Two ( Case studies)
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case_study.rtfECO 505 Case Study Instructions and Rubrics
Overview
This course includes two case studies. These exercises are designed to actively involve you in economic reasoning and decision making and help you apply the concepts covered in the course to complex real-world situations. The case studies provide practice reading and interpreting both quantitative and qualitative analysis and using the analysis to make decisions and predictions. These exercises also provide practice communicating your reasoning in a professional manner.
Module Two Case Study: Wal-Mart vs. Amazon
Read Wal-Mart Vs. Ama~on: World's Biggest E-Com!Il~rce Battle Could Boil Down To Vegetabl~ by Clare O'Connor, Forbes, April 23, 2013. Your submission for this assignment should include economics course vocabulary and the following critical elements.
1. Evolution of business models
a. How have Wal-Mart and Amazon changed their business models in recent years?
b. Discuss at least two (2) economic factors and the reasoning behind the changes. 2. Comparative advantage
a. Describe one comparative advantage of Wal-Mart and one comparative advantage of Amazon.
b. Based on these comparative advantages, evaluate which company is likely to dominate the growing online market for perishables. Use research to justify your conclusions.
3. Business Strategies
a. According to the article, what business strategy advice does Anne Zybowski, Kantar Research vice president of retail insights, give Wal-Mart?
b. If you were hired by Wal-Mart as a consultant, what would you suggest as a top priority in order to win the "battle for e-commerce supremacy"? Why? Be sure to use economic reasoning in your answer.
Guidelines
The case study must follow these formatting guidelines: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA ejtilttonsPage length requirements: 2-3 pages, not including cover page and references.
Rubric for Case Study One/Module Two
Critical Elements
Exemplary
Proficient
Needs Improvement
Not Evident
Value
Evolution of Business
Submission meets "Proficient"
Describes how Wal-Mart and
Describes how Wal-Mart and
Does not include description of
20
Models
and extends explanation to
Amazon have changed their
Amazon have changed their
business models
include additional reasons for
business models in recent years
business models in recent years
the change
and identifies at least two
or identifies economic factors
economic factors and reasons
and reasons behind the changes
behind the changes
but does not include both
(20)
(18)
(14)
(0)
Comparative
Submission meets "Proficient"
Describes one comparative
Describes comparative
Does not describe one
20
Advantage
and extends explanation to
advantage of Wal-Mart and one
advantage of only one company
comparative advantage of Wal-
include compelling evidence in
comparative advantage of
and evaluates which company is
Mart and one comparative
support of the evaluation from
Amazon and evaluates which
likely to dominate the growing
advantage of Amazon. Does not
scholarly resources
company is likely to dominate
online market for perishables
evaluate which company is
the growing online market for
based on this comparative
likely to dominate the growing
perishables based on these
advantage alone
online market for perishables
comparative advantages
OR
based on these comparative
Describes one comparative
advantages
advantage of Wal-Mart and one
comparative advantage of
Amazon but does not evaluate
which company is likely to
dominate the growing online
market for perishables based
on these comparative
advantages
(20)
(18)
(14)
(0)
Business Strategy
Submission meets "Proficient"
Identifies the business strategy
Does not identify the business
Does not identify the business
20
and includes additional
advice and provides a
strategy advice, or does not
strategy advice, does not make
economic reasons for the
suggestion for a top priority and
make a suggestion for a top
a suggestion for a top priority,
suggested top priority
explains the logic for it using
priority, or does not explain the
and does not explain the logic
economic reasoning
logic for it using economic
for it using economic reasoning
reasoning
(20)
(18)
(14)
(0)
Course Vocabulary
Meets "Proficient" and
Applies vocabulary for the
Uses some economic
Does not include economic
20
integrates the course
economic topic throughout
vocabulary but it is unrelated to
vocabulary
vocabulary into all aspects of
case study
the context of the questions
the case study
(20)
(18)
(14)
(0)
Articulation of
Submission is free of errors
Submission has no major errors
Submission has major errors
Submission has critical errors
20
Response
related to grammar, spelling,
related to grammar, spelling,
related to grammar, spelling,
related to grammar, spelling,
syntax, and organization and is
syntax, or organization
syntax, or organization that
syntax, or organization that
presented in a professional and
negatively impact readability
prevent understanding of ideas
easy-to-read format
and articulation of main ideas
(20)
(18)
(14)
(0)
Earned Total
100
Comments:
Module Four Case Study: Pel! Grant Program
Read The Pell Grant Program: Recent Growth and Policy Optionsby the Congressional Budget Office (September 2013). Look in particular at the graph titled Growth in the Pell Grant Program Between Award Years 2006-2007 and 2011-2012. Your submission for this assignment should include economics course vocabulary and the following critical elements:
1. In 1-2 paragraphs, summarize the Pell Grant Program.
2. Spending for the Pell Grant Program
a. Identify when spending on the Pell Grant Program reached its maximum.
b. How did spending begin to fall even as the number of recipients continued to rise? 3. Pell Grant recipients
a. When did the greatest rise in the number of Pell Grant recipients occur?
b. Provide three (3) reasons for this rise in the number of recipients. 4. Future predictions
a. If the economy grows strongly over the next year, what do you expect will happen to the number of Pell Grant recipients? Explain your reasoning.
b. If the economy instead enters another recession, what do you expect will happen to the number of Pell Grant recipients? Explain your reasoning. 5. Alternative methods
a. The article lists several alternative methods that lawmakers might consider for helping students pay for postsecondary education. Summarize the advantages and disadvantages.
b. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative method, which alternative would you recommend to lawmakers and why?
Guidelines
The case study must follow these formatting guidelines: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and I~I'/\ g.!aE~ II. Page length requirements: 2-3 pages, not including cover page and references.
Rubric for Case Study TWO/Module Four
Critical
Exemplary
Proficient
Needs Improvement
Not Evident
Elements
Value
Summary of
Includes a summary of
N/A
N/A
Does not include a
Program
the Pell Grant program
summary of the Pell Grant
(10)
program (0)
10
Spending for
Submission meets
Identifies when spending for
Identifies when spending for the
Does not identify when
the Pell Grant
"Proficient" and extends
the Pell Grant Program
Pell Grant Program reached its
spending for the Pell Grant
Program
explanation to include a
reached its maximum and
maximum or describes how
Program reached its
reason why the spending
describes how spending in the
spending in the program began
maximum or when
began to fall
program began to fall
to fall, but does not include both
spending began to fall
15
(15)
(13.5)
(10.5)
(0)
Pell Grant
Submission meets
Identifies when the greatest
Identifies when the greatest rise
Does not identify when the
Recipients
"Proficient" and includes
rise in the number of Pell
in the number of Pell Grant
greatest rise of Pell Grant
additional reasons for the
Grant recipients occurred and
recipients occurred, but
recipients occurred
rise in recipients
provides three (3) reasons for
explanation is not complete
(15)
the rise in recipients (13.5)
(10.5)
(0)
15
Predictions
Submission meets
Includes a prediction for if the
Includes a prediction for if the
Does not include
"Proficient" and cites
economy continues to recover
economy continues to recover or
predictions in submission
specific facts from the
or if it enters another
if it enters a recession, but does
article or graphs to
recession and an explanation
not include both. Or does not
support the explanation
for both scenarios
include explanation for
(20)
(18)
predictions (14)
(0)
20
Alternative
Submission meets
Includes a summary of
Includes a summary of
Neither a summary nor a
Methods
"Proficient" and further
advantages and
advantages and disadvantages,
recommendation is
extends how this
disadvantages, and makes a
but does not provide a
included
recommendation would
recommendation to
reasonable recommendation
affect students in the
lawmakers, and explains the
long term (20)
recommendation (18)
(14)
(0)
20
Course
Meets "Proficient" and
Applies vocabulary for the
Uses some vocabulary, but it is
Does not include economic
Vocabulary
integrates the course
economic topic throughout
unrelated to the context of the
vocabulary
vocabulary into all
case study
questions
aspects of the case study
(10)
(9)
(7)
(0)
10
Articulation of
Submission is free of
Submission has no major
Submission has major errors
Submission has critical
Response
errors related to
errors related to grammar,
related to grammar, spelling,
errors related to grammar,
grammar, spelling,
spelling, syntax, or
syntax, or organization that
spelling, syntax, or
syntax, and organization
organization
negatively impact readability and
organization that prevent
and is presented in a
articulation of main ideas
understanding of ideas
professional and easy-to-
read format (10)
(9)
(7)
(0)
10
Earned Total:
100
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