case Analysis

BUAD 301 Uptown Treehouse

Uptown Treehouse is a seven-person company based in Los Angeles that creates social media campaigns for media and product companies. Just three years old, it earns an annual profit of more than $300,000 on revenue of $1.3 million. Founded by Aseem Badshah, Uptown Treehouse creates marketing campaigns employing elements for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon and Outbrain. It helps companies introduce new products and initiatives and has worked with both Guess Jeans and the television show “Breaking Bad.”

While building the company, Badshah and a programmer, Kevin Yu, created software that scanned social media for words that would identify potential customers. Then they used those words to start a conversation with the target customers through social media channels. That software has been incredibly successful.

In fact, the software was so effective that Badshah and Yu created a separate start-up, Socedo, to develop and sell the software. Thus far, however, they remain uncertain as to how to finance the start-up and how to divide their time between the two companies, which are in different cities. They believe Socedo, based in Seattle, could earn much larger profits, but with much greater risk.

Over the last year, the programming team has continued to develop the software, which is now being tested by some 200 companies — mostly small outfits but also a couple of big names: Zillow and Microsoft.

Your Task:

Badshah has hired you as a consultant. He’s not sure how to handle both companies: Should he focus on one (and if so, which one) or should he try to maintain both? What advice will you offer him?

Your analysis should clearly and concisely state the business problem, identify relevant case issues, state a measurable goal for any solution, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of two possible solutions to the problem, and finally recommend the solution that will best meet the business objectives. Five step

Other instructions:

· Do not write a memo.

· In left or right top margin type your name, class section, and the date.

· Center a title at the top of the page.

· Use one-inch margins and size 11 or 12 fonts

· Spell check and proof-read your work carefully.

· Do not exceed 1 page.

Expected Student Outcomes

Students will demonstrate insight into a multi-faceted, complex issue, recognizing underlying issues in addition to surface problems. Students are also expected to use the basic elements of communication in a sophisticated manner. Do NOT copy case language .

Assessment Measures: Content, Literacy, Audience, Strategy, and Style. Good Luck!