Q WEEK TWO OVER THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS YOU WILL BE CREATING A CONSULTING REPORT FOR MARY. IN THIS REPORT YOU WILL BE EXPLAINING TO HER THE BEST PRACTICES IN MANAGING A SMALL BUSINESS AND HIGHLIGHTING THE MISTAKES THAT MARY MADE SO THAT SHE CAN POSITION HERSELF FOR GROWTH GOING FORWARD. USE THE FOLLOWING TEMPLATE: Consultant Report Template . • Set up the report with the initial requirements in week one (title page etc.). Be sure to read the requirements that the template suggests. For instance, make the heading identify the topic under discussion. The headings are given to you each week. • Each week you will add a section to the ISSUE ANALYSIS SECTION covering the exercise for that week (Final Attachment Post). • LEAVE ANYTHING IN BLUE UNTIL WEEK SEVEN OR EIGHT TO COMPLETE (e.g. SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION SECTION). This week’s heading is “Mary’s Growth Problems” IN PART TWO OF THE REPORT HIGHLIGHT THE MISTAKES MARY MADE IN GROWING HER COMPANY ANSWER THE FOLLOWING POINTS: • EXPLAIN HOW MARY MIGHT HAVE USED THE LIFE-CYCLE THEORY TO MANAGE HER BUSINESS FOR SUCCESS. MAKE SURE TO REFLECT ON THE MISTAKES MADE AND HOW UNDERSTANDING THE LIFE CYCLE MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED THOSE MISTAKES. BE SURE TO IDENTIFY THE MISTAKES SPECIFICALLY AND APPLY THE THEORY. • EXPLAIN THE FIVE DISCIPLINES THEORY AND APPLY THE THEORY TO MARY’S SITUATION. HOW DOES IT HIGHLIGHT MISTAKES THAT SHE MADE IN MANAGING THE BUSINESS? • EXPLAIN HOW MARY CAN USE THE TWO THEORIES TO EXAMINE THE FUTURE FROM HER CURRENT POSITION. GIVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHAT MARY MIGHT DO NEXT AND WHY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. BE SURE TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR YOUR CONCLUSIONS AND SUPPORT IT WITH CLASS MATERIAL. • MARY HAS HEARD ABOUT A SWOT ANALYSIS AND KNOWS IT IS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR PLANNING BECAUSE IT GIVES THE OWNER A SENSE OF WHERE THE COMPANY IS NOW. SHE WOULD LIKE YOU TO PREPARE ONE FOR HER AND EXPLAIN HOW IT WAS CREATED. USE A TABLE FORMAT AND EXPLAIN THE CHOICES BELOW THE TABLE. BE SURE TO LIST AT LEAST THREE PARTICULARS FOR EACH QUADRANT OF THE TABLE. RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK SO BE SURE TO INCLUDE IT IN THE EXTERNAL FACTORS. Consultant Report Template • Create a title page. Type your name, the name of your company, the name of the report and the name of the client. Include the date the report was delivered to the client (Final class submission date). • Include an introduction. Write an introduction that explains the purpose of the report. Outline the basic issues addressed in the report (weekly content). • Provide analysis of the issues. Each week you will have a final submission post which will appear here with a descriptive heading. For example, week one’s issue is entitled “Understanding the Environment of Business”. Under each weekly heading place a copy of your final attachment text WITHOUT THE REFERENCE LIST (This you will put in the Appendix under the issue heading). Be sure the post includes an in-depth analysis of the issues. Include answers to the questions for the week and any other requirements of the weekly final brainstorming discussion attachment. Use class materials, researched data, and statistics if appropriate to support the findings you have made. • *Create a list of recommendations. Gather all of the recommendations from the analysis sections into one section. List each recommendation in a concise, easy-to-understand manner. For example, “Partner with local vegetarian restaurants to serve vegetarian breakfast and lunch meals in the school once a month” is a possible recommendation for a consulting report. • *Write a conclusion. Provide a concise summary of the issues and findings explored in the report. • *Write an executive summary. An executive summary is a concise description of what the report contains. Copy important sections from the body of the report and paste them into the executive summary. Include the major findings, analysis and conclusions. According to Custom Papers, a good executive summary allows the reader to understand the basic content of the report without reading the report. Place the executive summary before the introduction. • *Create a table of contents. List each section of the report followed by the page number where that section is found. Place the table of contents before the executive summary. • *Include appendices for references, photographs and bibliographies when appropriate. Use the headings for the week to distinguish the reference list for each weekly issue part (paste the references used in the Final Attachment Post). *Any title in blue ink should be left until week seven or eight to complete. This is because you are working on the issue analysis each week.