INSTRUCTIONS: Business News Event Analysis
At the end of the course, you are required to identify and write about one current business news event concerning a specific organization that illustrates concepts covered in this course (e.g., Verizon acquiring BlueJeans Network, a B2B videoconferencing platform, for $500 million). While it is preferable that you draw on the most recent events, the events you chose to discuss can occur any time after January 1, 2022.
Your analysis of an event should be based on a minimum of four (4) articles. Articles can be from any major periodical (e.g., BusinessWeek, The Economist, Fortune) or major newspaper (i.e., Investor’s Business Daily, New York Times, Wall Street Journal). One source can be from a blog or newsletter from an expert in the field. (Note: A brief news announcement/article of less than 500 words provides insufficient depth and breadth and therefore is not considered a source for the purposes of this assignment.)
Write-ups should include a Description of the situation, a clearly articulated Connection to Management Concepts, Takeaways/lessons learned, and References. You should draw upon a number of strategic management concepts in your analysis of the event, and these concepts should be from at least several different chapters. Takeaways should go beyond the current situation/ organization. You are being asked to think about management lessons you have learned, which you can apply to your professional life in the future.
Your work should be professionally presented. In terms of formatting, written summaries should be at least two (2) single-spaced pages not including references (with double spacing between paragraphs – just like this document). The font should be 12 pt Times New Roman. Margins should be 1 inch around. Your name should appear at the top of the first page and be right justified. The write-up should be titled based on the business event about which you are writing. The management concepts that you draw upon should be italicized in the Connection to Management Concepts section. All four sections should be clearly delineated with bolded headings. You may be penalized for grammatical, spelling and other errors. (Note: A grading rubric is posted on BlackBoard.)
RUBRIC FOR BUSINESS NEWS EVENT ANALYSIS
Item Score
Description
(25 pts) Provides superficial summary of the business news event
(0-14) Summarizes business news event but misses some elements or does not provide adequate detail.
(15-19 pts) Summarizes business news event clearly and with sufficient detail to support subsequent application of management concepts
(20-25 pts)
Comments
Application
(40 pts) Draws on concepts from one chapter
Applies broad concepts– e.g., strategy, ethics, leadership
Misapplies concepts
(0 – 19 pts) Draws on concepts from two chapters
Speculates/ Force fits a framework — e.g., This merger took planning
Demonstrates adequate understanding of applied concepts
(20 – 34 pts) Draws on concepts from three or more chapters
Utilizes specific concepts – e.g., triple bottom line, divestment, operational excellence
Demonstrates deep understanding of applied concepts
(35 – 40 pts)
Comments
Takeaways
(25 pts) Provides no personal lessons learned
Makes general statements about management
Lessons learned do not logically flow from application of management concepts
(0 – 9 pts) Provides only one personal lesson learned
Focuses on what will happen to organization in the future or what the it should have done
Does not sufficiently develop ideas — e.g., explains a lesson in 2-3 sentences
(10 – 19 pts) Provides at least two lessons learned
Demonstrates significant reflection about the implications of business news event on student’s future professional decisions and actions
(20 – 25 pts)
Comments
Grammar and Style
(10 pts) Paper is disorganized, has numerous grammar errors, and/or APA citation mistakes
(0 – 5 pts) Paper is reasonably well written, but has grammar and/or style issues
(6-8 pts) Paper is well written and has minimal, if any, grammar and/or style issues
(9 – 10 pts)
Comments
Total Score
Deductions (if any – see below)
Final Score
OTHER REASONS POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED
As discussed in class, effectiveness means doing the right task. Therefore, to write an effective business news write-up, you must choose a recent business news event related to management about a specific organization. If you do not, then you cannot earn full credit no matter how well your analysis is formulated and written. Moreover, you need to follow the specific formatting requirements, which are designed to facilitate your successfully completing this assignment and/or my assessing your performance. Below are the points that will be deducted from the total score above if you do not follow these guidelines.
Wrong topic
• Did not choose a business news event focused on a specific company (100 pts deducted – no credit earned)
• Did not chose a timely business news event
o Event occurred between four and six months prior to write-up (5-10 pts deducted)
o Event occurred between seven and eleven months prior to the write-up (15-25 pts deducted)
o Event occurred over eleven months prior to the write-up (100 pts deducted – no credit earned)
Sources
• Drew on three acceptable sources (5-10 pts deducted)
• Drew on two acceptable sources (20-30 pts deducted)
• Drew on one acceptable source (40-50 pts deducted)
• Drew on no acceptable sources (no credit earned)
o The following sources are can be supplemental sources but are NOT considered an acceptable source: information from textbooks, articles in academic and case journals, articles that are less than 400 words long, articles that do not relate to the news event, more than one blog from an expert, articles from a news source with limited credibility, and publications issued by the company. (Note: A company-issued press release or internet posting can provide insights and can be included as a fifth source.)
• References not properly cited using APA formatting (1 pt deducted per cite)
Did not follow formatting instructions
• Included a cover sheet (1 pt deducted)
• Did not include your name on the document (1 pt deducted)
• Did not single-space the document (1 pt deducted)
• Did not double-space between paragraphs (1 pt deducted)
• Did not use the specified headings (3 pts deducted)
• Did not italicize management terms used (2-10 pts deducted)
• Did not create a Word document (10 pt deducted)
Plagiarism and other academic integrity violations (such as submitting a paper that was written for another course) will result in an F in the course. You are responsible for knowing what constitutes an academic integrity violation. The policy is posted on UT’s Office of the Provost web page (http://www.ut.edu/provost/).
Final Note: The points deducted are based on a paper worth 100 points. If the paper is worth less or more, then the points are adjusted accordingly. (e.g., If the paper is worth 50 points, then 5 points would be deducted for not creating a Word document. If the paper is worth 150 points, then 15 points would be deducted for not creating a Word document.)
