BUS 400 Module One Blog Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

Raising money to invest in innovation is hard. Companies both large and small work to strike a balance between executing an existing business model and thinking ahead to advance their business. As individuals think critically

about how their business should move forward, they should �rst get a 360-degree view of their environment. This journey starts with research on the current state of the business and critical thinking questions that can help

leaders drill down deeper.

Prompt

In this blog post, you will take on the role of the recently-promoted chief innovation of�cer (CIO) of an established U.S.-based company of your choosing. It is within your responsibilities to discover new ways to improve an

existing product or service in North America, oorr to introduce a new product or service to the market that will give the company a market edge over competition and �t within the company’s core competencies. For the purposes

of this blog post, and for this entire course, you will do the latter.

The new product or service must be something that cannot be easily duplicated and takes into account consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). If a consumer doesn’t have a problem or need for the product or service offered, they

will not be willing to exchange money for the solution.

The �rst step of such an undertaking requires research and an examination of the selected company’s �nancials and current resources. Moreover, this new product or service offering must leverage the strengths of the

company.

Using MarketLine, Yahoo Finance, and the investor relations page on the company’s website, select and research an established company of your choice. Speci�cally, look at the company’s 10K Report with a focus on the

company’s business in North America. You will continue to research and work with this company throughout this course in the milestones and project.

In your blog post, identify the company you researched and describe its potential new and unique product or service. IInncclluuddee aann iimmaaggee ooff tthhee ccoommppaannyy’’ss ccuurrrreenntt SSWWOOTT from the Shapiro Library and address the following

questions:

• VVaalluuee pprrooppoossiittiioonn: What is the company’s main business?

◦ What value does the company deliver to the customer?

• PPrroo��ttaabbiilliittyy: Is the company currently pro�table?

• SSWWOOTT aannaallyyssiiss ssttrreennggtthhss: What are the company’s main strengths to be leveraged to create a new product or service?

• PPrroodduucctt oorr sseerrvviiccee ssiinngguullaarriittyy: What is unique about the new product or service?

• NNeeww pprroodduucctt oorr sseerrvviiccee pprroojjeeccttiioonnss: How can the new product or service improve pro�tability? Note: this is an estimation based on research of the company’s current market position.

What to Submit

Your blog post must be between 400 and 800 words in length and be submitted as a Word document. Your blog post should be written in a professional voice and should be appropriately formatted for a blog. Any sources cited

should use APA formatting.

BBeellooww aarree ssoommee aaddddiittiioonnaall rreessoouurrcceess ffoorr iimmpprroovviinngg yyoouurr bblloogg:

How to Write a Blog Post for Beginners: This article is an introduction to writing blog posts.

12 Easy Ways to Improve Your Blog: This article examines important elements in developing your own blog.

Blogging Best Practices PDF: This bulleted list gives you a quick summary of the best practices top bloggers use.

Module One Blog Rubric

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Module One Blog Guidelines and Rubric – BUS-400-Q2758 Driving Business Opportunities… https://learn.snhu.edu/d2l/le/content/1414257/viewContent/28245741/View

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CCrriitteerriiaa EExxeemmppllaarryy ((110000%%)) PPrroo��cciieenntt ((8855%%)) NNeeeeddss IImmpprroovveemmeenntt ((5555%%)) NNoott EEvviiddeenntt ((00%%)) VVaalluuee

VVaalluuee PPrrooppoossiittiioonn Exceeds pro�ciency in an

exceptionally clear, insightful,

sophisticated, or creative manner

Describes the company’s value

proposition

Shows progress toward

pro�ciency, but with errors or

omissions; areas for improvement

may include descriptions that are

missing key components or

cursory description in general

Does not attempt criterion 16

PPrroo��ttaabbiilliittyy Exceeds pro�ciency in an

exceptionally clear, insightful,

sophisticated, or creative manner

Determines if the company is

currently pro�table

Shows progress toward

pro�ciency, but with errors or

omissions; areas for improvement

may include determinations that

are incorrect or lacking research

Does not attempt criterion 16

SSWWOOTT AAnnaallyyssiiss:: SSttrreennggtthhss Exceeds pro�ciency in an

exceptionally clear, insightful,

sophisticated, or creative manner

Explains the company’s main

strengths that can be leveraged to

create a new product or service

Shows progress toward

pro�ciency, but with errors or

omissions; areas for improvement

may include incomplete

explanations or SWOT analysis not

included

Does not attempt criterion 16

PPrroodduucctt oorr SSeerrvviiccee SSiinngguullaarriittyy Exceeds pro�ciency in an

exceptionally clear, insightful,

sophisticated, or creative manner

Identi�es what is unique about the

new product or service

Shows progress toward

pro�ciency, but with errors or

omissions; areas for improvement

may include explanations lacking

detail or product/service that is

not unique

Does not attempt criterion 16

NNeeww PPrroodduucctt oorr SSeerrvviiccee

PPrroojjeeccttiioonnss

Exceeds pro�ciency in an

exceptionally clear, insightful,

sophisticated, or creative manner

Describes how the new product or

service can improve pro�tability

Shows progress toward

pro�ciency, but with errors or

omissions; areas for improvement

may include descriptions lacking

detail or product/service does not

improve pro�tability

Does not attempt criterion 16

AArrttiiccuullaattiioonn ooff RReessppoonnssee Exceeds pro�ciency in an

exceptionally clear, insightful,

sophisticated, or creative manner

Clearly conveys meaning with

correct grammar, sentence

structure, and spelling,

demonstrating an understanding

of audience and purpose

Shows progress toward

pro�ciency, but with errors in

grammar, sentence structure, and

spelling, negatively impacting

readability

Submission has critical errors in

grammar, sentence structure, and

spelling, preventing understanding

of ideas

10

CCiittaattiioonnss aanndd AAttttrriibbuuttiioonnss Uses citations for ideas requiring

attribution, with few or no minor

errors

Uses citations for ideas requiring

attribution, with consistent minor

errors

Uses citations for ideas requiring

attribution, with major errors

Does not use citations for ideas

requiring attribution

10

TToottaall:: 100%

Module One Blog Guidelines and Rubric – BUS-400-Q2758 Driving Business Opportunities… https://learn.snhu.edu/d2l/le/content/1414257/viewContent/28245741/View

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