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599 – Assignment 3 (1206) Page 1 of 3

JWI 599: Business Analytics and Capstone

Assignment 3

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

Assignment 3: Board Brief Part C – Overview of the Strategic Plan

Due: Sunday, midnight of Week 8 (20% of Course Grade)

Overview

The third component of your Board Brief is an overview of your strategic plan. The purpose of the overview

is to give Board members a preview of the key changes you will make in order to implement your plan, and

to explain how these changes will impact the organization. This information enables your Board to come to

the meeting better prepared and to ask more informed questions. Your overview must be clear and

complete enough that it makes sense, but should not be overly wordy.

Your instructor will review your strategic plan and will provide comments and questions where needed to

help you strengthen your presentation. You will be given these questions in advance of your presentation

and will be expected to address them in your delivery.

Instructions

1. Create a 3 to 4 page paper that will take the analysis work you have done in the first two assignments

and turn it into an actionable plan.

2. An effective plan overview will include:

a. A clear and compelling opening statement (executive summary) explaining the strategic

initiative

b. A high-level outline of your implementation plan, including costs, impact on operations, ROI

projections, competitive advantage, and risks associated with the plan, along with your

mitigation plans

c. A reminder of the challenges and opportunities facing the organization and how your

proposed plan will address these

d. Enough information allowing Board members to prepare for the upcoming meeting and to

formulate additional questions

e. A summary statement recapping why the proposed strategic initiative is necessary and the

approvals being sought at the upcoming Board meeting

599 – Assignment 3 (1206) Page 2 of 3

JWI 599: Business Analytics and Capstone

Assignment 3

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

NOTE: Use the Board Brief Checklist in the course shell to help guide your work. As you complete each of

the three assignments, you will add it to the previous assignment(s), so that by the end of Assignment 3, you

will have created a single document for your entire Board Brief

 Submit your work in Word

 Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, your professor’s name, and the course title and date

 Include a references page with your sources

 The cover page and the references page are not included in the required page length

 Use professional font (Times New Roman or Arial), 10-12 font size, and double-space

 Headings are used to identify main topics and subtopics

 Paragraphs are separated by a single space

599 – Assignment 3 (1206) Page 3 of 3

JWI 599: Business Analytics and Capstone

Assignment 3

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

RUBRIC: Assignment 3

CRITERIA

Unsatisfactory

Low Pass

Pass

High Pass

Honors

1. Executive

Summary/

Opening

Statement

Weight: 10%

Executive summary

was missing or off-

topic

Executive summary

covered main points,

but was disorganized

or overly detailed

Executive summary

provided a basic

synopsis of the

strategic plan

Executive summary

provided an excellent

synopsis of the

strategic plan

Met HP criteria plus

displayed an

engaging style that

indicates a powerful

opening that will grab

the audience

2. Plan Outline

Weight: 30%

Missing, incomplete,

or unrealistic

explanation of the

strategic plan

Strategic plan was

outlined, but lacked

substantive rationale

for key choices and

actions

Strategic plan was

outlined; included

basic rationale and

information on key

choices and actions

Strategic plan

included a clear and

well-reasoned

rationale; included

key information on

strategic choices and

actions

Strategic plan is

justified by keen

insight into market

dynamics and

competitors’

strengths, and

provided a viable

solution for both

near-term and long-

term growth

3. Financials

Weight: 20%

Performed no

financial calculations

or made substantive

errors

Financial models

and calculations

included minor errors

or assumptions

which did not

materially impact the

strategic plan

Correctly performed

all basic financial

calculation and

modeling

Met Pass criteria plus

included detailed

calculations that

correctly and

accurately

summarized the

financial health of the

organization

Met HP criteria plus

included

comprehensive

forward-looking

calculations of

payback relative to

IRR and other key

performance metrics

4. Competitive

Advantage

Weight: 15%

Did not identify

impact on

competitive strength

or presented

assertions not

supported by data

Identified potential

impact of the

strategic plan move

on competitive

advantage, but did

not address

sustainability of

advantage

Identified potential

impact on

competitive

advantage and

provided basic

insights into the

ability of competitors

to match move(s)

Clearly explained the

sustainability of the

move(s) and why

competitors will not

easily be able to

match

Met HP criteria plus

offered additional

valuable insights into

evidence supporting

the sustainability and

superiority of the

strategic plan

5. Risk

Weight: 15%

Incomplete or

unclear synopsis of

any of the most

important strategic

risks

Risk analysis was

superficial,

demonstrating only a

basic understanding

of the threats to the

proposed strategic

plan

Risk analysis

demonstrated basic

understanding of

risks and the upside

opportunity relative to

that risk

Clearly explained

potential for risk, risk

impact on the

organization, and

plan for risk

mitigation

Met HP criteria plus

explained why

proposed plan is

superior to other risk-

reward options

6. Summary

Weight: 10%

Missing, incomplete,

or unclear summary

Summary was vague

and/or failed to

connect key

elements of the plan

Summary provided a

basic recap of

connection of key

elements of the plan

Summary recapped

key elements and

drew the Board Brief

to a clear and

concise close

Met HP criteria plus

presented an

inspiring and

compelling call to

action that this is the

plan that will take the

organization forward