SWOT report final draft

SWOT report final draft CHOOSING A TOPIC 1) Scope and Limitations Decide under ONE of these three areas: • A start up business (7yrs or less) • A potential business opportunity • An existing family-run business Once you've decided on the business context above choose ONE specific objective or problem (or success) area; the following are examples: • How to respond to new market trends • How to implement new technology • How to respond to competitor gains • How to grow sales distribution channels • How to maintain competitiveness • The best way to penetrate a new market • Whether to form a partnership • Whether to make an acquisition • Whether to outsource a service, operation or resource • Whether to diversify product range • Whether to undergo organisational restructuring • The strength of a business proposition, etc. NOTE: giving your report such focus will enable you to be much more analytical in your approach; thus when it comes to formulating a title you will avoid the trap many students fall into Example: Title 1: Glasgow Rangers Football Club - dull and descriptive X OR Title 2: ‘What does Glasgow Rangers have to do to return to profitability?’ - dynamic and analytical ? POINT The second title is a much more interesting question, which allows you to analyse their situation and make recommendations. NOTE • Your tutor will help you with formulating a title and will approve it before you begin writing report. • Ensure it is a company etc. which you can get information about. • Ensure it is a title you can manage within the time frame • If the topic is about a family run business or potential business idea establish from all parties involved which information is accessible for analysis • You may report on a non UK start up company provided all the source material is available in English REPORT WRITING (B) The Formula - structure, style and language Business reports follow a basic standard formula. There are, however, variations, both in style and structure, depending on subject area or an institution’s ‘house style’: always check what the requirements are for each module. • Business reports require formal language: you must avoid slang, also colloquialisms and contractions such as ‘won’t’ in place of ‘will not.’ • A report does not use a more lively style of writing, found for example, in a journal like The Economist. • Also avoid the personal; avoid the first person singular (‘I’ and ‘we’). You are aiming for objectivity, not subjectivity! • A short, standard report is organized as follows (section word counts are approximate and only intended as a guide): STRUCTURE: • Title page draft • Table of Contents including the numbering and title of any diagrams/charts/ tables. • Terms of Reference (50-100 words) draft • Procedure (20-50) draft • Introduction (optional; 50-100) • Findings (1000-1150) (with at least 5 references) draft (bulleted SWOT findings with in-text citations) • Conclusion (100-150) • Recommendations (100-150) • Bibliography (length variable) draft • Appendix (Must include your Work Plan) Approximate length should be 1500 words +/- 10% excluding cover sheet, bibliog, and appendix THE SWOT ANALYSIS IN YOUR FINDINGS MUST BE RELEVANT TO THE REPORT TITLE PENALTIES • Word count exceeding limit -5% • Incomplete Work Plan -5% • Omission of Work Plan (final draft) -10%