Assignment 4: Industry and Company Analysis Overview Next month, you will be meeting with a group of investors to discuss the possibility of a capital investment in your current company (or a company of interest) to significantly expand operations. The company’s Board of Directors will also attend the meeting. In order to prepare for your presentation to these decision-makers and stakeholders, you need to conduct a thorough and honest evaluation of your company and its products or services.

 Assignment 4: Industry and Company Analysis

Overview

Next month, you will be meeting with a group of investors to discuss the possibility of a capital investment in your current company (or a company of interest) to significantly expand operations. The company’s Board of Directors will also attend the meeting.

In order to prepare for your presentation to these decision-makers and stakeholders, you need to conduct a thorough and honest evaluation of your company and its products or services.

Instructions

Write a paper of 5 to 7 pages in which you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your company and its products or services. To create the structure – sections and subsections – of your paper, use the Sample Outline provided at the end of these Instructions. You should refer to the course content and show that you have used online resources to gather both quantitative and qualitative information related to your company.

Sample Outline

Use the following Outline to organize your paper. Use the underlined headings as section headings. Use the prompts in each section to be sure you include the required content.

When you have finished your paper, write an Abstract (summary) of one to two paragraphs summarizing the main points in your paper. The Abstract goes on a separate page, right after the Cover Page.

Cover Page 

Abstract 

 	


 	
On a separate page, write a short summary of your overall evaluation of the company’s prospects



Introduction 

 	


 	
Briefly describe the overall structure and purpose of your report



Background and Products

 	


 	
Describe your company’s market sector and industry
 	
Explain the market structure: is it perfect competition, monopoly, monopsony, or oligopoly?
 	
Describe your company’s major products or services



Assessment of Company and Products/Services

 	


 	
Specify the economic factors – such as price elasticity – that impact supply and demand
 	
Specify any other significant economic characteristics, such as utility, type of good, etc.
 	
What non-economic forces – such as weather, business cycles, new technologies or changes in regulations – can impact your company’s sales and profitability?



Economic Outlook

 	


 	
Using GUIDES, choose a macroeconomic indicator that poses an external concern or points to an area of risk; explain the implication of this indicator for your company and industry
 	
Using GUIDES, choose a macroeconomic indicator that provides some reassurance or points to future growth; explain the implication of this indicator for your company and industry
 	
Summarize the outlook for investors in the short-term (1 to 3 years), specifying the major favorable and unfavorable elements from your research
 	
Summarize the outlook for prospective investors in the long-term (4+ years), specifying the major favorable and unfavorable elements from your research



Conclusion

 	


 	
Briefly recap and summarize the major findings of your report



References

Submission Requirements

 	
Typed, double-spaced, professional font (size 10-12), include headings and subheadings, with one-inch margins on all sides
 	
Include a Cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, your professor’s name, the course title, and the date
 	
Include an Abstract: a short summary of your paper that readers can use as an overview
 	
Utilize the Sample Outline provided on the next page, or create one of your own that mirrors the grading Rubric’s deliverables
 	
Tables or graphs are encouraged as appropriate and can be embedded within the body of your paper or added in an Appendix
 	
Include a References page that enables the reader to locate original sources. Application and analysis of course materials and resources are expected, and additional research is welcome
 	
The Cover page and References page are not included in the required length of five to seven pages




Assignment 4 Grading Criteria (1)