The Business Report Executive Summary must be one page, single spaced, in standard letter size, Times New Roman 12 pt. font.? It must make the reader und

Goal:

You will write a Business Report Executive Summary to answer a specific and clearly focused research question on a topic that you already identified in Assignment 1. The Report must include conclusions and recommendations as well as a list of the references you have consulted.

Task:

The Business Report Executive Summary must be one page, single spaced, in standard letter size, Times New Roman 12 pt. font. It must make the reader understand its purpose clearly and quickly as well as provide conclusions and recommendations, rather than a simple summary of findings. Plus, its recommendations must be based on the sources consulted.

The Executive Summary includes these sections:

1. Purpose – identifies your clearly focused research question (see appendix A).

2. Method – lists the key words that you used in your internet search (see Appendix B) to answer the research question.

3. Conclusions – summarize what you learned from at least six (6) sources: business magazines, business newspapers, journals, databases, etc., all referenced in APA style (see Appendix C).

4. Recommendations – list four (4) specific, source-based, action-oriented suggestions that answer the research question.

An example of the Business Report Executive Summary is provided in pages 2 and 3. Note: use your own words, not mine – don’t plagiarize!

How to submit your Work: Make sure your document is in Word-compatible format. Then go to the ASSIGNMENTS section on Bb, click on Assignment 2, follow the prompts.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXAMPLE

PURPOSE

This Executive Summary will answer the following specific and clearly focused research question: “ What new strategies can help Amazon Prime maintain its dominance over Walmart?” Its underlying premise is that in a constantly evolving marketplace, only highly innovative approaches will ensure that an Amazon Prime membership remains the preferred option over Walmart’s membership.

METHOD

Since Amazon Prime has to provide exceptional member benefits as well as outstanding customer service, the key search words I have used to obtain information on these topics were: “what is Amazon Prime”; “new member benefits at Amazon Prime”; “package delivery at Amazon Prime”; “pricing at Amazon Prime”; and “wage levels and employee satisfaction at Amazon, Inc.”

FINDINGS & CONCLUSIONS

Based on six reliable business sources (see next page) I have concluded that customers increasingly want same-day shipping that fits their more efficient lifestyle. This arises from the fact that after the COVID-19 pandemic people have become more used to the convenience of ordering food, gifts or groceries from local businesses, as well as having their orders delivered at home. Also, customers want greater benefits, higher levels of satisfaction and lower prices as they become exposed to more efficient networks and transportation systems, and greater economies of scale.

The only way that Amazon can outperform competitors, both in so-called “last mile” delivery and in providing lowest prices and unique benefits, is by using breakthrough technologies and adopting highly creative, breakthrough approaches.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Expedite the conversion of vacant malls into Amazon warehouses across major metropolitan areas in the US, and eventually couple this with the use of autonomous driverless vehicles for faster “last mile” local deliveries (this is an option that should unfold progressively in the future).

2. Offer free delivery on a larger number of orders, reflecting the company’s economies of scale.

3. Expand the benefits of a Prime membership with universal money-back guarantee on every purchase (it currently applies to credit card purchases only).

4. Employee burnout at warehouses and distribution centers will remain an unsolved problem – the reason is that increased automation has produced only marginal results in alleviating work stress, and the transformative impact of 3-D printing on manufacturing, shipping and handling is still decades away. Therefore this issue will likely remain Amazon’s greatest corporate weakness for the foreseeable future, and the company can only expect to make incremental gains over time.

Student xxx xxxxxx

BBA 204.A0

REFERENCE LIST EXAMPLE

The six sources I have used to conduct this in-depth research are: Big Think web expert portal, Forbes Magazine, Consumer Reports, Business Insider, Investopedia and Clark.com. Specific citations are listed below:

Danziger, P.N. (2021, January 10). Amazon’s Customer Loyalty is Astounding. Retrieved from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2018/01/10/amazons-customer-loyalty-is-astounding/#6473b0da11fe .

Consumer Reports (2022, March 1). Pros and Cons of Amazon Prime. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/online-shopping/pros-cons-amazon-prime/

Kate, T. (2019, October, 2). Amazon Just Intensified the War Against Walmart. Retrieved from

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-15-minimum-wage-intensifies-war-against-walmart-2018-10

Shobhit, S. (2019, September 24). Top 5 Alternatives to Amazon Prime. Retrieved from

https://www.investopedia.com/insights/top-5-alternatives-amazon-prime/

Timmermann, M. (2019, July 3). Amazon Prime vs. Walmart comparison. Retrieved from https://clark.com/story/amazon-prime-vs-walmart-2018-price-comparison/

Mourdoukoutas, P. (2020, May 25). Amazon Turns Shopping Malls IntoWarehouses, Changing America’s Community Landscape. Retrieved from https://www.bigthink.com/tag/shopping-malls

APPENDIX A

FORMULATING A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION

Focus. A good research question must have laser-like focus and precision. This will impact the rest of your assignment leading to meaningful research, clear findings and conclusions and substantial recommendations.

Creativity. In order to find the topic for a good research question you must be creative. The hallmark of creativity is thinking outside the box. It consists of looking at a company, product or service from different perspectives until you discover an interesting and useful issue worth investigating.

We are all creative. Very true – creativity flourishes when we repeatedly think about a topic, yet lies dormant when we don’t. Have you noticed how repeated attempts at finding a solution makes you more creative? The reason is that insistent thinking forces you to look at events/ideas/ circumstances with fresh eyes, overcoming your mental blocks and limitations.

How to Develop A Good Research Question:

1. Google some business periodicals to find headlines associated with the company you worked in Assignment 1 and the general topic you identified then.

2. Write a list of the headlines that attract your attention;

3. Repeatedly think about them from different angles (see issues in a new way);

4. Write down some tentative research questions;

5. Discard those that do not appear interesting, focused or researchable.

6. Among the remaining ones, select the question that will allow you to do the most interesting research project;

7. Refine your research question until it is concise, clear and focused.

Formulating a good research question will help you complete Assignment 2 in a meaningful and interesting way.

Logistics:

If you want to learn more about the creative process in order to use it more in academia and in the business world, please review these creative guidelines:

https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/12/how-to-be-creative

Appendix B

Top Lehman Library Sources to Begin your management Research
Databases
Name	Description	When To Use
Business Source Complete	Business Source Complete includes scholarly journals, business periodicals, trade journals, industry reports, and related information. It covers such topics as management, economics, finance, accounting, international business, and much more. It also provides access to industry, market, and company research which often contain SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats) analysis of larger companies.	Use when you want to find business-oriented articles. Business Source Complete is the only campus resource that provides full-text access to Harvard Business Review (HBR) and McKinsey Quarterly.
Business Insight Essentials	Business Insights provides in depth coverage of businesses, including company profiles, industry profiles, products and brands, financial reports, company rankings, histories and full text periodical articles.	Use it when you want to find current information on companies, and industries, analyze and compare financial and statistical data with interactive charting tools, access company profiles and industry ranking.
Hoover’s Online	A product of Dun & Bradstreet, Hoover’s Online provides comprehensive company profiles which contain company overviews, and histories, including coverage of private companies. In addition, Hoover’s profiles industries with information on growth, forecasts, and context about companies.	Used to find product/brand name listings, competitors, product segmentation data, subsidiaries, and financial data.
NexisUni	Provides access to full-text articles from thousands of publications, including full-text business, medical, legal, tax, or accounting newspapers, journals, and trade magazines. It is also an excellent source for legal research. NexisUni-Company Dossier Contains business information including company profiles, SEC filings, accounting publications, and country profiles.	Use when you need to search a broad database of newspapers and magazines worldwide. COMPANY-DOSSIER provides streamlined financial and legal information.
CQ Researcher	CQ Researcher offers in-depth, coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on a wide range of topics including: business, health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, the U.S. economy, crime, and civil liberties.	Use when you seek original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues in the news.
Statista	Statista provides access to statistics and studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources on more than 600 industries. In addition to tables and charts, Statista also provides infographics and studies on selected Industries and trends.	Use when you are looking for statistics visually displayed in charts and infographics.
ACADEMIC JOURNAL ARTICLES
Name	Description
Academy of Management Journal	The Academy of Management Journal is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering all aspects of management. It publishes empirical research that tests, extends, or builds management theory and contributes to management practice.
Academy of Management Review	The Academy of Management Review is a peer-reviewed academic journal on management . It publishes theoretical insights that advance the understanding of management and organizations.
Journal of Management	The Journal of Management is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on all aspects of management as well as the related field of industrial and organizational psychology. It publishes scholarly empirical and theoretical research articles.
PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL ARTICLES
Name	Description
California Management Review	California Management Review is a peer-reviewed academic journal on management that covers the field of business, emphasizing strategy and organization, global competition and competitiveness, and business and public policy.
Harvard business review	Harvard Business Review (HBR) is a general management magazine that covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to various industries, management functions, and geographic locations. These focus on areas including leadership, organizational change, negotiation, strategy, operations, marketing, finance, and managing people
MIT Sloan Management Review	MIT Sloan Management Review focuses on advances in management practice that are transforming how people lead and innovate.
MAGAZINES
Name	Description
Bloomberg businessweek	Bloomberg BusinessWeek follows up to date news, especially pertaining to business. Also it offers financial news, stock advice, and in-depth coverage on major businesses and business events.
fast company	Covers the latest strategies and trends in business, Fast Company cultivates a fresh minded approach to entrepreneurship.
The economist	In addition to economics and business, The Economist also delves into the world economy, providing specific information on the various economies from countries throughout the world.
NEWSPAPERS
Name	Description
New York Times	The New York Times is an American daily newspaper based in New York City with worldwide readership. The Business Day section covers breaking news and analysis on Wall Street, technology, media, international business, banking and the stock market.
Wall Street Journal	The Wall Street Journal is an American business-focused, English-language international daily newspaper based in New York City. It is published six days a week.
Financial Times	The Financial Times (FT) is an international daily newspaper with a special emphasis on business and economic news. NOTE: This resource is available from one month before the day that you search, so is good for background but not current news.

APPENDIX C

APA (American Psychological Association) Citation Style Guidelines

To find how to cite articles, websites, books, etc. using the American Psychological Association (APA) Style:

A good overview of the APA citation style can be found on the Library’s Citation Research Guide: http://libguides.lehman.edu/citation

In addition, below are examples of types of citations you will list as sources when presenting your research:

From a Print Book:

Ariely, D. (2008). Predictably irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

From an Electronic Book:

Skjærseth, J. B., & Eikeland, P. O. (Eds.). (2013). Global environmental governance : corporate responses to EU emissions trading : resistance, innovation or responsibility?

Farnham, Surrey, GBR: Ashgate Publishing Group. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com

From The Wall Street Journal:

Peterson, K. (2010, Jul 30). TreeHouse falls 2.3%; PMI group declines 15%. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/ 734324304?accountid=27880

From Fortune magazine:

Jaeger, J. (2010, August 7). Social media use in the financial sector. Fortune Magazine.

Retrieved from URL http://fortune.com

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