Applied sciences assignment 6

construct-a-white-paper.pdf

Constructing a White Paper

A white paper is a comprehensive report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. White papers are often used in government, business-to-business marketing, and technology sectors.

Here's an outline for writing a white paper:

1. Title Page: Includes the title of your white paper, your name or the name of your organization, and the publication date.

2. Executive Summary: A brief section summarizing the main points and purpose of the white paper. This section is important as it helps readers decide if the paper is relevant to their interests.

3. Introduction: Introduce the problem or challenge your white paper addresses. Provide background information and set the context for your readers.

4. Problem Statement: Clearly define the problem or issue your white paper is addressing. This section is crucial as it lays the foundation for the rest of the document.

5. Solution Overview: Present a high-level overview of the solution or solutions you propose. This should not be too detailed but should give the reader a clear idea of your approach.

6. Detailed Solution: Delve into the specifics of your solution. Provide data, research findings, case studies, or detailed arguments to support your solution. This section often makes up the bulk of the white paper.

7. Benefits: Highlight the benefits of your proposed solution. Explain how it addresses the problem more effectively than other approaches.

8. Conclusion: Summarize the key points made in the white paper and reiterate the importance of your solution. End with a strong statement that reinforces the value of your approach.

9. Call to Action: Depending on the purpose of your white paper, include a call to action, such as contacting your company for more information, implementing the suggested solutions, or considering new policies.

10. References: List all sources cited in your white paper. This section adds credibility to your paper by showing the research and work that went into it.

Remember, the key to a successful white paper is clarity, professionalism, and thoroughness in presenting your argument or solution. We would like you to use APA Format.

This outline can be used to develop a powerpoint presentation, too.

Depending on your assignment, you may need to add sections, separate the executive summary, or otherwise adapt the outline to the situation.

CaseStudies_assignment6.docx

GUIDANCE FOR SELECTION OF CASES AND TOPICS

Now it is time to choose a particular case that will help you understand the keys to successful, high-performing organizations as you continue your journey toward your master's degree. Here are some ideas to get your team thinking:

You could study high-performance organizations such as Apple, Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, Salesforce.com, Intuit, USAA, NetApp, Cisco Systems, or Zappos.com, to name just a few organizations.

You could also select an organization that has dealt (successfully or not) with a particular crisis or issue such as

· Genentech's lawsuits over kickbacks and circumventing Medicare guidelines on co-pays,

· Theranos' fraud case over claims of ground-breaking blood sampling technology that doesn't exist,

· Adobe's move from annual performance reviews to more flexible check-ins,

· Silicon Valley's employee diversity problem, or

· find a case study at Harvard Business Review (select "Search within this publication" to get started). [Note: You must be signed in to UMGC to view this in the library.]

These ideas should get your team started in selecting a case study. If you have another case in mind, make sure to get your instructor's approval. Then you can dive in!

assignment6.docx

An executive summary, as described by the Writing Center at UMGC, "summarizes or reviews the main points of a longer document or report for a reader that does not have time to read the entire report. An effective executive summary analyzes and summarizes the most important points in the paper or report, and will often make a recommendation based on the analysis. Executive summaries are 'stand-alone' documents that are almost always read independently of the reports they summarize" (UMGC, n.d.).

In a workplace setting, an executive summary is the mechanism by which you will attract an executive's attention and should concisely summarize the materials that you are presenting.

While there isn't a single acceptable format for an executive summary, an executive summary typically very briefly (one to two pages) includes the following:

· a first paragraph that attracts attention and gets the executive to read the rest of your summary

· bullet points and concise language to articulate ideas

· establishment of what is unique about your summary that makes it compelling for an executive to review

· a recommended basic structure:

· introduction (grabs the executive's attention)

· statement of the problem

· recommended solution

· explanation of why this is important to do now (conveys a sense of urgency)

--------- > second page

An asynchronous presentation is a prerecorded presentation for a specific audience to whom you would ideally present in person or online in real time, but cannot for practical reasons. While MS PowerPoint is considered the default presentation tool for presentations, you may consider using other presentation platforms or tools. Be sure the tool supports prerecorded narration. Dedicate enough time to the narrated presentation to get the timing for transitions right, and ensure that the sound is clear and the narration at the right volume. A good asynchronous presentation shares most of the same traits as a good live presentation. Your presentation should not be your academic paper cut into text-filled slides. Rather, consider how you might identify themes to discuss that are supported by pertinent facts from your paper. You are giving a talk to an audience, so your narrative should provide most of your ideas and argumentation. Be sure the themes either flow or transition appropriately from slide to slide. Use images and data visualization (tables, charts, or graphs, for example) where possible.