Project Overview

Team Project Overview

In this course, you will practice applying your business communication skills by contributing to a Team Project. The Team Project assignment embraces many of the business communication principles covered in various course modules and is designed for students to gain more in-depth insight into one aspect of business communication. Together, your team will  write a Formal Report on a persuasive topic.

The Team Project assignment has three graded parts:

· Part 1 Assignment: Topic, Timeline, and Team Jobs (Team Submission; due Module 7)

· Part 2 Assignment: Rough Draft (Individual Submission; due Module 8)

· Part 3 Assignment: Final Submission (Team Submission; due Module 9)

Your Team

Your instructor will assign teams for your Team Project prior to Module 7. To access your group's homepage, which contains a list of your fellow group members, please review  How do I view my Canvas groups as a student?  Your team's workspace within Canvas allows you to share contact information, to discuss your ideas, and to collaborate on this project.

For best practices on how to work cohesively, creatively, and effectively as a team, please read   Team Project Best Practices.

Project Instructions

With your team, you will select one topic from the six options below. Select a subject that interests the entire team and that you all believe you can effectively research and write about.

1. What are the steps to starting up a successful business in the new world of work? If you're interested in exploring business entrepreneurship, prepare a report on the steps and best practices for starting up a new business in the 21st century world of work. Research sources on how to start a business including information on creating a business plan, financing your business, navigating legal and tax considerations, and more. To show the importance of these steps and best practices, be sure to provide examples of both successful and unsuccessful start-up companies. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument that the steps your team recommends will allow the business to flourish in today's world of work.

2. What is the importance of EQ in business today? If you're interested in exploring how to improve interpersonal relationships to better network and lead, prepare a report on EQ. Companies once believed that hiring persons with high IQs represented a sound recruiting strategy until the concept of emotional intelligence, EQ, emerged. Emotional intelligence affords a new way of looking at the root cause of the successes and ills of a number of business professionals. It explains why some people with high IQs flounder and why those with modest IQs do surprisingly well. Explore why some managers want employees with high EQs, not IQs. After conducting research, make a persuasive claim on the value of EQ in the 21st century workplace.

3. How do businesses develop brand loyalty in the 21st century? If you're interested in exploring branding, prepare a report on brand loyalty. Branding has become a staple of the 21st century world of work. Companies like Apple®, NIKE, Inc., and Whole Market® have focused on developing brand loyalty. Be sure to provide examples of new companies making strides in this area and discuss how those companies have built market share. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on the best strategy to develop brand loyalty.

4. How do businesses create a successful corporate culture? If you're interested in exploring high employee motivation and loyalty, prepare a report on corporate culture. Corporate culture is the synthesis of an organization’s collective beliefs, value systems, and processes that result in successful performance. Businesses refer to it as “how we do things here.” Discuss the concept, why it’s an important communication component for businesses, and how it’s created in specific companies. Be sure to provide examples of companies in which corporate culture is breeding success as well as companies with ineffective corporate culture. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on the most effective ways to create a strong company culture.

5. How does a business develop an engaging social media strategy? If you're interested in exploring how businesses apply the potential of social media to their overall brand marketing and communication strategies, prepare a report on how to engage with an effective social media strategy. Social media technology shapes the business world in many ways as older platforms fade and newer platforms emerge. As platforms wax and wane in popularity, what social media channels are critical for businesses today? Be sure to provide examples of companies that have crafted a unique and competitively differentiated business model around social media as well as companies that have not done so well on social media. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on the best strategy to engage an audience utilizing social media.

6. How will "Generation Z" employees entering the workforce impact business communication? If you're interested in exploring generational differences, prepare a report on how the newest generation to enter the workforce will change communication strategies in business. Generation Z, the generation immediately following Millennials, have just begun to enter the workforce. Who are the Generation Zers? Who might they be as entry-level employees in the workforce? How might business communication change because of these Generation Z employees? How might other generations interact with Generation Zers? After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on how the newest generation of employees to enter the workforce might shift and change business communication practices.

Technical Requirements

The Formal Report must:

· Make a  persuasive argument addressing one of the previous six prompts utilizing effective research, examples, and the modes of persuasion (ethos, pathos, and logos).

· Be at least 2,000-2,500 words, double spaced, with one-inch margins.

· Contain information from  six sources with six in-text citations within the body of the report consistent with proper APA formatting guidelines. Include a "References" page formatted in accordance with current APA standards.

· Use at least  two visuals (image, graph, chart, table, etc.) within the body of the report utilizing visual communication best practices.

· Utilize Chapter 18: Formal Reports from your textbook as a guide.

· Include the following required elements of a formal report as outlined in Chapter 18: Formal Reports:

· Title page

· Letter or memo of transmittal to your instructor

· Table of contents

· List of figures and/or list of tables (depending upon the visuals utilized)

· Executive summary/abstract

· Introduction and background

· Body containing information from six sources, examples, and persuasive appeals

· Conclusions/recommendations

· References page in current APA format

· Include an equal distribution of writing among all members of the team.

Next Steps

First, read over the Team Project Best Practices . Next, begin using your group's discussion forum in Canvas early on in Module 7 to decide on a topic, to develop an agreed-upon timeline for project completion, and to assign team jobs.