Strategic plan

· Describe your organization’s history, products, and major competitors. 

· Explain the current situation of the organization in the market. 

· Conduct a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and trends) to determine areas that offer opportunities for change.

· Choose at least three areas from your SWOT analysis and explain why the areas you have chosen are essential to your strategic plan. Use theories and examples from your text and additional sources to support your rationale.

· Explain your method to measure the success of your strategic plan.

Your paper must be eight to ten pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. In addition, you must use at least three scholarly sources, in addition to the text. Remember to incorporate information that you have learned from this course as well as your personal experience.  Your Final Project 

· Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

· Must include a title page with the following:

· Title of paper

· Student’s name

· Course name and number

· Instructor’s name

· Date submitted

· Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement.

· Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. If possible, provide the context of a first-person experience where you saw this academic concept in operation.

· Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph.

· Must use APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center to document all sources.

· Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Selects an Organization and Describes Its History, Products, and Major Competitors

Total: 2.50

Distinguished - Selects an organization and thoroughly describes its history, products, and major competitors. 

Proficient - Selects an organization and describes its history, products, and major competitors. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Selects an organization and partially describes its history, products, and major competitors. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Selects an organization and attempts to describe its history, products, and major competitors; however, significant details are missing. 

Non-Performance - The description of the selected organization’s history, products, and major competitors is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Explains the Current Situation of the Organization in the Market

Total: 2.00

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the current situation of the organization in the market. 

Proficient - Explains the current situation of the organization in the market. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Partially explains the current situation of the organization in the market. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the current situation of the organization in the market; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the current situation of the organization in the market is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Develops a SWOT Analysis to Determine Areas That Offer Opportunities for Change

Total: 4.00

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive SWOT analysis to determine areas that offer opportunities for change. The analysis is thoroughly supported with scholarly sources.

Proficient - Develops a SWOT analysis to determine areas that offer opportunities for change. The analysis is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Develops a limited SWOT analysis to determine areas that offer opportunities for change. The analysis is minimally supported with scholarly sources and/or is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a SWOT analysis to determine areas that offer opportunities for change; however, the analysis is not supported with scholarly sources and/or is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The development of SWOT analysis to determine areas that offer opportunities for change is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Chooses at Least Three Areas From the SWOT Analysis and Explains Why the Chosen Areas are Essential to the Strategic Plan

Total: 4.00

Distinguished - Chooses at least three areas from the SWOT analysis and thoroughly explains why the chosen areas are essential to the strategic plan. The explanation is fully supported by relevant scholarly sources.

Proficient - Chooses at least three areas from the SWOT analysis and explains why the chosen areas are essential to the strategic plan. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Chooses at least three areas from the SWOT analysis and partially explains why the chosen areas are essential to the strategic plan. The explanation is minimally supported with scholarly sources and/or is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Chooses at least three areas from the SWOT analysis and attempts to explain why the chosen areas are essential to the strategic plan; however, the explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and/or is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the chosen areas of the SWOT analysis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Explains a Method to Measure the Success of the Proposed Strategic Plan

Total: 3.00

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains a method to measure the success of the proposed strategic plan. The explanation is fully supported by relevant scholarly sources.

Proficient - Explains a method to measure the success of the proposed strategic plan. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources, but is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains a method to measure the success of the proposed strategic plan. The explanation is minimally supported with scholarly sources and/or is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain a method to measure the success of the proposed strategic plan; however, the explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and/or is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of a method to measure the success of the proposed strategic plan is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Critical Thinking: Explanation of Issues

Total: 0.75

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions. 

Critical Thinking: Evidence

Total: 0.75

Distinguished - Employs persuasive and applicable information from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.

Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible sources to develop an analysis of the topic.

Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources, but may neglect the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic. 

Below Expectations - Presents information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects to apply such information toward the analysis of the topic.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics

Total: 0.50

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: APA Formatting

Total: 0.50

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Page Requirement

Total: 0.50

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Resource Requirement

Total: 0.50

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.