Our first major assignment is a short report that analyzes a significant business-related trend and recommends a specific response to the trend — for example, adopting a new product, service, or business strategy. The special twist is that you are invited to consider trends that have emerged during the COVID pandemic. Remember: This is a short proposal/report to a particular audience of readers, but it is NOT a memo. You will use block formatting, a title, and headings; also, you are required to incorporate a data-based graphic.
We know well that we are living in a time of unprecedented global crisis because of COVID. The crisis has had a major impact on business and the economy, as well as individuals and their families. Many companies may have had in place a business contingency or continuity plan designed to allow for their continued operation in the event of a natural disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane) or some other unforeseen event or crisis (ransomware attack, national or global economic upheaval). But it seems that nobody was ready for COVID; what the coronavirus pandemic illustrates is that many companies were ill-prepared for the widespread and continued disruption of operational processes and services that occurred as COVID-19 spread across the globe. Companies/organizations need advice – not just for the short-term, but in a business landscape that is forever altered. What trends from the COVID era are most likely to continue, and how should businesses respond and adapt?
TASK: The basics
As a first-year corporate strategist at your consulting company, you are asked to analyze a client company or organization and research:
• How did the company react or respond to COVID, and how has their business model changed?
• What can the company/organization do differently to plan for future economic instability and shifting realities?
Your purpose is to offer recommendations to your company or organization. For example, what suggestions can you provide to ensure that the company’s revenue stream and operations are effective in curtailing job displacement, financial losses, or bankruptcy? What short-term and long-term actions should be taken to ensure financial solvency, maintaining market share and competitive advantage?
ASSIGNMENT: Why are you writing? Why should your readers care?
Write a short report aimed at the leadership of the company/organization you’re analyzing. In this report, you will present your analysis and recommendations. Also, you will incorporate one data-based graphic to help support your ideas. (A photo or other image does not count as a data-based graphic.) Be sure to introduce the graphic properly and integrate it where it is most cogent (i.e., do not drop it in at the end of your report).
Your report will consist of roughly three parts:
• The explanation of the company’s situation during the pandemic and a “BLUF” at or near the end of this first, introductory section;
• An analysis of how the company handled the situation caused by the pandemic, and the outcomes;
• A full discussion of recommendation(s) for a contingency plan going forward, responding to specific changes that you believe have emerged and are likely to continue (i.e., new trends).
EVALUATION: What will make your report powerful and persuasive?
Along with all the criteria for good business writing (i.e., both the USC Writing Program Grading Rubric and the Rubric that is specific to our assignment in this class) your grade for this assignment will be based on the following additional factors:
How clearly you explain, analyze, and substantiate the company’s situation and the new trends that are shaping its operations;
How clearly you analyze the company’s decisions/strategies in response to the pandemic;
How realistic and actionable your recommendations are;
How well your graphic explains, clarifies, and persuades;
How smoothly you incorporate your graphic into your analysis.
SPECIFICS: Length, format, research sources
Length: Three to four single-spaced pages in standard business block format. A title for the report indicating who it has been prepared for should appear at the top of the first page. Headings must be used; other formatting is up to you. Note: I am not rigid about page length. Write concisely, but if you exceed four pages that is not in itself a problem.
Sources: This assignment requires research and analysis. You must use at least five different sources; at least three of these must be sources from other than an organizational or company website. Document your sources accurately and appropriately using either APA formatting or the informal attribution style we’ll discuss in class.
My subject I picked was the NFL using technology.
The progression of technology within the NFL over the past few years has been on the rise. With these new advancements, the organization has seen benefits that have increased profits and player engagement. “Digital transformation is a business trend that has gained immense popularity over the last few years.” (Talbot 2022) Due to COVID, sports organizations have taken steps towards adopting advancements in technology to not only enhance their platforms, but to secure their business. The pandemic proved that the world is unpredictable, but technology is reliable. The reliability is an asset for any business because it creates security and less risks long term.
Sports, as a whole, were greatly impacted by COVID which made it challenging for the industries to navigate how to handle their next steps and developing strategies. The NFL, specifically, used virtual reality and technology to their advantage to combat obstacles the organization faced during the pandemic. By combining the physical and virtual world, the NFL was able to sail smoothly throughout the rest of the pandemic. Their audience and active members were left with comfort during a time of uncertainty knowing that the “game would still go on.” The use of technology post-pandemic within sports is still increasing and the NFL can continue to benefit from the use of it moving forward.
In order to keep up with the fast progressing technology advancements in society, the NFL needs to continue implementing technology enhancements to their business strategies. Since the digital realm is fastly progressing, it will create more opportunities for expansion and additional profits. For example, NFTs can add great value to ticket sales and player engagement which will create additional profits. Virtual reality has been growing its popularity over the past few years and the NFL has seen how it can be useful, especially for the individual players. By using a virtual reality, players can practice “in-game” simulation before actual games to warm up. This benefits the player and team because it lessens the nerves and prepares the body before the actual game without having to physically be on the field. This makes the player have a better performance by giving them more experience.
Appendices
Talbot, D. (2022, April 22). Sport nfts are expected to generate more than $2 billion this year. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2022/04/nft/
How digital transformation can change your business. (2022, June 2). Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://thescalers.com/how-digital-transformation-can-change-your-business-in-2020/
