Objectives

On successful completion of this assessment, students should be able to:

• identify a problem that can be addressed through a valid business model,
• analyze the problem and conduct research to support the identification of the problem utilizing primary and secondary resources, and
• offer realistic solutions demonstrating their idea is a valid opportunity and identify what make it so.

Brief Description

The first step in starting an entrepreneurial venture is to identify a problem and the second step is to shape a solution that creates a viable business model. In this assignment, students use primary and secondary research to support the identification/and or preliminary validation of the problem they feel is driving an idea identified in the Idea Journal assignment. For example, if a student felt there was a lack of access to healthy and affordable food for college students. Their research assignment should verify this is a problem –and describe the scope of the problem. After the problem is selected and researched, the students receive feedback evaluating how effective they were at creating a compelling analysis/discussion of the problem. Students conclude the assignment by providing a solution to this problem through the creation of a new business. This assignment is no more than 5 pages in length and should include links to survey data and results, questions, and secondary sources. This should include a bibliography of sources you used to gather the information.

Submission Instructions

Write a paper about a problem and a possible solution. Each paper should include an introduction and conclusion, should be 4-6 pages (double spaced), 2.54 cm margins (the default on MS Word), and 12 pts size . The paper should follow the APA guidelines for format and citation. In your assignment you should:

1. Identify the problem the venture will address and its scope.
2. Support claims about the problem with appropriate sources, including at least three academic sources such as books, juried articles found in the YU library.
3. Demonstrate the validity of the idea and identify what makes this a true opportunity

Evaluation

The Business Plan Case Analysis will be marked in its entirety out of 100. The following rubric indicates the criteria students are to adhere to, and their relative weights to the assignment overall.

Activity/Competencies Demonstrated% of Final GradeContent and Research/60

a. Identify the problem the venture will address and its scope/20

b. Support claims about the problem with appropriate sources, including at least three academic sources such as books, juried articles found in the YU library/20

c. Demonstrate the validity of the idea and identify what makes this a true opportunity/20

Communication/20

a. Uses clear language (verbal and written), with topic-specific terminology used correctly and effectively/10

b. Information organized intelligently and holistically as a complete report (i.e., not simply answers to questions). Papers must include a proper introduction, conclusion, and be supported by a sound body/10

Attention to Detail/20

a. Document is referenced properly including citations and reference page, and proper title page/10

b. Attention to spelling, grammar, and sentence structure/10Total