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Term Project Report

For the Term Project, there are two options for a team

A. Developing a Marketing Plan for a New/Innovative/Non-Existing Product.

B. Developing a Comprehensive Competitive Analysis between top 2 firms in an industry

Example of a Competitive Analysis

The team should decide on either of the above options and inform me along with their project preface (see schedule for due date).

A one-page "PROJECT PREFACE" should include the following details:

• Name of the group
• Name of the team members, their Student ids and their email addresses.
• Option A or Option B.
• Your selected topic (i.e. Product/Company/Industry).
• Why you chose that particular topic, how you would delegate work and your plan of action (time frame - required).

Note 1: Your choice of the topic should be well thought out / planned and final. Choose a topic that is of relevance to you and it excites you. I have provided more than sufficient time for each group to discuss and finalize their choice. Any changes requested by the group later on will result in loss of score.

Note 2: If choosing Option A, provide me with a justification (approx 200 words) as to why you consider your idea to be innovative/ creative and how does it provide a sustainable competitive advantage over the existing substitutes.

Note 3: I reserve the right to ask you to change a topic if I don't feel it's appropriate, if I anticipate you will have trouble completing the assignment, etc.

To keep up with the pace, I require that you update with the developments in your project. Though you are welcome to stop by my office during my office hours to discuss your project, I would like to formally meet each group. The groups are required to fix up an appointment with me around the middle of the semester. I will meet for 15-20 minutes with each group and discuss their current status vis-a-vis their plan of action. Please come prepared to the meeting to dicuss the details of your concerns for the project. Further, I also require that you turn in the draft version of parts of your project report as indicated in the Schedule. These drafts will be graded and suggestions will be provided to improve on it.

Writing Tips:

1. Keep your audience and your purpose in mind. Your goal should be to "express," not "impress." Therefore, when choosing words and constructing sentences and paragraphs, keep it clear, keep it simple, and keep it moving.

2. A minimal requirement of the report is that it be free of blemishes in grammar, spelling, and such. You are asked to submit a report that is no more than 15 pages in length, but you are not asked to necessarily reach that limit. However, on the other hand the tendency is to put as much stuff as you can in the report. Remember, the limit is 15 pages and so use your judgement in the amount of information that you are putting in the report and its relevance and the overall quality of the matter.
Click here for an GENERAL OUTLINE for writing a Term paper

3. Use charts, tables and graphics to help illustrate your points. These are especially useful when describing such elements as company organizational structure, steps in training programs, career paths, etc.

4. Also, remember to use clear, effective titles, headings and subheadings. Provide structure to your report to make it interesting.

5. Proofread your paper carefully and correct all errors. I simply hate sloppy work both on presentation and reports.

6. Length: Focus on quality, not pages. Get out and try to learn some interesting things. Meet someone interesting. Write a professional and creative paper.

7. Appendices and Exhibits: Please use these supplements effectively. Do not attach company brochures or product manuals.

8. References: Provide a list of all library and published company information that was useful in supporting your paper.

9. Do not put your paper in a folder or inside a cover. Just place a staple on the top left corner. The cover page of the term paper should explicitly mention the name of the company you studied, your contact person in the company, names of group members and their student id numbers.

DUE DATE:  The complete term project report is due on the first day of presentations (See Schedule). Late papers will not be accepted. Plan ahead and avoid crises.