUTURE estimated capital/investment needs. The candidate provides a precise description of the company’s initial and FUTURE estimated capital/investment needs. H. Sources When the candidate uses sources, the candidate does not provide in-text citations and references for each source used. When the candidate uses sources, the candidate provides appropriate in-text citations and references with major deviations from APA style. When the candidate uses sources, the candidate provides appropriate in-text citations and references with minor deviations from APA style. When the candidate uses sources, the candidate provides appropriate in-text citations and references with no readily detectable deviations from APA style, OR the candidate does not use sources.

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