Leadership Skills for Franchise Owner – BUSI 478

Course Description

Rationale

Though attaining a strategic position of leadership in an organization may come in the future, understanding the concepts of thinking strategically and being an effective leader begins now, and the skills are developed over time in the crucible of life’s experiences.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings, topical readings, and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will create a thread in response to one of the available topics for the discussion. The thread must be 500–750 words, reference at least 2 peer-reviewed sources, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student will reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words, reference at least 1 peer-reviewed source, and include substantive content. All sources must be cited in current APA format.

Business Plan: External and Internal Forces Analysis Assignment

The student will design an organization and develop a business plan consisting of 4 components. The student will write a report on each of those components, receive feedback from the instructor, and then write the final comprehensive business plan based on the feedback. The first component report is a 3–6-page analysis of the external environmental forces that the student’s organization faces: Social, Regulatory, Economic, Competitive, Technological, Legal, and Natural/Environmental. 

Business Plan: Strategic Plan Written Report Assignment

The second component report that the student will write is the strategic plan for the organization that they have created. The 3–6-page strategic plan report will include mission statement, vision statement, resources assessment, capabilities, core competencies, strategic approach to the market space, positioning against the competition, etc. 

Business Plan: Organizational Plan Written Report Assignment

The student will develop a 3–6-page organizational plan that describes how the organization will optimize the performance of the organization to meet its established goals to succeed in its industry and marketspace. Topics included in the report are Structure, Culture, Control Mechanisms, Teams and Groups, Financials, Inventory, and Accounting Management. 

Future Trends Strategic Plan Assignment

Each student will develop a strategic plan for the dealership that establishes a direction for the dealership to take advantage of anticipated future trends in the automotive industry. Identification of future trends, analysis of future trends, and development of strategy to take advantage of the future trends is expected. The student will submit the plan in a written report. The report must be 2–4 pages, reference at least 2 peer-reviewed sources, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. All sources must be cited in current APA format. The value of the strategic plan written report is 150 points for this assignment.

Personal Leadership Plan Written Report Assignment

The student will develop a personal leadership plan for how they perceive they would lead the new organization they have created as the founder and owner. The report will include personal characteristics, leadership style, facilitating team success, coaching and feedback to employees, empowering self and others, etc. The student will submit the plan in a written report. The report must be 2–4 pages, reference at least 2 peer-reviewed sources and demonstrate course-related knowledge. All sources must be cited in current APA format. 

Business Plan: Final Comprehensive Assignment

The student will develop a business plan that establishes a new dealership in a location selected by the student. The business plan will include all of the fixed and variable operations considerations given in the program to include components of Real Estate, Financials, Inventory, Accounting Management, Environmental Forces, etc. The student will use the feedback from the instructor on the 3 previous business plan assignments to make changes and combine into one final comprehensive dealership plan. The report must be 10–12 pages, reference at least 6 peer-reviewed sources, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. All sources must be cited in current APA format.

Integration of Faith and Learning Paper Assignment

The student will write a report on how to lead a strategic organization from the Christian Worldview perspective. The student will complete an Integration of Faith and Learning (IFL) essay that contains at least 500 words of content, is in current APA format, and is submitted as a Microsoft Word document through SafeAssign. The student will contemplate appropriate Scripture verses and relate them to business research methods. The student will select the appropriate response to various automotive dealership situations involving customers and employees from the Christian Worldview perspective.