Act as consultants to the organization presented in the case.

You will be completing Parts 1 through 4 in small groups and submitting a written report. The report will include an introduction, a conclusion, and headings for each of the (4) parts. One report will be submitted for each group.

To complete this project, you will be reading and analyzing the following case, Harlequin Enterprises: Assessing e-books. For more instructions regarding retrieving the case study, please go to the end of this document.

Your group will act as consultants to the organization presented in the case. To help this organization, you will 1) identify the major problem/decision facing the organization, 2) complete internal and external analyses that you have learned in the course to make sure you understand and can apply important information from the case that relates to solving this problem, 3) identify three feasible alternatives to solving the problem/decision, 4) make a recommendation for how the organization should solve the problem (or make their decision), including an action plan that includes specific steps.

At the conclusion of the project, each student will submit his or her own individual reflection for Part 5, on the same day that the group project is due.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of each of the parts:

Part 1: Identify the problem that management needs to solve. What priority decision needs to be made? Make sure you describe the nature of the problem and why it is important; i.e., what impact will this decision have on the organization and other stakeholders?

Part 2: Perform some analyses to help you determine what factors are important for management to consider in making this decision:

a. SWOT analysis

b. NPEST analysis

c. Porter’s 5-Force Analysis

d. Stakeholder analysis

For each of these analyses, present the analyses (use a table or lists if this helps to make the information more clear). Then, write a brief paragraph after each analysis summarizing the highlights of that analysis that you think are most relevant to this decision. You will need more information about this particular industry or about environmental factors, so you will have to do some research. You will need at least 5 (five) sources (Wikipedia and the Dictionary do not count as sources.)

Part 3: Based on your analyses, identify 3 (three) possible decisions you might make. In other words, what are three reasonable alternatives that management might choose to pursue to help solve this problem? (Don’t forget to consult Chapter 7 as you consider strategic options.)

For each of these three options, identify what you perceive to be the pros and cons of pursuing that particular alternative. Use the information you discovered in your analyses and course concepts to guide you, and try to list as many as you can think of. Resist the urge to make a decision too soon!!! Try to remain objective as you consider each alternative.

Part 4: Make a decision and create an action plan for 1 (one) of the options you discovered above. Which of the three options that you identified seems to be the best way to solve the issue/problem? (Different groups may make very different recommendations!) Why do you believe this is true (defend your choice)?

Develop a step-by-step action plan to carry out your decision. Your action plan should include specific steps for each of the four management functions: Planning, Leading, Organizing, and Controlling. You will want to make sure that the organization will be able to measure results and evaluate how the plan is working down the road.

This concludes the portion of the assignment that you will be working on as a group.

Part 5: Reflection (individual submissions)

A: Reflect on and answer the following questions regarding this course project:

1. As you did the actual work of the project, what did you discover about the plan you created at the beginning of the project?

a. What did you plan for effectively?

b. What did you miss in your planning process?

c. If you could start over again, how would your project plan be different?

2. What were your strengths as an individual team member? What were your weaknesses?

3. How did your group handle situations that were “unplanned”? Was your group teamwork effective or largely ineffective, and why? How would you assess your individual contribution to the sense of team?

4. Did you meet your group objectives for this project (in the absence of knowing your final grade)? Did you meet your personal objectives? Did you meet your planned targets?

B: Peer and Group Assessments + Contract Documents

1. Complete a self- and peer-assessment. Do not forget to include an explanation for your ratings. Use evaluation form titled “Peer Evaluation” in the Miscellaneous section of the Project Instructions on Moodle.

2. The evaluation MUST be handed in with your report.

a. You can hand these in either in an envelope at the back of your report or as part of an Appendix section at the end of your report.

3. Your group MUST also complete and hand in a Team Contract – template is in the Miscellaneous section on Moodle.

4. Lastly, each group member MUST complete a Time Log. A template for the format is also in the Miscellaneous section on Moodle. All Time Logs will have the following elements:

a. Tasks completed

b. Length of time to complete each task

c. When each task was completed

d. Total time spent on project by each project member

e. Signatures of each team member on each Time Log, indicating everyone has agreed to each other’s Time Log entries.

Your group must hand in both a paper and electronic version of your project report. The report must be uploaded into the “Upload Completed Project Here” drop box located in the Course Project Drop Boxes section on Moodle. Both are due at the same time.

Create this document following the format requirements as outlined below. Make sure that you are citing any outside sources properly (using in-text citations and a reference page).

You must submit your project parts using APA format, which includes:

· 1-inch margins on all sides

· 12-point Times New Roman font

· Double spacing

· Indented paragraph style

· All outside sources – whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized – must be cited using both in-text citations and a reference page.

· Word formatted headings are to be used, where appropriate.

· Page numbers

Appropriate parts of a report include:

· Title page, including: names of group members, name of the case, date of submission, instructor’s name, course name and section number;

· a table of contents;

· an executive summary;

· headings and subheadings throughout the body of the report

· an introduction and conclusion; and

· a reference page.

Your instructor will assist you with APA formatting and source citation if you are not taking COMM1101 currently.

THE PROJECT (PAPER AND UPLOADED ELECTRONIC VERSIONS) AND PEER EVALUATIONS ARE DUE ON Thursday, December 04, 2014 before start of class. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL RECEIVE A DEDUCTION PENALTY OF 10% PER CALENDAR DAY.

Marking Guide/Rubric (example only)

Instructions for Retrieving Case Study:

Greetings Students! This message explains how to purchase materials needed for your course.

Course: Principles of Management Fall 2014

Harlequin Enterprises: Assessing e-Books Professor: R.A.S. McDonald