Due Week 2: BA Plan Section 1: Company Background and Strategy
In this portion of the course project, you will select an organization for your project, determine its strategic position on each of three dimensions, illustrate this on a strategic position diagram, and define SMART objectives and related information sources for each dimension.
Complete and submit Section 1 of the BA Plan Template, including the following:
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Submit your BA Plan document including Section 1 to the Week 2: Course Project assignment.
Grading Criteria for Week 2
CategoryPointsPercentDescriptionCompany Name
8 10%The name of the organization used for the plan is clearly stated, and is a publicly traded company with financial information available.Dossier 8 10%Summary information, industry classification, and business description from the LexisNexis dossier are included.Strategic Positioning Diagram
16 20%Diagram is clearly drawn and indicates a recommended position for the company on each of the three strategic dimensions (Product Innovation, Customer Intimacy, Operational Excellence) relative to the market standard.Explanations 16 20%A reasonable, cogent explanation is provided as to why each strategic position was chosen, reflecting an understanding of the organization and its market.Objectives
16
20%
Objective for each strategic dimension is clearly stated and meets the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, and Time-bound).Writing, Editing, and Formatting
16
20%
The section is written clearly and professionally; is substantially free of errors in spelling and grammar; and is formatted consistently and professionally.
Total
80
100%
2
Business Analytics Plan
Business Analytics Plan for BIAM300
Author: Your name here
Date: Current date
NOTE: Remove this line and all other italicized instructions before submitting your document.
SECTION 1: Company Background and Strategy
1.1 Organization Name
State the name of the company for which this plan is prepared.
1.2. LexisNexis Dossier
Insert a screenshot of the company’s LexisNexis dossier from the Nexis Uni database in the DeVry Online Library, showing the company’s summary information, industry classification, and business description.
1.2 Strategic Positioning Diagram
Insert a Strategic Positioning Diagram for the company, similar to Exhibit 2.6 in the textbook, showing what you believe should be the organization’s positioning on each of the three dimensions of Product Innovation, Customer Intimacy, and Operational Excellence, relative to the “market standard” (i.e. what is typical for other organizations in the same industry). This is where you think the organization should be, not necessarily where it is today.
The diagram can be created with the drawing tools built into Word, or you can create it in a different application and copy/paste it into your Word document. A photograph of a hand-drawn diagram on paper or a whiteboard is also ok, as long as it’s clear. The point is to clearly show the relative strategic positions, not to make an elaborate diagram.
1.3 Product Innovation
1.3.1 Explanation of Product Innovation Positioning
Explain why you chose the positioning you did for this strategic dimension (1 paragraph).
1.3.2 SMART Objective for Strategic Positioning
State a SMART objective the organization should pursue to achieve or maintain the position you recommend on this dimension.
1.4 Customer Intimacy
1.4.1 Explanation of Customer Intimacy Positioning
Explain why you chose the positioning you did for this strategic dimension (1 paragraph).
1.4.2 SMART Objective for Customer Intimacy
State a SMART objective the organization should pursue to achieve or maintain the position you recommend on this dimension.
1.5 Operational Excellence
1.5.1 Explanation of Operational Excellence Positioning
Explain why you chose the positioning you did for this strategic dimension (1 paragraph).
1.5.2 SMART Objective for Operational Excellence
State a SMART objective the organization should pursue to achieve or maintain the position you recommend on this dimension.
Section 2: Critical Success Factors (CSFs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
2.1 CSFs and KPIs for Product Innovation
2.1.1 Product Innovation CSF #1
Describe a Critical Success Factor (CSF) for the organization to achieve the SMART objective you defined for this strategic dimension. Critical success factors are specific actions the organization must take, or results they must produce, in order to achieve the objective.
2.1.1.1 KPI #1 for Product Innovation CSF #1
Define a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.1.1.2 KPI #2 for Product Innovation CSF #1
Define a second Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.1.2 Product Innovation CSF #2
Describe a second Critical Success Factor (CSF) for the organization to achieve the SMART objective you defined for this strategic dimension.
2.1.2.1 KPI #1 for Product Innovation CSF #2
Define a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.1.2.2 KPI #2 for Product Innovation CSF #2
Define a second Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.2 CSFs and KPIs for Customer Intimacy
2.2.1 Customer Intimacy CSF #1
Describe a Critical Success Factor (CSF) for the organization to achieve the SMART objective you defined for this strategic dimension. Critical success factors are specific actions the organization must take, or results they must produce, in order to achieve the objective.
2.2.1.1 KPI #1 for Customer Intimacy CSF #1
Define a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.2.1.2 KPI #2 for Customer Intimacy CSF #1
Define a second Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.2.2 Customer Intimacy CSF #2
Describe a second Critical Success Factor (CSF) for the organization to achieve the SMART objective you defined for this strategic dimension.
2.2.2.1 KPI #1 for Customer Intimacy CSF #2
Define a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.2.2.2 KPI #2 for Customer Intimacy CSF #2
Define a second Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.3 CSFs and KPIs for Operational Excellence
2.3.1 Operational Excellence CSF #1
Describe a Critical Success Factor (CSF) for the organization to achieve the SMART objective you defined for this strategic dimension. Critical success factors are specific actions the organization must take, or results they must produce, in order to achieve the objective.
2.3.1.1 KPI #1 for Operational Excellence CSF #1
Define a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.3.1.2 KPI #2 for Operational Excellence CSF #1
Define a second Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.3.2 Operational Excellence CSF #2
Describe a second Critical Success Factor (CSF) for the organization to achieve the SMART objective you defined for this strategic dimension.
2.3.2.1 KPI #1 for Operational Excellence CSF #2
Define a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
2.3.2.2 KPI #2 for Operational Excellence CSF #2
Define a second Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that you recommend the organization should use in order to measure their progress toward this critical success factor.
Section 3: Analytics Dashboard Examples
3.1 Example Chart #1
Insert a chart created in Excel, based on a selected metric from the company’s financial data downloaded from the Nexis Uni database in the DeVry Online Library.
Chart #1 Explanation: Write a one-paragraph explanation of why you chose the metric and how it relates to the strategy, objectives, and critical success factors identified in previous sections.
3.2 Example Chart #2
Insert a second chart created in Excel, based on a selected metric from the company’s financial data downloaded from the Nexis Uni database in the DeVry Online Library.
Chart #2 Explanation: Write a one-paragraph explanation of why you chose the metric and how it relates to the strategy, objectives, and critical success factors identified in previous sections.
Section 4: Business Analytics Center Location and Projects
4.1 Business Analytics Center Location
Write a 1-2 paragraph description (100-400 words) describing how a Business Analytics center for this company should be structured and where it should be located within the organization. This should include whether the BA center should be centralized as a formal organizational unit, or decentralized as a virtual organizational unit (see Exhibit 7.4 in the textbook). Also describe where the BA center should report in the company’s organizational structure (e.g., directly to top management; to the IT department; or to some other department such as marketing, finance, etc.). Explain your choices in terms of the organization’s strategy, maturity, and the expected role of the BA center in the organization.
4.2 Business Analytics Projects
4.2.1 Project #1
4.2.1.1 Analytical Question: State the analytical question to be answered.
4.2.1.2 Information Source(s): Suggest one or more information sources (such as internal accounting reports, customer surveys, market research, etc.) that could be used in the analysis.
4.2.1.3 Analytical Method: Identify the general analytical method that could be used for the project (see Exhibit 4.2 in the textbook).
4.2.1.4 Benefits: Describe the potential benefits to the organization of completing the project.
4.2.1.5 Strategic Value:
Explain how the project relates to the organization’s strategy, objectives, critical success factors, and KPIs identified in previous sections.
4.2.2 Project #2
4.2.2.1 Analytical Question: State the analytical question to be answered.
4.2.2.2 Information Source(s): Suggest one or more information sources (such as internal accounting reports, customer surveys, market research, etc.) that could be used in the analysis.
4.2.2.3 Analytical Method: Identify the general analytical method that could be used for the project (see Exhibit 4.2 in the textbook).
4.2.2.4 Benefits: Describe the potential benefits to the organization of completing the project.
4.2.2.5 Strategic Value:
Explain how the project relates to the organization’s strategy, objectives, critical success factors, and KPIs identified in previous sections.
References
Include APA-style references for any sources used in the reference list at the end. At a minimum, you should include a reference for the Nexis Uni database used for the financial data in Section 3, as well as any other sources you consulted.
