Principles of Management)

attention was given in SLP 5 to building business analytical skills and problem solving, a key aspect of the business professional’s job.
In that assignment you prepared a detailed paper on how control was instituted and could be effectively used.

Now, in this SLP 5 assignment for MGT499, you have the opportunity to develop your business critical thinking skills more fully. Here you will be preparing a paper covering important topics.

And, finally, in BUS 499 (Integrative Capstone) you will focus in SLP on honing your business problem solving skills.

These three assignments build upon each other and aim to offer you the opportunity to enhance your business problem solving and analytical skills.

You’ve put a lot of work into your analyses of the four perspectives. Now it’s time to put it all together! In this module, you’ll be preparing a report drawing on the SLPs from modules 1-4. The task is not to simply combine these documents, but to show how the business functions relate to each other and lead to strategic action.

The special trick, which you’ve seen in action in the case, is to construct one or more causal chains that relate the objectives, starting with the most basic level (learning and growth) and leading to the most visible (financial/effect performance).

Assignment Expectations:

The first step is the construction of a consolidated table summarizing all your objectives, measures, targets, and action initiatives. This will then enable you to draw the arrows that make up the causal chains implicit in your objectives. You can find a dandy example to follow here:

BSI (2007) Balance Scorecard Example for the Regional Airline. Balanced Scorecard Institute. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from http://www.balancedscorecard.org/Portals/0/PDF/Regional_Airline.pdf

Here’s a form that you may wish to copy and paste into your report and fill in:
Objective
Measure
Target
Action

Financial

Customer

Internal

Learning

Now you need to examine your causal chain(s) and consider them as statement(s) of organizational goals and the strategy necessary to reach those goals.

As the remainder of this assignment, supplement the table you just prepared with a 2 page report that addresses the following:

Considering causal chains, organizational goals, and strategies, choose either the is or is not position in the following statement as a thesis statement for constructing a well reasoned 2 page argumentative essay:

The balanced score card approach is (or is not) a useful tool, applicable to most organizations for identifying strategic action plans. Use the organization you chose for your SLP as an example to support your position.

In this paper you will need to clearly present your thesis statement. That is, what is your position statement that you plan to support with your upcoming argument (Hint€¦ provided above in blue)? The body of your essay should include well reasoned and well supported arguments. You should finish up with a concluding paragraph which ties your arguments into a convincing and cohesive whole.

When your assignment is ready, send it in.

The grading rubric below has been developed to measure student success in meeting the MGT499 5 SLP expectations related business problem solving and decision making. Rubrics for the other two courses are included in their respective business problem solving and decision making assignments.
Assignment Expectation
Weak (1)
Marginal (2)
Adequate (3)
Strong (4)

Organization

10%
Demonstrates the ability to organize content logically, concisely, and in a manner appropriate to a paper to a board of directors.
There is no logical sequence of information. Paper topics are rambling and unfocused,
Does not follow a logical sequence (jumps around in the paper).
Follows a logical sequence. There are some minor problems with topic transitions. Introduction and/or conclusion are not clear.
Follows a logical sequence with an effective introduction and conclusion. Each segment relates to others in a carefully planned framework.

Demonstrates the ability to support a central point or viewpoint throughout the paper, demonstrating the importance of business metrics and analytics.
Insufficient elaboration and/or support (e.g., summaries, listings) in the paper.
Limited elaboration and/or support in the paper.
Support with some specific details and elaboration in the paper.
Support through both specific details and elaboration apparent in the paper.

Content

65%
Demonstrates the ability to address an identifiable purpose in the slide presentation€”the purpose of using business metrics and analytics to make sound management decisions affecting the organization’s bottom line.
The purpose is not identified, is unclear, or inappropriate in the paper.
Purpose is occasionally unclear in the paper.
Clear purpose, but not consistently sustained throughout the paper.
Clear purpose sustained throughout the paper.

Demonstrates the ability to gather and sort information and data on business metrics and analytics.
Does not have a grasp of information and data. Topic is poorly developed. Supporting materials are absent or vague. Trite ideas and/or unclear wording reflect a lack of understanding of topic.
Seems uncomfortable with information. Topic is evident but with little or no elaboration.
Seems comfortable with the information and data. Topic is evident with some supporting details.
Demonstrates full knowledge of the topic with explanation and elaboration. The topic is well developed, effectively supported, and appropriate for the assignment. Critical thinking is clearly and creatively expressed. Data is well used.

Adaption to Audience

10%
Demonstrates the ability to present information to varying audiences in such a way that the information is meaningful to that group.
Doesn’t respond to the needs of the audience.
Limited sense of the needs of the audience.
Addresses the needs of the audience.
Effectively addresses the needs of the audience.

Delivery

15%
Demonstrates the ability to prepare written communication effectively.
Paper may have grammatical errors or difficult to read. Too much material is included or unimportant information is highlighted.
here are no significant errors, but adds little to the presentation.
Ideas are articulated clearly, but not engaging. Some material is not supported in the paper.
Paper is easy to read, informative and error free. .

Demonstrates the ability to use appropriate word choice and grammar in the paper.
There are many sentences with grammatical errors. Some sentences are incomplete/halting, and/or vocabulary is somewhat limited or inappropriate.
There are a few sentences that are complete and grammatical. Word choice is not always appropriate for presentation.
Sentences are generally complete and grammatical, and they flow together easily. With a few exceptions, words are chosen for their precise meaning.
All sentences are complete and grammatical, and they flow together easily. Words are chosen for their precise meaning. Word choice illustrates grasp of content and enhances presentation.

Demonstrates the ability to make an write an effective paper free from bias (e.g. sexism, racism, ageism, heterosexism, etc).
Language is inappropriate and exhibits bias. Uses clichés, slang, jargon, racist, or sexist language. Some listeners may be offended.
Language is free from bias with one or two minor exceptions.
Language has no apparent bias. There is some inappropriate language.