Research and Analysis of Business Problems

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BA 301 Intro Lecture

BA 301 Research & Analysis of Business Problems

Zin Obelisk

In the ancient city of Atlantis, a solid, rectangular object, called a Zin, was built in honor of a goddess. The structure took less than two weeks to complete. The task of your team is to determine on which day of the week the obelisk was completed. You have fifteen minutes for this task. Do NOT choose a formal leader for your group. You will be given cards containing information related to the task. You may share this information orally, but you may NOT show your cards to other participants.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

BA 301 Research & Analysis of Business Problems

For Wk1, on D2L

¨  Syllabus ¨  Group Activity 1 Instructions ¨  Personal Info Sheet (hand in next Thursday) [*] ¨  Survey (in Content section) ¨  Fortune 151-200 List (to be posted after class) ¨  HW #1

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Syllabus Review

¨  Contact Info ¤ Email – [email protected] * About me ¤ Include something about the question in the subject line. ¤ Please proof your emails. ¤ A day or two for response (not hours). ¤ Make sure your question or issue is clear. ¤ Feel free to visit me during office hours (SBA 393),

Thursdays, 4:30-5:30.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Syllabus Review

¨  The book: ¤ There is no book! ¤ Supplemental – Problem Solving 101 by Ken

Watanabe n  Available on Course Reserve through the Library. n  Useful if you’re interested in developing a problem solving

framework.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Syllabus Review

¨  The daily schedule: ¤ Roll will be taken every day ¤ Review of previous group activities, where relevant ¤ Short lecture, Group Activities, Lecture, Group Activities ¤ Check the website for changes/updates

¤ [*] Please check D2L for any changes. We will meet in the Library 160 for a session with Kerry Wu at the beginning of Wk3.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Syllabus Review

¨  The website: ¤  D2L ¤  All handouts will be available on the Web. ¤  This site will be updated often. ¤  All homework assignments are located on the website. ¤  Group Activity Instructions must be downloaded from the

website. ¤  PDFs of lectures will be on the website, but after the class! ¤  Forum/discussion groups are on D2L.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Syllabus Review

Grade Breakdown: 1)  Business Analysis Research Paper – 35% 2)  Attendance and participation (in-class/forum) – 15% 3)  Homework – 25% 4)  Group activities – 25%

1)  Forum Activity (50%) 2)  IKEA Case (25%) 3)  Final Group Presentation (25%)

BA 301 Intro Lecture

1.) Research Paper

¨  This is a term-long research paper – start early! ¨  Choose a company from part of the Fortune 500 list (positions 151-200)

– get your choice to me next week on the personal info sheet. ¨  Use the problem solving framework discussed during the term to research

a problem and develop solutions, and write it up! ¨  Due on the last day of class (not Final’s Week)

n  At least 10 pages of text (n/i TOC, graphics, charts, bibliography and appendices), no longer than 20 pages.

¨  Check the website for advice and a template. ¨  Over the next few weeks we’ll discuss the term paper in more detail in

class.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

1.) Research Paper

¨  Typical strategy: ¤  Get the assignment ¤  Choose a topic ¤  Wait until a few days before the paper is due ¤  Madly search the Internet ¤  Write the paper the night before it’s due ¤  Pray!

BA 301 Intro Lecture

1.) Research Paper

¨  New strategy: ¤  Get the assignment ¤  Choose a topic ¤  Spend a few weeks doing research – Internet and the

library ¤  Take notes ¤  See me to discuss process and project ¤  Create outline ¤  Write incrementally ¤  Edit ¤  Turn in on time

BA 301 Intro Lecture

2.) Attendance/Participation

¨  Show up to class – I will take roll! ¤  If you’re sick – stay home! ¤  Excused absences need some sort of proof.

¨  It can’t hurt to use a name card on your desk. ¨  Answer questions in class. ¨  Ask questions in class. ¨  Post in the forums. ¨  Come see me during office hours if you have questions, or just

want to talk about the class. ¨  If you just show up and post moderately – you’ll earn a B for

this part of the grade.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

2.) Attendance/Participation

¨  Post to the general class discussion ¤  If you find an article that is interesting, post the article and your

thoughts and maybe a question to the class to get the conversation going.

¤  Occasionally I will post an article to get a conversation started.

¨  I will not be counting the number of posts ¤  But, I do want to see participation.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

3.) Homework

¨  Answer the questions on the homework assignment sheets (found on the web page) ¤  Neatness does count, no handwritten assignments. ¤  If it’s too sloppy, you’ll have to resubmit. ¤  You must use the HW assignment template.

¨  Research paper prep is part of the homework. ¨  Due dates are shown on the calendar – no email submissions

and no late homework (w/o legitimate excuse). Turn it in during the first 5 minutes of class.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

4.) Group Activities

¨  Participate with your group – there will be group activities during each class.

¨  Group Activity Instructions must be downloaded from the website. ¨  Assign a scribe and post your results and analysis – by the following

Sunday at midnight. ¨  Keep your notes together – I may want to look at them mid-term. ¨  There is a short group presentation at end of term. ¨  There are additional guidelines on the website and in the syllabus. ¨  Harvard Case Analysis in Week 7 – link to case below ($3.95)

¤  https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/access/30820360

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Hints & Tips

¨  Start early on the paper. ¨  Show up to class and participate. ¨  Take the group work seriously. ¨  Don’t wait to the last minute to deal with group

issues or problems. ¨  Don’t miss any of the assignments. ¨  Ask me if you have questions…

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Activity 1 – Part 1

¨  Working on your own, think about a problem you have solved, or a decision you have made in the past. On a sheet of paper, write down the specific steps you took to solve the problem (or make the decision).

¨  Take notes! ¨  Be prepared to discuss these in class, and in your

groups during the next class.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

BA 301 Research & Analysis of Business Problems

Activity 1 – Part 1

¨  Take notes! ¨  Be prepared to discuss these in class, and in your

groups during the next class.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Activity 1 - Part 2

¨  Spend time talking over your personal problem solving processes.

¨  Discuss the similarities and differences. ¨  SCRIBE: Take notes on the discussion. ¨  NOTE: Complete only Part 2 at this time.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Problem – Target Marketing 22

Silent Generation – born before 1946

Baby boomers – born 1946 – 1959 Generation X – born 1960 – 1979

Activity 1 - Part 2

¨  Spend time talking over your personal problem solving processes written down after the last class.

¨  Discuss the similarities and differences. ¨  SCRIBE: Take notes on the discussion.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

Improving Problem Solving 24

Problem Solving

“When a problem comes along, study it until you are completely

knowledgeable. Then find the weak spot, break the problem apart, and the

rest will be easy.” - Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993)

Problem Solving

Context & Background

Problem Analysis & Description

Solution Development

Evaluation & Decision- Making

Communication & Implementation

Problem Solving

Context & Background

Problem Solving

Problem Analysis & Description

Problem Solving

Solution Development

Problem Solving

Evaluation & Decision- Making

Problem Solving

Communication & Implementation

Problem Solving

Context & Background

Problem Analysis & Description

Solution Development

Evaluation & Decision- Making

Communication & Implementation

Activity1, Part 3 ¨  Working as a group, develop an extensive list of problems

faced by PSU students, and problems faced by PSU administration – brainstorm! Be creative!

¨  Think about whether you are describing a problem or just the symptom.

¨  Put the lists on one sheet of paper and keep it with your group materials.

¨  SCRIBE: Take notes and post an “results & reflection” after class online.

BA 301 Intro Lecture

For Next Week

¨  Complete the online survey ¨  Fill out the Personal Info Sheet (online form or

paper) ¨  Post any articles you feel are relevant for class

discussion

BA 301 Intro Lecture

BA 301 Research & Analysis of Business Problems