2. Final Project – Connecting Seemingly Unrelated Dots (300 points) For this pro

2. Final Project – Connecting
Seemingly Unrelated Dots (300 points)
For this project, I urge you to begin immediately to ensure you have enough time to complete it. Please use the grading rubric below to help with the expectations of this paper. The
goal of this assignment is to train you to think outside of the box and be more
resilient to the external environment (political, medical, technological,
legal, environmental, economic, etc.) as a businessperson. To accomplish this
assignment, do the following:
a)
Choose a business case you want to analyze (any
types of foodservices businesses are fine – e.g., onsite foodservice
management, coffee shops, restaurants, catering services, etc.; e.g., Compass
group, Starbucks coffee)
b)
Do research on the external environments that
influence the foodservice businesses you chose and identify a seemingly
unrelated area that could influence foodservice business operations and
performances (SWOT and PESTLE analysis will be helpful for this purpose). For
example, the COVID19 pandemic influences restaurant businesses dreadfully. This
could be one area that is seemingly unrelated to the foodservice businesses,
yet it impacts our industry greatly now.
c)
Then, anticipate how the pattern or environment
changes you see will impact the future of foodservice business of your choice.
Will they become a threat or an opportunity, or both? Provide justifications
for your conclusion and propose suggestions for the business of your choice.
Example 1: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26387276
There have been news that iceberg and
frozen ground contains countless ancient virus that killed ancient animals.
With global warming, icebergs and frozen ground will melt and release ancient
virus that humans are not prepared for. If this happens, we will be seeing
worse versions of COVID-19 and foodservice businesses will have to be prepared
for more damaging pandemic consequences. How can foodservices can be better
prepared for such a future? [Connecting the dots with science, anthropology,
and foodservice business]
Example 2: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/are-genetically-modified-crops-answer-world-hunger/
With global warming and deforestation of the
earth, humans are already experiencing hunger and famine at the global level.
How can we resolve the global hunger and food and feed problems? National Geographic
provides some perspectives from genetically modified crops. However, is this
the ultimate solution? Or, are we neglecting longer term effects? [Connecting the
dots with genetics, science, agriculture, food supply and distribution system,
and foodservice business]
Grading Rubrics:
Point Distribution for Final Project Report
Point Distribution
1. Executive Summary: A brief summary of your findings
(preferably one page long, no more than 2 pages, single spaced)
50
2. Background, Problem Statement,
& Justification:
Identify the external environment that is
seemingly unrelated to foodservice management, but could potentially
influence the industry in a long term.
Then, introduce the company you chose as a case
and explain why you chose this company.
Accuracy of information. References cited correctly. Grammatically
correct.
50
3. Connecting the Dots: Analyze the company case you chose and connect the
dots between the external environment you chose and how that would influence
the business of your choice. Explain whether the identified external
environment would become a threat or an opportunity, or both for the business
of your choice. Provide your research evidence (e.g., references) and justify
the reasons.
100
4. Suggestions: offer suggestions for the company of your
choice. If you think the external environment will become an opportunity,
provide suggestions to take advantage of those before the competitors would,
if the external environment is identified as a threat, provide contingency or
action plans to reduce the future business risks.
90
5. Bibliography: Used APA style for references.
Accurate & complete.
10
Total
300