BACKGROUND:
First, Run the Simulation using the Default Decisions. (in other words, use the prices and R&D% that are
already there.) As you run each year, you will need to capture or collect the results for each year, for each
product, X5, X6, X7. You need to copy (using Excel, by hand, or some other method) the Financial results
and Marketing results, as well as the information provided by the Advisor. The final Total Score will be
$1,617,350,504.
REQUIRED READING:
Refer to the reading on the SLP in the Module 1 Background. Then read the following scenario before you
proceed:
SCENARIO
It is December 15, 2015. Joe Schmoe, the VP of Marketing at Clipboard Tablet Co., is smugly patting
himself on the back for how well he has done with pricing and product development on the three products,
X5, X6, and X7. He knows his strategy was not very creative, since he did not change any prices or R&D
allocations over the four year period (actually six years, counting 2010 and 2011.) But he is certain that he
did not need to change anything. And he’s sure his overall performance is proof.
But, Sally Smothers, CEO of Clipboard Tablet Co., has a different opinion. And she does what she has to,
Joe is called in and let go. Dang, Joe thinks, fired again.
You are hired. You applied for the position a few weeks ago and interviewed, not sure of the fate of Joe
Schmoe at the time. But you were the one that Sally wants. So here you are, Dec. 15, 2015, VP of
Marketing at Clipboard Tablet Co., and ready to move the company ahead into 2016. Your boss, Sally
Smothers, is expecting you to take over and move the company forward in terms of product development,
and smart pricing.
ASSIGNMENT:
Please turn in a 46 page paper, not including cover and reference page, according to Sally’s directions as
follows:
Sally wants to make sure that you are ready to move ahead. So she asks you to review the past four to six
years to see what was going on in terms of product development, sales, pricing, and performance against
the competition. So you collect all of the data and write a report which is due on Sally’s desk 1/2/2016.
Analyze the results of Joe Schmoe’s decisions and then write the report that Sally is requesting. Run
the simulation of the Clipboard Tablet Co.using the default decisions. Access the simulation site at
http://forio.com/simulate/jelson/tablet-development-sim-1/simulation/. Collect the data for each
year (or you can download a copy of it see below.)
Make a Case for your proposed strategy using
financial analysis and relevant theories.
KEYS TO THE ASSIGNMENT:
The key aspects to this assignment that should be covered in your paper include:
•
a review of the products, their life cycles, how they stack up in terms of price and performance
•
Financial review for each product: X5, X6, and X7 – sales, costs, profitability, prices, unit margins,
etc.
•
Market review: New Sales, Repeat Sales, Market Saturation, etc.
•
Propose an alternate strategy: a general idea of how you might do better with these products:
what pricing and R&D allocations, etc. would you have put in place over the last four years, 2012
– 2015.
ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONS:
Your paper will be evaluated on the following seven (7) points:
•
Precision Does the paper address the question(s) or task(s)?
•
Breadth Is the full breadth of the subject, i.e., all the keys to the assignment, addressed?
•
Depth Does the paper address all elements of the topic in sufficient depth? Does it include and
apply the background readings and other background resources? Are they included as
references?
•
Application Are the concepts of the module appropriately applied to the subject organization?
•
Organization Is the paper organized in a coherent and systematic manner? Are headings
included in all papers greater than 2 pages?
•
Clarity Is the writing clear and the concepts articulated properly? Are paraphrasing and
synthesis of concepts the primary means of response to the questions, or are thoughts conveyed
through excessive use of quotations?
•
Referencing (citations and references) Does the paper use citations and quotation marks where
appropriate? Are all references listed in the bibliography used and referred to via citation?
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS:
Please note the following tips or suggestions:
•
For this first SLP you may download
Joe Schmoe’s Results. –See attachment that entails all of
the data for the results of Joe Schmoe’s Strategy from the Clipboard Tablet Company, 2010
2015, including financials and marketing data.
•
Include a cover page and reference page, in addition to the 46 pages of analysis described
above.
•
Include headings for all papers greater than 2 pages (basically all papers), but do not use
headings as “space fillers.”
•
Cite AND reference all sources that you use in your work, including those that you do not quote
but paraphrase. This means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than
5 words, and citations for that information which you have “borrowed” or paraphrased from other
sources.
