Case Study business memo.

Step 1:  Preparation for Writing the Assignment

Before you begin writing the paper, you will read the following requirements that will help you meet the writing and APA requirements.  Not reading this information will lead to a lower grade: Review the Case Study;  You are expected to use the facts from the case scenario focusing on using this information to determine opportunities and to solve problems.

In writing this assignment, you will read and following these tasks:

• Third person writing is required.   

• Contractions are not used in business writing, so you are expected NOT to use contraction in writing this assignment.

• You are expected to paraphrase and are NOT to use direct quotes.   

• You are responsible for APA only for in-text citations and a reference list.

• You are expected to use the facts from the case scenario paired with the weekly courses readings to develop the analysis and support the reasoning.  No more than three (3) external resources can be used in completing the assignment.   

Step 2:  How to Set Up the Paper

This paper should be single-spaced between paragraphs, 12-point font.  The final product will be between 3-5 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.  You may not exceed five (5) pages so it is important to write clearly and concisely.

MUST Follow a memo format.  

• To:

• From:

• Subject:

• Body MUST CONTAIN 2- 3 DETAILED Paragraphs for step 5-8

Note:  Students are not writing an essay paper so the assignment should reflect a memo format that is appropriate for the workplace.

Step 3:  Read and use the Global Delivery Direct (GDD) Company Profile. ATTACHED DOCUMENT

Step 4:  Read critically and analyze the following scenario:

An emergency meeting was called in London by John Smythe Heathering, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, when the 2015 numbers came out for the business.  Sales dropped 7% overall in a quarterly downward spiral with the largest portion of decline having been in the American division at 3.8%.  The move to “Business First” in America prevented the loss from being as great as 6.5%.  This change helped but not enough to overcome the full 6.5%. The competition continues to make inroads into the business not just in America but Asia as well.

The purpose of the emergency meeting is to discuss the decline in sales and make whatever decisions necessary to reverse the trend with immediate implementation.  The question before the group is how do we reverse the downward trend?  A competitive edge is necessary.  As 21st century leaders, the Executive Directors realize that five challenges have to be examined if they are to find ways keep the company running at a profit.  Further, they know that as company leaders they will have to lead the change required to make the recommendations work.

In the emergency meeting, the Directors decided that they needed professional help. They turn to you, a leadership consultant to help them discover ways in which they can improve sales of the company and set the company up for long-term financial health.

Step 5:  Explain each leadership challenge facing the 21st century leader: adaptability, sustainability, innovation, knowledge management, and globalization and the relationship each has to developing a competitive edge in business today.

• Read the course readings on leadership challenges in the 21st century.  http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/leadership/an-interview-with-michael-useem

• Read the course readings on competitive advantage. http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/11791.pdf, http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/lao/issue_11/gilmore.htm

• For each of the identified challenges, discuss the relationship each has to the 21st century businesses competitive edge.

ALL READING’S DOCUMENTS ARE ATTACHED BELOW.

Step 6:  Evaluate GDD’s status regarding each of these challenges.

• Analyze GDD’s current business status in terms of each of the leadership challenges.   Note that an analysis goes beyond making statements or regurgitating facts.  

• Discuss GDD’s current business status in terms of each of the leadership challenges.  Be specific in evaluating the status against each challenge.  Do not expect that any one response is correct, as what is presented has to be reasonable and fit with GDD's vision, mission and goals.  

• Support the reasoning with rigorous, focused thinking that demonstrates the analytical skills GDD is looking from you.

Step 7:  Make at least two practical recommendations for each leadership challenge that will put GDD on the path to financial success and sustainability and explain the reasoning for doing so.

• Provide a minimum of two practical recommendations for each leadership challenge.  Recommendations should integrate the facts from the scenario and from the company profile and be specific to the GDD business.  Do not take information from outside sources and present as though it fits the scenario.  

• Make sure to use the grading rubric to complete this step.

Step 8:  Select one of the challenges for which you made recommendations and explain how the Executive Directors, as change agents, will go about implementing the recommendations.

• Select one of the challenges discussed in Step 7.  

• Explain how the Executive Directors will implement the recommendation.  Make sure the explanation is well thought out and does not present what the Executive Directors should do but how they will do it.  In doing so, be specific and support the reasoning with examples and be sure to use the Company information and the course readings.