7-1 Final Project Part I Final Submission: Microeconomic Analysis Paper
The microeconomic analysis paper should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of Final Project Part I, including Sections I and IV , which were not covered in the milestones.
In addition to covering all of the critical elements of Part I Milestones One and Two, the Part I final submission should include the following elements:
- Determine whether the market structure of the industry in which your chosen company operates is perfectly competitive, monopolistically competitive, oligopolistic, or monopolistic. Justify your response.
- Assess how the type of market structure impacts your chosen company’s financial performance as measured by performance variables over the past three years. Support your response with data and graphs illustrating two performance variables of your choosing (e.g., sales, net income, stock price) over time.
- Answer the following question: How would possible changes in the industry’s market structure impact your chosen company’s business strategy in the future? Keep your company’s current business strategy in mind in your response.
This information should be incorporated with the overview (Section I) along with the content from Milestones One and Two, reflecting the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course.
Attachments area
MBA 502 Final Project Part I Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
There are two parts to the final project in this course. For your first project, you will produce an individual microeconomic analysis paper related to a publicly
traded company that you will choose from a given list. This paper will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to analyze the effects of microeconomic
factors on a company’s supply and demand, product market, production and costs, competitive environment, business strategy, and financial performance.
(For your second project, you will produce an individual macroeconomic analysis paper related to the publicly traded company chosen for the first project. The
focus of the macroeconomic analysis will be on the United States. You will come away with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate how macroeconomic
conditions impact a product’s or service’s supply and demand as well as a company’s financial performance. For details of that project, please review the Final
Project Part II Guidelines and Rubric document.)
In today’s business world, it is vital for companies to carefully assess their markets and competitive environment and operate efficiently. A critical skill for
business managers is the ability to effectively assess the effects of microeconomic factors on the supply and demand of a company’s products and services as
well as on a company’s business strategy and financial performance.
For this first project, you will produce a microeconomic analysis related to a publicly traded company chosen from the following list:
Apple
Exxon Mobil
Johnson & Johnson
Procter & Gamble
Wal-Mart
Alternatively, you may select a company of your choosing with instructor approval. Instructor approval should be secured through university email. To begin your
analysis, you will choose a type of product or service offered by your chosen company, ensuring that this product or service relates to one specific sector in which
the company operates (e.g., Apple operates in the tablet industry and the smartphone industry). Next, you will apply microeconomic concepts as well as gather
and analyze information related to your chosen company’s supply, demand, market equilibrium, production, costs, and the market structure of the specific
industry selected. Finally, you will assess the effects of the industry’s market structure on the company’s business strategy and financial performance.
The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. Final Project Part I will be submitted in Module Seven.
This project addresses the following course outcomes:
http://www.apple.com/?afid=p238%7CseIEs444j-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_94433985847_&cid=aos-us-kwg-brand-slid-
http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/
http://www.jnj.com/?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=J%26J+General&utm_term=johnson%20johnson&utm_content=J%26J+General+-+B%7Cmkwid%7CsLjoe8TvH_dc%7Cpcrid%7C63130254974
http://us.pg.com/
http://www.walmart.com/
Determine the extent to which price and nonprice factors affect the supply and demand of a company’s products or services by applying elasticity
concepts
Predict the effect of changes in supply and demand on the market equilibrium for informing business decisions
Analyze the factors that affect the combination of inputs in the production function of products or services for informing production decisions
Assess how the type of market structure impacts the business strategies and financial performance of companies for informing business decisions
Part I Prompt
Your individual microeconomic analysis paper should respond to the following prompt: Assess how microeconomic variables impact (1) your chosen product’s or
service’s supply, demand, market equilibrium, production, and cost; (2) the market structure of the industry in which your chosen company operates; and (3)
your company’s business strategy and financial performance.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Overview: Provide an overview consisting of a brief description of the chosen company and your chosen product or service, including the industry the
product or service falls under. You should include key details about the company, including its main products and/or services, number of employees, and
annual sales.
II. Supply, Demand, and Market Equilibrium
a) Determine the extent to which the supply and demand of your chosen product or service are sensitive to changes in price by applying the
concept of elasticity. In other words, what is the price elasticity of supply or demand for your product or service?
b) Select two nonprice factors that impact the demand of your chosen product or service. Justify your selections.
c) Select two nonprice factors that impact the supply of your chosen product or service. Justify your selections.
d) Define the industry related to your chosen product or service and the market equilibrium associated with the product or service.
e) Predict the effect of changes in supply and demand on the market equilibrium.
f) Based on the predicted changes, what decisions related to supply and demand for your product or service would you make?
III. Production and Costs
a) Describe three key inputs (or factors of production) and fixed and variable costs involved in the production of your chosen product or service.
One example of an input is machines, which are fixed costs. Keep in mind that all inputs will either fall under fixed or variable cost.
b) Analyze the factors that impact your choice of inputs to produce the chosen product or service. For example, how would a change in the price of
raw materials impact the combination of inputs?
c) Based on this analysis, what production decisions would you make? Be sure to support your decisions with examples or data.
IV. Market Structure
a) Determine whether the market structure of the industry in which your chosen company operates is perfectly competitive, monopolistically
competitive, oligopolistic, or monopolistic. Justify your response.
b) Assess how the type of market structure impacts your chosen company’s financial performance as measured by performance variables over the
past three years. Support your response with data and graphs illustrating two performance variables of your choosing (e.g., sales, net income,
stock price) over time.
c) How would possible changes in the industry’s market structure impact your chosen company’s business strategy in the future? Keep your
company’s current business strategy in mind in your response.
Milestones
Part I Milestone One: Supply, Demand, and Market Equilibrium
In Module Three, you will submit the supply, demand, and market equilibrium component of your microeconomic analysis paper. This milestone should be a 2–3-
page paper structured as follows: First, it describes the price elasticity of supply or demand for your product or service. Second, it explains how two nonprice
factors impact the demand of your chosen product or service. Third, it explains how two nonprice factors impact the supply of your chosen product or service.
Fourth, it defines the industry and the market equilibrium associated with the product or service. Fifth, it predicts the effect of changes in supply and demand on
the market equilibrium. Finally, it describes the decisions related to supply and demand for the product or service that you would make based on the predicted
changes in supply and demand on the market equilibrium. This milestone will be graded with the Part I Milestone One Rubric.
Part I Milestone Two: Production and Costs
In Module Five, you will submit the production and costs component of your microeconomic analysis paper. This milestone should be a 3–4-page paper
structured as follows: First, it describes three key inputs (or factors of production) and fixed and variable costs involved in the production of your chosen product
or service. Second, it analyzes the factors that impact your choice of inputs to produce the chosen product or service. Third, it examines the production decisions
that you would make based on the analysis of the factors impacting the choice of inputs to produce the chosen product or service. This milestone will be graded
with the Part I Milestone Two Rubric.
Part I Final Submission: Microeconomic Analysis Paper
In Module Seven, you will submit your microeconomic analysis paper. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of Final
Project Part I, including Sections I and IV, which were not covered in the milestones. The final submission should first determine whether the market structure of
the industry in which your chosen company operates is perfectly competitive, monopolistically competitive, oligopolistic, or monopolistic. Justify your response.
Second, it should assess how the type of market structure impacts your chosen company’s financial performance as measured by performance variables over the
past three years. Support your response with data and graphs illustrating two performance variables of your choosing (e.g., sales, net income, stock price) over
time. Finally, your paper should answer the following question: How would possible changes in the industry’s market structure impact your chosen company’s
business strategy in the future? Keep your company’s current business strategy in mind in your response. The final microanalysis paper should reflect the
incorporation of feedback gained thus far in the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Part I Rubric.
Final Project Part I Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your microeconomic analysis paper should adhere to the following formatting requirements: 5–6 pages, double-spaced, using 12-
point Times New Roman font and the most current version of APA formatting.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Overview Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description expertly balances
key detail with brevity
Briefly describes the chosen
company, product or service,
and associated industry,
including key details
Describes the chosen company,
product or service, and
associated industry but has
gaps in accuracy or key details
or is wordy
Does not describe the chosen
company, product or service,
and associated industry
5
Supply, Demand,
and Market
Equilibrium:
Elasticity
[MBA-502-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis shows keen insight into
the factors impacting supply
and demand
Determines extent to which
supply and demand of chosen
product or service are sensitive
to changes in price by applying
the concept of elasticity
Determines extent to which
supply and demand of chosen
product or service are sensitive
to changes in price by applying
the concept of elasticity, but
with gaps in accuracy or detail
Does not determine extent to
which supply and demand of
chosen product or service are
sensitive to changes in price by
applying the concept of
elasticity
7.5
Supply, Demand,
and Market
Equilibrium:
Nonprice Factors for
Demand
[MBA-502-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows keen insight into how
nonprice factors impact the
demand of products or services
Selects and logically justifies
two nonprice factors impacting
the demand of chosen product
or service
Selects two nonprice factors
impacting the demand of
chosen product or service,
justifying selections but
selection(s) are inaccurate or
justification is illogical
Does not select two nonprice
factors impacting the demand
of chosen product or service
and justify selections
7.5
Supply, Demand,
and Market
Equilibrium:
Nonprice Factors for
Supply
[MBA-502-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows keen insight into how
nonprice factors impact the
supply of products or services
Selects and logically justifies
two nonprice factors impacting
the supply of chosen product
or service
Selects two nonprice factors
impacting the supply of chosen
product or service, justifying
selections but selection(s) are
inaccurate or justification is
illogical
Does not select two nonprice
factors impacting the supply of
chosen product or service and
justify selections
7.5
Supply, Demand,
and Market
Equilibrium:
Industry and Market
Equilibrium
[MBA-502-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
details demonstrate a nuanced
understanding of the
characteristics of the industry
and market equilibrium
Accurately defines the industry
and the market equilibrium
associated with the product or
service
Defines the industry and the
market equilibrium associated
with the product or service but
with gaps in accuracy
Does not define the industry
and the market equilibrium
associated with the product or
service
7.5
Supply, Demand,
and Market
Equilibrium: Predict
[MBA-502-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of the effects of
changes in supply and demand
on the market equilibrium
Predicts effect of changes in
supply and demand on the
market equilibrium
Predicts effect of changes in
supply and demand on the
market equilibrium but with
gaps in accuracy or necessary
detail
Does not predict effect of
changes in supply and demand
on the market equilibrium
7.5
Supply, Demand,
and Market
Equilibrium:
Decisions
[MBA-502-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
decisions show keen insight
into the implications of changes
in supply and demand for
business decisions
Proposes decisions related to
supply and demand for product
or service based on predicted
changes
Proposes decisions related to
supply and demand for product
or service based on predicted
changes but with gaps in logic
or detail
Does not propose decisions
related to supply and demand
for product or service based on
predicted changes
7.5
Production and
Costs: Inputs and
Costs
[MBA-502-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of the inputs
and types of costs involved in
the production of products or
services
Describes three key inputs and
fixed and variable costs
involved in the production of
chosen product or service
Describes three key inputs and
fixed and variable costs
involved in the production of
chosen product or service but
with gaps in accuracy or detail
Does not describe three key
inputs and fixed and variable
costs involved in the
production of chosen product
or service
7.5
Production and
Costs: Analyze the
Factors
[MBA-502-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of factors that
impact inputs in the production
of products or services
Analyzes factors that impact
the choice of inputs to produce
chosen product or service
Analyzes factors that impact
the choice of inputs to produce
chosen product or service but
with gaps in accuracy or detail
Does not analyze factors that
impact the choice of inputs to
produce chosen product or
service
7.5
Production and
Costs: Decisions
[MBA-502-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
decisions show keen insight
into implications of production
analysis for business decisions
Proposes appropriate
production decisions based on
analysis, supporting response
with examples or data
Proposes production decisions
based on analysis, supporting
response with examples or data
but decisions are not
appropriate based on analysis
or lack detail or support
Does not propose production
decisions based on analysis
7.5
Market Structure:
Determine
[MBA-502-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of the
characteristics of market
structures
Determines the market
structure of the chosen
company’s industry and
logically justifies response
Determines the market
structure of the chosen
company’s industry and
justifies response but
determination is inaccurate or
justification is illogical
Does not determine the market
structure of the chosen
company’s industry and justify
response
7.5
Market Structure:
Financial
Performance
[MBA-502-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows keen insight into the
effects of the market structure
on the company’s financial
performance
Logically assesses how type of
market structure impacts
chosen company’s financial
performance, supported by
data and graphs illustrating
performance variables over
time
Assesses how type of market
structure impacts chosen
company’s financial
performance, supported by
data and graphs illustrating
performance variables over
time but assessment has gaps
in accuracy, detail, or support
Does not assess how type of
market structure impacts
chosen company’s financial
performance, supported by
data and graphs illustrating
performance variables over
time
7.5
Market Structure:
Possible Changes
[MBA-502-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides keen insight into how
changes in industry’s market
structure impact business
strategies
Logically projects how possible
changes in industry’s market
structure would impact
company’s business strategy
Projects how possible changes
in industry’s market structure
would impact company’s
business strategy but with gaps
in logic or detail
Does not project how possible
changes in industry’s market
structure would impact
company’s business strategy
7.5
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization and is presented
in a professional and easy-to-
read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
5
Total 100%