n 2021, CNBC published a list of 50 most innovative start-up companies. They are called disruptors and include (1) Stripe, (2) Impossible Foods, (3) SentnelOne, (4) Checkout.com, (5) Clear, (6) Lineage Logistics, and (7) TytoCare.
Select any of these seven entrepreneurial companies to write a research paper. The paper should be 10 -12 pages in length (excluding cover page, table of contents, and references), type-written and double-spaced. Note that the executive summary page, which summarizes key issues and ideas presented in the paper, should be single-spaced.
Follow the following guidelines in writing the paper:
▪ Cover page (company name, your name, university and college name, semester/year, course name/number/section, and instructor name).
▪ Table of contents (Show page number for each section of the paper).
▪ Executive summary. This full page is page number 1 for your research paper.
▪ The company. In this section, discuss the company history, nature of its business (i.e., the kind of goods or services offered), and its delivery method to customers (e.g., online, physical outlets, intermediaries). The company’s target customers (e.g., children, ladies, investors) and target market (e.g., local, national, international). Provide data about market size in terms of customers. Strategic assets of the company (e.g., patents, unique technology, leadership, other core and distinctive competencies). What is the purpose of its creation and competitive advantage?
▪ Analysis. Analyze the company financial information (if available) with tables and graphs showing profit/loss statements and balance sheet for most recent year.
▪ Company creativity: How creative is the company’s business model (e.g., introduction of new or improved goods/services, the company’s ability to become profitable in the future). Explain in detail.
▪ Competitors. Discuss at least two major competitors of the company that you have selected. The discussion should be focused on products, target markets, company size in terms of assets/employees, and other relevant factors. Is the company competitively sound in your judgement?
▪ Company future prospects: What is the future prospect of the company? Explain. If the company becomes a public enterprise (if it’s not already so), would you buy its stocks? Explain.
▪ Vision, mission, goals, objectives. On the basis of your research, develop your own vision and mission statements for the company. Also, develop two goals, and two objectives for each goal.
▪ SWOT analysis. Develop the SWOT table. The table should contain at least five factors (variables) for each component of the analysis (i.e., S, W, O, and T).
▪ Strategy statement: On the basis of the SWOT analysis, write down a strategy statement for the company (see McDonald’s strategy statement in the lecture notes posted on the course Blackboard).
▪ Recommendation. List three key recommendations for the company in strategic areas such as diversification, integration, or other initiatives.
▪ This is an individual (and not group) research project. You need to search the company reports, trade Journals, academic publications, books, and other published materials.
▪ Begin your research early in the semester. This is a major undertaken.
▪ You must use at least ten references.
▪ Follow the American Psychological Association (APA) writing style (manual) for citing the references. Keep in mind that the author’s name, title of the publication, date of publishing, and the publication name are all required.
▪ Examples:
Articles:
McDonald, Sammy (2020). Entrepreneurial Strategies in Canada, Journal of Strategy, Structure,
and Teams, 10 (7),100-110.
Books:
Fred R. David and Forest R. David (2017). Strategic Management, New Jersey: Prentice- Hall,
Inc, 77-79.
