Informal_Interviews_Assignment_1

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Assignment 1: Information Interviews
Instructions

Informational Interview (20%), due July 16th.

The information Interviews = two separate interviews: the first involves meeting and interviewing an entrepreneur or business owner to gather information as to their business experience, strategy, and operations.

The second consists of interviewing a commercial banker or other financial professional, to obtain information as to the bank loan requirement and approval process, and/or investment requirements and strategy, as well as critical factors needed for a banker or investor presentable business plan.

You should not wait until the due date to prepare, as meetings may be difficult to arrange at short notice. While face-to-face interviews are preferable, if your work schedule inhibits such preparation, you may conduct the interviews by telephone or via online/e-mail format.

Required Elements to include in the Informational Interview Write Up:

Students are responsible for developing questions that will garner the responses necessary to address the key elements of the assignment.

Include all of the following elements in your interview report:

· Provide a brief description of the business which includes the business form the nature of the business, how many years in business, and whether the business is local in nature, national, or international in scope;

· Why did the person decide to go into business, and what was the biggest obstacle they had to overcome in the early stages of the business;

· Did the owner develop a Business Plan before starting the business, why or why not;

· Discuss what makes the business unique and different from its competition and what is its value proposition;

· Does the company have a clearly defined strategy, what do you believe it is;

· Discuss the owners marketing and sales strategy for gaining and maintaining new business opportunities;

· What core business functions if any did the business decide to outsource and why;

· Discuss the hiring process and the core values that have been established for the organization;

· Discuss the financial management tools and metrics that the business owner depends on too manage growth and profitability;

· Discuss keys to success, from the owner's perspective;

· What the person would do differently if he/she had it to do all over again.

· Critically assess the current status of the business based on concepts presented in class. What would you say is the future for this business? Would you invest in this business? Why or why not?

· Interview questions must be included as an addendum to the assignment; however, these should not be counted toward the length requirement of the paper.

For the financial report, consisting of an interview with a commercial banker, investor, or financial professional, the content should include discussing the loan origination and approval process if interviewing a banker, or the investor analysis, decision making, and due diligence process if interviewing an investor or financial professional,

For either banker or investor, also discuss the importance of, and key material sections of, the business plan for reaching an approval decision.

· Required Formatting of Informational Interview Report:

· This report should be double spaced, 12-point font, and four to six pages in length, excluding the title page and reference page;

· Title page;

· Introductory paragraph and a summary paragraph;

· Use headings;

· Write in the third person;

· Use APA formatting for in-text citations and a reference page. You are expected to paraphrase and not use quotes. Deductions will be taken when quotes are used and found to be unnecessary;

· Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder.

Rubric Name: Interview w/Entrepreneur (20%)

Criteria

Outstanding

Superior

Good

Substandard

Failure

Critical Thinking/Reasoning

5 points

demonstrates a high degree of critical thinking, is consistent in accurately interpreting questions & material; provides solid assumptions, reasoning & claims; thorough analysis & evaluation with sound conclusions

4.25 points

shows good critical thinking; accurately interprets most questions & material; usually identifies relevant arguments/reasoning/claims; offers good analysis & evaluation with fairly sound conclusions

3.75 points

shows occasional critical thinking; questions & material is at times accurately interpreted; arguments/reasoning/claims are occasionally explained; offers fair analysis & evaluation with a conclusion

3.25 points

shows little critical thinking, misinterprets questions or material; ignores or superficially evaluates; justifies little and seldom explains reasoning; draws unwarranted conclusions

2.75 points

lacks critical thinking consistently offers biased interpretations; ignores or superficially evaluates; argues using poor reasoning, and/or unwarranted claims

Application of Concepts/Development

5 points

arguments or positions are well-supported with evidence from the readings/experience; ideas go beyond the course material and recognize implication and extensions of the material and concepts

4.25 points

arguments or positions are mostly supported by evidence from the readings and course content; ideas presented demonstrate student’s understanding of the material and concepts

3.75 points

arguments are more often based on opinion or unclear views than on position grounded in the readings of material or external sources of material

3.25 points

arguments are frequently illogical and unsubstantiated; student may resort to ad hominem attacks on the author instead of making meaningful application of the material

2.75 points

arguments lack meaningful explanation or support of ideas

Development of Interview Questions

4 points

questions are logical and effective; enables writer to fully understand the facets of the entrepreneur's job and the skill sets involved in carrying out the day to day responsibilities of the business

3.4 points

questions are somewhat logical but slightly limiting; enables writer to achieve a degree of understanding but a key facet of the business or responsibility of the entrepreneur is missing

3 points

questions demonstrate a degree of logic but are very limiting; hinders writers ability to fully understand the nature of the business and the scope of the entrepreneur responsibilities

2.6 points

some questions are appropriate but key points are missing; enables writer to understand either the facets of the business or the scope of the entrepreneur's responsibilities but not both

2.2 points

questions are irrelevant and fail to draw essential information

Attention to Instructions

3 points

demonstrated full understanding of requirements; responded to each aspect of assignment

2.55 points

demonstrated understanding of requirements; missed one minor aspect of assignment

2.25 points

demonstrated some understanding of requirements; missed a key element or two minor aspects of assignment

1.95 points

failed to show a firm understanding of requirement; missed two key elements or several minor aspects of assignment

1.65 points

did not demonstrate understanding of assignment requirements

Clarity; including grammar

2 points

writing is clear and easy to follow; grammar and spelling are all correct; formatting gives a professional look and adds to readability

1.7 points

most ideas are presented clearly; occasional spelling and/or grammar issues

1.5 points

wordy; some points require rereading to understand fully; more than an occasional spelling and/or grammar

1.3 points

unclear and difficult to understand; frequent spelling and grammar issues

1.1 points

largely incomprehensible writing/poorly written in terms of mechanics and structure

Adherence to APA (6th ed.)

1 point

no APA style errors

0.85 points

attempts in-text citation and reference list but 1 or 2 APA style errors are present

0.75 points

attempts in-text citation and reference list; APA style errors are present; inconsistencies in citation usage can be found throughout the document

0.65 points

attempts either in-text citation or reference list but omits the other

0.55 points

no attempt at APA style

Overall Score

Outstanding 18 or more

Superior 16 or more

Good 14 or more

Substandard 12 or more

Failure 0 or more