Reference no: EM133986828

Integration of Program Competencies

The graduate demonstrates the ability to participate and contribute value to the professional field through the integration of competencies from across the degree program.

INTRODUCTION

An important aspect of running a successful start-up business is acquiring funding from potential investors based on information about the business. In this task, you will use the skills you have acquired in the MBA coursework to complete the start-up phase in a business simulation. The simulation is accessed through your course. Using data from the Q1-Q4 phase of the simulation, you will create and deliver a presentation for potential business investors using the attached "Presentation Template" PowerPoint slide deck and information from the scenario. The objective of the presentation is to obtain capital to grow your business.

Before you begin working on Task 1, you must finish and submit the simulation up to the end of the third quarter (Q3). Begin working through the fourth quarter (Q4) and load the data from the simulation into the tactical plan. Next, manually fill out your projections for the fifth (Q5) and sixth quarters (Q6) within the tactical plan, ensuring the tactical plan is fully updated through Q6 before beginning this task.

Submit Task 1 concurrently with submitting your decisions for Q4 within the simulation. When you have passed Task 1, submit Q4 again and you will be allowed to proceed with the simulation into Q5. Get AI-free online assignment help by the best tutors.

CASE SCENARIO

You are the owner of a start-up business that creates 3D-printed, carbon fiber bicycles. Up through the business's third quarter (Q3), you have used your own money to fund the business. The business model shows promise, but you are now seeking an additional $2.5 million in equity funding to execute your business plan. You will create and deliver a multimedia presentation that shows your business plan to potential investors and illustrates how the additional funding will be used and will provide a return to your investors.

REQUIREMENTS

Your submission must represent your original work and understanding of the course material. Most performance assessment submissions are automatically scanned through the WGU similarity checker.

A. Attach a completed copy of each of the following:
• an Excel file (.xlsx) containing the company's completed tactical plan from quarter four (Q4), downloaded from within the business simulation
• a PowerPoint file (.ppt) using the attached "Presentation Template," including presenter notes to accompany the slides
• a link to the Panopto recording of yourself delivering the presentation created in part B

Note: The company's completed tactical plan, cumulative balanced scorecard, and market share or sales report must be exported from within the simulation. You may copy and paste the information for the cumulative balanced scorecard and market share or sales report directly into the attached "Presentation Template," or you may take a screenshot of the information to insert it into the template as an image file.

B. Create a Panopto video recording (suggested length of 20-30 minutes) that includes you delivering the presentation slides from part A. Using the attached "Presentation Template," you will present your business plan to ask venture capitalists for $2.5 million in funding based on the scenario. The slides in your presentation should include only the main points you wish to make. More extensive information should be included in the presenter notes section of the presentation to refer to when speaking about the slide. In the presentation of your business plan, you must do the following:

Note: The audiovisual recording should feature you visibly presenting the material (i.e., not in voice-over or embedded video) and should simultaneously capture both you and your presentation slides.

Note: For instructions on how to access and use Panopto, use the "Panopto How-To Videos" web link provided below. To access Panopto's website, navigate to the web link titled "Panopto Access" and then choose to log in using the "WGU" option. If prompted, log in using your WGU student portal credentials, and then it will forward you to Panopto's website.

To submit your recording, upload it to the Panopto drop box titled "C216: MBA Capstone - C216 (Student Creators) (Drop Box)." Once the recording has been uploaded and processed in Panopto's system, retrieve the URL of the recording from Panopto and copy and paste it into the Links option. Upload the remaining task requirements using the Attachments option. Submitting the video on an external site (e.g., Prezi or YouTube) is not permitted.

1. Analyze how specific decisions made within the simulation affected your company's competitive sales and financial performance during the previous three quarters (Q1-Q3) by doing the following:
a. Explain two decisions that have affected the company's past competitive sales performance in the carbon fiber bicycle market as shown in either the market share report or sales performance report.
b. Explain two decisions that have affected the company's past financial performance as shown on the financial summary table in your presentation slides.

Note: The cumulative balanced scorecard, market share report, and sales performance report are all provided in the business simulation. The Q3 numbers can be found on the Q4 tab.

2. Conduct a SWOT analysis and include the completed SWOT table in your presentation slides.
a. Discuss your company's greatest strength and biggest weakness.
b. Discuss your company's best opportunity and greatest threat.

Note: The accepted model for a SWOT analysis defines strengths and weaknesses as internal to the organization and opportunities and threats as external to the organization.

3. Explain each of the following company strategies for the next three quarters (Q4-Q6) based on past performance in the simulation:
• marketing strategy
• sales channel strategy
• human resource strategy
• manufacturing strategy
• financial strategy
a. Discuss two anticipated benefits the strategies will yield for your company in the next three quarters of the business.

4. Select two strategies from the bulleted list in part B3. For each selected strategy, recommend two specific implementation steps (decisions planned to occur in Q4, Q5, or Q6).

C. Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

D. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

• Build your SWOT table
• Write your presenter notes
• Draft your strategy explanations
• Create your implementation steps

MBA Capstone

Slide 1 - Title Slide
• Company name (your bike company)
• Your name
• Course: MBA Capstone
• "Investor Presentation - Request for $2.5M in Equity Funding"

Slide 2 - Executive Summary
Main points only:
• What your company does
• Why you need $2.5M
• What investors gain
• High level Q1-Q4 performance summary
Presenter notes: Explain your business model, traction, and why now is the right time for investment.

Slide 3 - Market Share or Sales Performance Report (Q1-Q3)
Insert the exported report (image or copy/paste).
Presenter notes must include:
• Two decisions that affected competitive sales performance (Required for B1a) Examples based on your simulation:
• Pricing decisions
• Advertising budget
• Internet marketing
• Store opening in NYC
• Brand lineup
Explain how each decision affected your sales.

Slide 4 - Financial Summary Table (Q1-Q3)
Insert the exported financial summary table.
Presenter notes must include:
• Two decisions that affected financial performance (Required for B1b) Examples:
• Fixed capacity investment
• R&D spending
• Store expense
• Production cost structure
• Sales force compensation
Explain how each decision impacted revenue, profit, or costs.

Slide 5 - SWOT Analysis Table
You must include a completed SWOT table.
Presenter notes must include:
• Your greatest strength (internal)
• Your biggest weakness (internal)
• Your best opportunity (external)
• Your greatest threat (external) (Required for B2a and B2b)

Slide 6 - Marketing Strategy (Q4-Q6)
Main points only:
• Pricing
• Advertising
• Internet marketing
• Brand lineup
Presenter notes: Explain why you kept these stable or changed them, using Q1-Q3 results as justification.

Slide 7 - Sales Channel Strategy (Q4-Q6)
Main points:
• Store location(s)
• Number of salespeople
• Sales force compensation
Presenter notes: Explain how this supports demand and customer reach.

Slide 8 - Human Resource Strategy (Q4-Q6)
Main points:
• Production worker pay
• Supervisor pay
• Productivity
• No overtime
Presenter notes: Explain how this stabilizes production and controls costs.

Slide 9 - Manufacturing Strategy (Q4-Q6)
Main points:
• Operating capacity (325)
• Production volume (211.25)
• Quality actions (SPC + Operator Control)
• No new system improvements
Presenter notes: Explain how Q4 results justify your Q5-Q6 projections.

Slide 10 - Financial Strategy (Q4-Q6)
Main points:
• No new loans
• No new equity beyond the $2.5M request
• Stable assets (4,162,018)
• Controlled costs
Presenter notes: Explain how this keeps the company financially strong.

Slide 11 - Anticipated Benefits
You must list two benefits of your strategies (Required for B3a).
Examples:
• More predictable demand
• Stable production costs
• Improved investor confidence
• Reduced financial risk
Presenter notes: Explain why these benefits matter for Q4-Q6.

Slide 12 - Implementation Steps (Q4-Q6)
Choose two strategies from the list:
• Marketing
• Sales channel
• HR
• Manufacturing
• Financial
For each strategy, list two specific implementation steps (Required for B4).
Example: Marketing Strategy
1. Maintain advertising at 92,541 in Q5 and Q6
2. Keep pricing stable across all brands
Manufacturing Strategy
1. Maintain operating capacity at 325
2. Continue SPC + Operator Control
Presenter notes: Explain why these steps support your strategy.

Slide 13 - Funding Request
Main points:
• Request: $2.5 million in equity funding
• How funds will be used
• Expected return for investors
Presenter notes: Explain how the investment accelerates growth.

Slide 14 - Conclusion
Main points:
• Strong Q4 performance
• Realistic Q5-Q6 projections
• Clear strategy
• Solid financial foundation
• Ready for investment
Presenter notes: Summarize your pitch confidently.