Handout and Rubric Innovation, Six Sigma & Sustainability BUSU 630

Assignment #3

Due: Week 6

Students will prepare a graduate level analysis on their current or an organization that they have recently worked for or have insider knowledge of. This paper is usually about five pages long double spaced (excluding Title Page and References) and is addressed to a specific CEO of a specific company (you do not have to actually send this paper to the CEO) but write it as if you would).

Look at your current or past organization. Consider the informal or formal supply chain for your organization. Create three to five recommendations based upon the book for a supply chain that has a specific intention of creating ROI through innovation, sustainability and Six Sigma efforts. Write this paper as if you are submitting to the CEO of the organization. Write this as if you are looking for a promotion! You might want to have your Major Headings be: Introduction, Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations. Your Subheadings might be: Innovation, Six Sigma, Innovation and Sustainability. Be sure to use APA headings:

In essence, you are presenting a proposal to the CEO seeking the CEO’s approval of recommendations that you have made based upon your analysis and the impact the recommendations will have on ROI based upon what you have learned so far in this class.

Key questions and things to consider for this paper.

1. Identify the organization – if you have any questions contact your instructor for approval. This graduate level analysis can be performed on large companies or small companies; you choose but ensure you can get enough information to make quality analysis and practical suggestions. Consider the core competencies of this organization. Can you help to make something better they are already doing? OR do other in their industry have an innovation in sustainability that they do not have yet? (cite, cite).

2. Consider what you have read and include independent research on the Supply Chain, Operations, Innovation, Sustainability and Six Sigma. If you are going to recommend Six Sigma explain why and who else in their industry is using if. If you are not going to recommend Six Sigma then cite why (could it be too expensive, not fit the needs of the core competencies…)? These are all broad topics, and yet demonstrate to your CEO and you have an ability to include these topics, if even in a small way, in your recommendations. Always reference and cite your research. Cite all statements of facts.

3. Know your target – this paper is to be written to the CEO or someone in the organization that would consider your recommendations. If you actually know the person, or think you could get your recommendations to them then great – write with the person with authority in mind and once you have had your paper graded you might want to actually submit this paper to them. You don’t have to give this paper to the CEO, but it should be the quality of work that you might consider giving it to her or him.

4. Remember this is an academic paper – you have to use APA, citations and all that is important in graduate level writing. There should never be even one typo or grammatical error in a graduate level paper.

5. Use the textbook and independent research (and cite). Graduate level recommendations are normally backed up on data not hunches or the experience of one person. Use the specific analytics that are available in your textbook to make your recommendations.

6. Remember to include a recommendation for both innovation and sustainability. You will be graded on including information from both of those fields.

7. Charts, graphs and visual recommendations are required for A papers. A picture is worth a 1000 words. It is often best if the graph shows how the process is currently working and then another graphic showing how it would work with your suggestion.

8. Use the information on writing found in Course Documents and remember you can always reach out to the Writing Center Office Hours for graduate students. You need to have a good title (interesting is even better), a strong analysis based upon research, and have key recommendations that are practical and well thought out. You need to have a conclusion that does not bring in new ideas – but is a clear synthesis of your ideas.

Graduate students always have the option of joining Brandman’s Online Office Hours (free).

Your paper will be graded using the Rubric listed below. It is suggested that you review this Rubric while you are working on your paper and check once again before you submit. Students who get good grades usually follow the Rubric.

Rubric used for grading Assignment #3 BUSU 630:

Evaluation Criteria

Innovation, Six Sigma and Sustainability

Exemplary

230

Proficient

210

Developing

190

Emerging

42 or below in this section as the paper is not written to the specific CEO of Home Depot

Key Insights

Provides accurate and clear descriptions of the supply chain that is being evaluated. Accurately and comprehensively discusses a valid and researched recommendation to a specific (and researched) CEO. Provides a clear picture of the context for the opportunity and/or option for a specific company within a specific industry for innovation, six sigma and/or sustainability.

Provides a fairly accurate and clear description of the supply chain being evaluated. Fairly comprehensively and accurately discusses a valid recommendation to a specific (and researched) CEO. Provides a fairly clear picture of the context for the opportunity/option for innovation, six sigma and or sustainability.

Provides somewhat accurate and clear description of the supply chain being evaluated. Somewhat accurately discusses the specific CEO for the organization and the impact and value that the recommendations would bring. Provides some context for the opportunity for innovation and/or option for six sigma and or sustainability..

42 or below

Provides limited or unclear definitions and/or descriptions of the supply chain that is under review. Limited if any discussion of a specific CEO. Provides little to no context for the opportunity for improvement in innovation, sustainability or six sigma.

46 or below as the recommendations are not data driven nor specific to Home Depot.

This paper does show an understanding of the tools available in the supply chain and operations.

Application

Clearly identifies and discusses specific recommendations based upon graduate level sources, research and analysis. Clearly describes how the context and trends within the industry and the process will enhance or detract for the implementation of a recommendation for innovation, sustainability or six sigma (why or why not). Shows a clear application and understanding of the tools available in supply chain and operations.

Fairly clearly identifies and discusses specific recommendations based upon graduate level sources, research and analysis. Somewhat clearly describes how the context and the trends within the industry and the process will enhance or detract for the proposed recommendation for innovation, sustainability or six sigma. Fairly clearly describes application and understanding of the tools available in supply chain and operations.

Somewhat clearly identifies and discusses specific recommendations based upon some graduate level sources, research and analysis. Somewhat describes how the context and the trends within the industry and the process will enhance or detract in the implementation of the proposed innovation in sustainability or six sigma. Somewhat shows a clear application and understanding of the tools available in supply chain and operations.

42 or below

Limited if any identification and discussion of actions in terms of specifics Shows lots of opinion but little data. Limited if any description of how recommendations are data driven, Shows a limited application of the tools available in supply chain and operations. May use WIKI sources which are not graduate level.

Fairly shows some critical analysis of the supply chan and operations, but again is not written to the specific CEO

Critical Analysis

Consistently employs critical analysis in discussing the key insights about the industry, company and the process under review. Accurately links theory and course concepts with analysis, and application. Uses the text book and at least four other business sources.

The proposal to CEO is clear and uses data driven decision making and graduate level resources. Includes a graphic of what “is” and what is “recommended.”

Fairly consistently employs critical analysis in discussing the key insights gained about the industry, company and the CE. Fairly accurately links theory and course concepts with analysis, and application. Uses the text book and at least three other business sources. Somewhat shows the relevance of the proposal to a specific CEO in a specific industry but recommendations is based upon data and sources.

Somewhat employs critical analysis in discussing the key insights gained about the industry, company and the process under review. Somewhat accurately links theory and course concepts with analysis and application. Uses the text book and at least two other business sources. The relevance of the proposal to a specific CEO is somewhat clear but an attempt was made.

43 or below

Limited if any critical analysis in discussing the insights gained and their understanding of the case study. Limited if any connection made between theory, course concepts and application this company and the CEO. Shows little understanding of the power of innovation, sustainability or six sigma. Uses the text book and at least two other business sources.

There are more than ten APA Errors in this paper; specifically Title Page, and Headings.

The citations are correct within the paper.

The textbook is not applied

Writing Mechanics

The paper is logical, well written, and the required length. Spelling, grammar and punctuation are accurate. Consistently uses sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. APA formatting standards are followed; citations and reference page is correct.

The paper is logical, well written, and is the required length. Minor errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. Uses sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. APA standards are followed with a few minor errors.

The paper is somewhat logical and well written; may be 10% too long or short. Some errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. Somewhat uses sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. APA standards are somewhat followed but with numerous errors.

43 or below

The paper lacks clarity and may be confusing; may be 15% too long or short. Numerous errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. Limited if any use of sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. Limited if any adherence to APA standards.