Assignment 1 - 2008
April 1st, 2008Due at Class on Monday, April 8, 2008
Did I tell you that I front load my classes? I want 2/3 of the reading and concepts finished by the halfway point of the course.
Introduction to Writing a Business Plan v1.99 (revised April 7, 2008) - Read p 4 to 5 and then p. 7 to 8. This includes the section on the 5 Sacred elements of a business model and the elevator pitch. Both are essential readings for all business professionals
Portfolio Keeping (Class Text) - Read the 1st 3 Chapters (up to p 23) Don’t need it for this assignment
Optional Readings
Greenpoint Landscaping - Peter Roberts, co-founder of the Student club, is the entrepreneur behind this company.
The Gardening Service for the Upper Crust - The Hazel case from class
Answer the following questions:
Business Ownership
1) Choose a company that is really accessible to you or if you don’t have a readily accessible company, you may use the Hazel case from class. Outline the business model and also create a table that outlines strengths and weaknesses of the model (e.g. scalability, profitability, simplicity, labor intensity, capital requirements, typical crises). You don’t have to interview. It’s to get you going. You may ask in class for what this looks like.
Here are some hints: what type of skills / education is required in the owners and employees? Did the owner have to create an entirely new market? Or did the owner “tweak” an existing niche? Does the business require special work hours?
2) Create two types of elevator pitches for the business. It doesn’t have to be perfect and you may have to assume 1 or 2 things about the business. Be ready to present at class. a) The first pitch is an informational pitch. It’s not your business and you’re wanting to quickly explain it to me; b) The second pitch is “persuasive” or compelling.
The Learning & Best Works Portfolio
An artifact is a concrete item. It can be a project paper, power point presentation, piece of art, or media presentation. In this context, it’s something you created during your time at UWB.
Examples of Educational Portfolios at Kalamazoo College
The examples aren’t as strong as last year’s freshmen portfolios, but there are at least two reasons for this:
a) Much of the Kalamazoo student time is devoted to designing web pages
b) I’m sure that many personal reflections are not being displayed. That’s because some of these can be…very personal.
Answer the following questions
1) Describe an artifact that is associated with your most concentrated or meaningful learning to date. What were the lessons learned? What does this tell you about yourself as a professional or student?
2) Describe an artifact that is associated with your best work to date. “Best” is obviously subjective but you should imagine that you’re trying to impress an audience (e.g. potential employer, peers, professor, significant friend).
Homework Style
Your homework should be typed (printed) and not handwritten. It should be professionally neat. You should strive for a concise style, but not be forced to create a brief document.
You may use bullet points and your instructor loves tables and graphics.
You may list the question and then provide the answer.
Avoid double-spacing, but use single- or 1.5-spacing.
Use 11 or 12 point font.
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