BUS 110 Company Research Project and Presentation (35 points) Prof. Teubner Objective: To practice researching and reporting business information. Each student will be required to select a company that is publicly traded to research during the semester. These assignments must be typed and submitted by the due dates announced. Part 1: Ethics and Social Responsibility (5 points) Read chapter 2 on Ethics and Social Responsibility. 1. Go to your company’s website and read what it states about ethics and social responsibility. In a minimum two page typed report, discuss what you have learned about your company from reading the website. Has your company been ethical and socially responsible? Include why you think a company should be ethical and socially responsible. How can a company benefit from being ethical and socially responsible? Part 2: The 4 P’s of Marketing (5 points) 1. Read chapters 11 and 12 in the textbook about marketing. 2. Write a three page typed report discussing how the 4 P’s of marketing relate to your company’s products or services. Be sure to discuss each of the 4 P’s. Part 3: FIVE ARTICLE SUMMARIES (5 points) You must research your company in the news and write a one page summary of the article and include your opinion or reaction to the article. In total you must include five (5) articles and the summaries. Be sure to include the title and date of the article and the name of the publication, i.e., The New York Times, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, etc. You can access articles through the library databases or go to the publication’s website, such as Businessweek.com, Fortune.com, nytimes.com etc. The one page summary must be a typed and might include information, such as: MY COMPANY….. announced an acquisition or merger with another company because… was involved in a crisis or scandal because… announced changes in its management because… was affected by global developments because… was affected by changes in U.S. government regulations because… was affected by competitor activities because… reported an increase (decrease) in sales because… Note: You will not find news articles on all of the above. These are just some examples of what you might find in the news about the company. Part 4: STOCK PRICE (2 points) Each week you will monitor the stock price and news regarding the stock that you selected. If you notice a significant change in the stock price on a particular day/week, review the news about the stock to determine what caused the change in price. Include the stock price for 5 weeks. Part 5: STOCK MARKET GAME (3 points) Assume you have $10,000 to invest in the company’s stock. Use the stock quotations section of your newspaper or a financial website such as www.finance.yahoo.com to find the current stock price. How many shares of the stock can you purchase with your $10,000? ($10,000/price per share = ____shares) Some stocks pay a dividend, which is shown next ...

1. BUS 110 Company Research Project and Presentation (35
points)
Prof. Teubner
Objective: To practice researching and reporting business
information.
Each student will be required to select a company that is
publicly traded to research during the semester. These
assignments must be typed and submitted by the due dates
announced.
Part 1: Ethics and Social Responsibility (5 points)
Read chapter 2 on Ethics and Social Responsibility.
1. Go to your company’s website and read what it states about
ethics and social responsibility. In a minimum two page typed
report, discuss what you have learned about your company from
reading the website. Has your company been ethical and
socially responsible? Include why you think a company should
be ethical and socially responsible. How can a company benefit
from being ethical and socially responsible?
Part 2: The 4 P’s of Marketing (5 points)
1. Read chapters 11 and 12 in the textbook about marketing.
2. Write a three page typed report discussing how the 4 P’s of
marketing relate to your company’s products or services. Be
sure to discuss each of the 4 P’s.
Part 3: FIVE ARTICLE SUMMARIES (5 points)
You must research your company in the news and write a one
page summary of the article and include your opinion or
reaction to the article. In total you must include five (5) articles

2. and the summaries. Be sure to include the title and date of the
article and the name of the publication, i.e., The New York
Times, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street
Journal, etc. You can access articles through the library
databases or go to the publication’s website, such as
Businessweek.com, Fortune.com, nytimes.com etc. The one
page summary must be a typed and might include information,
such as:
MY COMPANY…..
announced an acquisition or merger with another company
because…
was involved in a crisis or scandal because…
announced changes in its management because…
was affected by global developments because…
was affected by changes in U.S. government regulations
because…
was affected by competitor activities because…
reported an increase (decrease) in sales because…
Note: You will not find news articles on all of the above. These
are just some examples of what you might find in the news
about the company.
Part 4: STOCK PRICE (2 points)
Each week you will monitor the stock price and news regarding
the stock that you selected. If you notice a significant change
in the stock price on a particular day/week, review the news
about the stock to determine what caused the change in price.
Include the stock price for 5 weeks.

3. Part 5: STOCK MARKET GAME (3 points)
Assume you have $10,000 to invest in the company’s stock.
Use the stock quotations section of your newspaper or a
financial website such as www.finance.yahoo.com to find the
current stock price. How many shares of the stock can you
purchase with your $10,000? ($10,000/price per share =
____shares)
Some stocks pay a dividend, which is shown next to the stock
price in the stock quotations. The dividend is normally quoted
on an annualized basis and is paid four times a year, so assume
that you receive one dividend payment over the semester (one-
fourth of the annual dividend).
At the beginning of the semester, you will fill in rows 2 through
4 in the table below. At the end of the semester, you will sell
your shares to determine how your investment performed. At
that time, you can determine your return on your investment by
filling in rows 5 through 8 in the table.
Record the following:
1. Your initial investment
$10,000
Stock price beginning of the semester _______
2. Number of shares purchases
_______
3. Dividend per share received (if paid)

4. _______
4. Dollar amount of dividends received
equal to row 2 x row 3)
_______
5. Stock price at end of the semester when you
sell the stock
_______
6. Dollar amount received from selling the stock
(equal to row 2 x row 5)
_______
7. Total amount of dollars you have at the
end of the semester
(equal to row 4 + row 6)
_______

5. 8. RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT
equal to (row 7 – row 1)
_______
Part 6: COMPANY PROFILE (5 points)
Refer to the assignment sheet attached.
Part 7: Company Research Project Summary and Oral
Presentation (10 points)
Write a three page report covering each of these topics:
a. What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the
organization? Research a SWOT analysis for this company.
b. You are a stockbroker. Give three well thought out reasons
why you would call your clients and recommend that they buy
the stock. Remember that you work on commission and have to
be very persuasive while still doing what is in the best interest
of the clients. Why should investors buy this stock? If you
would not recommend the stock, why not?
c. If you were the CEO of the organization, what would you do
differently to increase sales and be more competitive in the
global marketplace?
Some suggested companies to follow:
Microsoft, Ford, General Motors, Apple, McDonald’s, FedEx,
UPS, CBS, Google,
Wal-Mart, General Electric, IBM, Sears Roebuck, RCA, Nike,
Intel, CNN, Boeing, Hewlett Packard, The Walt Disney Co.,

6. Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble, Yahoo!, Toyota, Toys “R” Us,
Kellogg, Starbucks, Avon Products, Hilton Hotels, L.L. Bean,
H.J. Heinz, Amazon.com, Exxon Mobil Corp., United Airlines,
Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, Timberland, Computer
Associates, or another company of your choice, subject to
instructor’s approval. You may select a company where you
have been employed or hope to be employed, if it is publicly
traded.
Some helpful suggestions:
You can access information through NCC’s library. Go to
www.ncc.edu and click on Library. You will need your N # to
gain access to the databases from a computer off campus. Some
especially useful databases are available through the library’s
website, including LexisNexis and InfoTrac General Onefile for
the articles and for the company profile Business Insights:
Global or Business Source Complete.
You can do an Internet search for the company’s website,
follow the company’s stock price, and also find company
profiles on the Internet. Some suggested sites to help you with
the company profile or to follow the stock prices are:
www.cnnmoney.com
www.hoovers.com
www.fortune.com/fortune/companies
www.finance.yahoo.com
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to see me.
BUS110

7. Prof. Teubner
Company Research Report and Presentation Project
Part 6: Company Profile (5 points)
Objective: To practice researching and gathering business
information.
This assignment will be collected at the start of class on
_____________. You are required to cite the source of the
information. Papers submitted without sources will not be
graded. All work must be typed.
Choose any company with publically traded stock and answer
the following questions.
1.
Name of the Corporation and stock (ticker) symbol:
__________________________________
2.
Address of Corporate Headquarters:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

8. _______________________________________________
3.
Name of Principal Officers:
3a.
Chairman of the Board of Directors:
_____________________________________________________
_____________
3b.
President or Chief Executive Office:
_____________________________________________________
_____________
4.
Type of Industry:
_____________________________________________________
_____________
5.
Description of the major goods and services the Corporation
produces:
_____________________________________________________
_____________

9. _____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
6.
Major subsidiaries the Corporation owns:
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
7.
What overseas (international) operations does it have?
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________

10. 8.
Corporate financial history for the past three years: (Go to
yahoofinance.com and type in the name of your company or go
to the library database Business Insights: Global or Business
Source Complete.
Year:
200_
200_
200_
Revenue/Sales
Total Expenses*
Net Profit (Income)
Earnings per share
Dividends/share
Total Assets
Total Liabilities

11. * Total revenue minus net income equals total expenses
9.
Outlook for the Corporation as described by an independent
Investment Service (financial service). Hint: Go to the
Business Insights: Global or Business Source Complete
database, type in the name of the company. What is the
recommendation to investors regarding the purchase/sale of the
company’s stock?
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________
10.
In the past year, what was the:
a. Highest price per share of common stock?
__________________
b. Lowest price per share of common stock?
__________________

12. c. Last (closing) price per share of common stock on the most
recent date:
Price: ________ Date: ________
PAGE
6
SUPERIOR SODAS . . . AND MORE!
Superior Sodas
has more than 20 years of experience in the vending industry. Y
ou can count on
us to help keep your employees happy, satisfied and focused on
their jobs. The best part? It
won’t cost you anything!
How much does it cost to install a beverage machine at my work
place?
Almost nothing! If you have 50 or more employees, we’ll install
and stock a beverage machine
for $20 a month
. You can choose which beverage products you want. We have a
ll the best
brands in sodas, juice drinks and sports drinks—even water!
If you have fewer than 50 employees, we will install and stock a
machine for only $50.00 a
month, provided you guarantee minimum sales of $200.00 a mo
nth. If sales fall below $200.00
a month, the monthly fee for installation and stocking is $250.0
0 a month.

13. Sounds great! How much will it cost my employees?
Each beverage costs only $1.50, comparable to the cost at any c
onvenience store.
Can I get a vending machine that sells snacks?
Of course! For only $95.00 a month, we will supply a vending
machine and restock it weekly for
you. Unfortunately, we are not able to install snack machines at
workplaces with fewer than 50
employees.
How much do the snacks cost my employees?
We guarantee the freshness of our snacks, so they need to be rep
laced regularly. Nobody likes
a stale snack! Snacks cost $1.25 a piece.
What kinds of snacks are available?
We offer the best in brand-name candy, chips and dried meat sn
acks.
Is it possible to lease a machine from Superior Sodas and supply
the product ourselves?
Yes! Superior Sodas has a select number of pre-owned vending
snack machines available, which
you can lease from us for only $225.00 a month. Snacks must be
purchased from Superior
Sodas ($0.95 per snack), and you stock the machine. The snacks
will cost your employees $1.50
per snack, and you keep all the profits! You can even change th
e price!
SUPERIOR SODAS … AND MORE! CALL 1-866-SUPERPOP
TODAY!

14. © Copyright 2016 College for America at Southern New Hamps
hire University. All rights reserved.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/590/1/
http://cfaresources.s3.amazonaws.com/AA%20General%20Studi
es/AA%20Revisions%202016/Leverage%20Business%20Tools/
BytheNumbers-
CellReferencesFormulasandFunctionsinGoogleSpreadsheets.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-fRzqnu3BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6MmdLR3VK0
Mind Your Business
Status:Scheduled
COMPETENCIES TO MASTER
· Can use logic, reasoning and analysis to address a business
problem
· Can locate and use information in basic business documents,
such as manuals and reports
· Can use a spreadsheet to perform a variety of calculations
· Can write a business memo
· Can use appropriate language, tone and word choice for the
target audience
· Can generate a variety of approaches to addressing a problem

15. Overview
You work for Winnie Widget, the president of Acme Widget
Company. Acme is a small but growing company that has 26
current employees. The company is housed in an old factory
building with several other small- and medium-sized companies.
The area around Acme is very industrial and there are not many
places to eat nearby. A number of employees have asked Ms.
Widget to install vending machines in the office. Ms. Widget
wants to keep employees happy but also wants to keep costs
low. She needs your help. She has asked you to analyze the
situation using a spreadsheet and to write up a memo in which
you present the options and make a recommendation.
Directions
Part 1: Spreadsheet
Begin by consulting the relevant documents in the Project
resources, including the employee survey and the brochures
from two vending companies. Define the problem as precisely
as you can and formulate the question you want to answer.
Then, brainstorm possible solutions to the problem.
Next, complete the Spreadsheet in the Project resources to guide
your analysis of the problem and possible solutions. Your
spreadsheet should include:
· the number of employees who want each machine.
· the average purchases per day for those who responded “Yes.”
· the monthly costs to Acme for each option.
· the monthly cost for employees for each option.
· the total monthly cost (Acme cost + employee cost) for each
option.
Use the spreadsheet to perform the required calculations. Do not
perform calculations yourself (on paper, with a calculator, etc.).
Make sure to use the following formulas and functions at least
once:
· SUM
· AVERAGE
· PRODUCT or multiplication
· QUOTIENT or division

16. · COUNTIF or COUNTA
· IF
After you have finished the spreadsheet, answer the following
questions, which are included at the bottom of the spreadsheet:
· Why is it useful to use formulas in this scenario?
· Which formula did you find most useful or hardest to use, and
why?
This spreadsheet will be submitted as one of two deliverables
for this Project.
Part 2: Memo
Flesh out the details of your top three solutions that you think
you will present in your memo. Note the advantages and
drawbacks associated with each solution. Remember there are
nonmonetary considerations as well. You can certainly use your
own real-world knowledge in coming up with solutions, but be
sure to work within the framework of the information provided.
Analyze your top three solutions, and decide which one is best
and the key reasons why. Then, write a business memo to
Winnie Widget. Your memo should:
· briefly explain the situation.
· explain three feasible solutions.
· identify the best solution and explain why it is best.
· be written in standard format (see the Business Memo Purpose
and Format resource in the Project resources).
· use appropriate language for its purpose (see Audience and
Purpose resource in the Project resource).
· be free of spelling and grammar mistakes.
DELIVERABLES
· Completed Spreadsheet
Accepted File Types: .xls, .xlsx
· Business Memo
Accepted File Types: .doc, .docx, .odt, .rtf, .txt, .pdf
Project Resources
These are links to public external resources. Any comments or
statements made on these public websites are not representative

17. of College for America.
Spreadsheet
This resource contains the Acme Widget Company Employee
Survey Results. Review the spreadsheet, explore the remaining
Project resources, then complete the spreadsheet. Submit it as a
deliverable for this Project.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Superior Sodas and More Brochure
Review this resource, which contains the brochure for Superior
Sodas and More.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Vendor Queen Bruchure
Review this resource, which contains the brochure for Vendor
Queen.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Cell References, Formulas and Functions in Google
Spreadsheets
Read this document, which explains the formulas you will need
to utilize in the spreadsheet for this Project.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Business Memo Purpose and Format
Review this document, which contains the purpose of a memo,
as well as instructions for appropriate formatting.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Creating Simple Formulas in Google Spreadsheet
Watch this video, which explains how to add, subtract, multiply
and divide using Google Sheets.
Note: The formulas operate similarly in Excel.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Creating Complex Formulas in Google Spreadsheets
Watch this video, which explains how to perform more complex
calculations that require more than one type of operation using
Google Sheets.
Note: The functions operate similarly in Excel.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Audience and Purpose

18. Read this article, which describes the purpose of a memo and
writing appropriately to an audience.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Sample Memo
Review this resource, which contains a sample business memo.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Skill-Building Resources
These are links to public external resources. Any comments or
statements made on these public websites are not representative
of College for America.
CfA Citation Guide
This resource helps to explain how citations should be used in
CfA Projects including formatting guidelines and where to get
help.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Goal Question and Answer Sessions
Read this document to learn how to join a live question and
answer session about this Goal hosted by a College for America
Goal Mentor.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Introduction to Google Sheets: Video Collection
Review these videos for an introduction to using Google
Sheets.
This is a SNHU Library resource. Consult the SNHU Library
Resource Guide in Project resources for instructions on how to
access SNHU Library resources.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Cell References, Formulas and Functions in Google Sheets
Read this document, which explains how to use functions,
formulas and cell references in Google Sheets.
VIEWADD TO LIST
SNHU Library Resource Guide
Use this resource to learn how to access SNHU Library
resources from within CfA projects.
VIEWADD TO LIST
APA Citation Question and Answer Sessions

19. Read this document to learn how to join a live question and
answer session about citing information in APA format hosted
by a College for America Goal Mentor.
VIEWADD TO LIST
Rubric
The Rubric is used to evaluate your Project. Satisfying all of the
Rubric criteria shows that you have mastered the project and the
relevant competencies.
Criteria
Mastery?
Relevant information from the business documents has been
identified and entered correctly into the spreadsheet
Yes
Not Yet
Spreadsheet uses all required formulas appropriately and cell
references wherever possible
Yes
Not Yet
All calculations are correct and use formulas
Yes
Not Yet
Memo identifies problem accurately
Yes
Not Yet
Memo contains an accurate analysis of the problem
Yes
Not Yet
Memo includes three feasible solutions to the problem
Yes
Not Yet
Analysis of problem and possible solutions is supported with
evidence
Yes
Not Yet
Memo follows standard business memo format, with an
introduction, body and closing

20. Yes
Not Yet
Memo uses appropriate language, tone and word choice for
target audience
Yes
Not Yet
Writing is clear, with no major errors
Yes
Not Yet
Any sources of information are cited using APA format, with no
major errors
Yes
Not Yet
Business Memo Purpose and Format
Purpose
A business memo generally responds to a concern or issue. It is
a formal piece of writing that is
considered an official document. It is important to consider audi
ence and purpose when writing
a memo.
Format

21. A business memo generally has three main parts:
1. The Heading
The heading has a very specific format, which includes the follo
wing headings:
To:
From:
Date:
Re: (the subject of the memo)
2. The Main Body
This is where you introduce the issue, state the purpose and add
ress the key concerns
or details of the memo. The structure of the body should be writ
ten like an essay.
3. The Closing
The closing contains the recommended action based on the issue
s or concern.
Other Additions
●
You may also include supporting documentation such as a graph

22. or chart.
● Business memos sometimes end with a signature, but it is not
necessary to include one
for this Project.
© Copyright 2016 College for America at Southern New Hamps
hire University. All rights reserved.
Sheet1ACME WIDGET EMPLOYEE SURVEYEmployeeSoda
machineSodas per weekSnack machineSnacks per
weekCommentsBarry BondsnonoCelia Cruzyes5yes1Felix
FrankfurternonoIzzy Isaacsyes10noLisa Lingnoyes3bring my
lunchMary Martinyes1norefrigeratorNick NoltenonoRobin
RobertsnonocoffeemakerTom Thompsonyes5noUrsula
Uptonyes4no00Winnie Widgetnono00Zinnia
ZinnnonorefrigeratorAmy Adamsyes10yes4Doris
Daynoyes5refrigerator00Emilio Estavezyes5yes200George
Garcianoyes3Henry Higginsyes2yes4Janet Jacksonnono00Kevin
Klinenoyes300Ophelia O'Brianyes3yes2Paula
Poundstoneyes3yes5Quenella Quincyyes10yes6Sylvester
Strangeyes2yes7Vince Vaughanyes6yes5coffeemakerXavier
Xerxesyes1yes5Yolanda Youngyes8yes5Total number of
employees who want soda machine:Average sodas per week for
"yes" answers:Total number of employees who want snack
machine:Average snacks per week for "yes" answers:Total
number of sodas per weekTotal number of snacks per
weekConstantsNumber of work weeks per month4Average
number of sodas per "yes" employee per monthAverage number
of snacks per "yes" employee per monthTotal number of snacks
per monthTotal number of sodas per monthVendor
QueenSodasSnacksCosts for AcmeCosts for
AcmeInstallmentInstallmentCost per drink (for Acme)Cost per
snack (for Acme)Total cost per monthTotal cost per monthCosts

23. for "yes" employeesCosts for "yes" employeesCost per
drinkCost per snackAverage cost per employee per
monthAverage cost per employee per monthTotal cost to
employees per monthTotal cost to employees per monthSuperior
Sodas and More (less than 50)SodasSnacksCost for AcmeCost
for AcmeInstallmentInstallmentCost per drink (for Acme)Cost
per snacks (for Acme)Costs of snack per monthTotal cost per
monthIncome per snackTotal monthly income from snack
salesTotal cost per month (installment + costs of snacks per
month - total monthly income from snack sales)Costs for "yes"
employeesCosts for "yes" employeesCost per drinkCost per
snackAverage cost per employee per monthAverage cost per
employee per monthTotal cost to employees per monthTotal
cost to employees per monthSuperior Sodas and More (more
than 50)SodasSnacksCost for AcmeCost for
AcmeInstallmentInstallmentCost per drink (for Acme)Cost per
snack (for Acme)Total cost per monthTotal cost per monthCosts
for "yes" employeesCosts per "yes" employeesCost per
drinkCost per snackAverage cost per employee per
monthAverage cost per employee per monthTotal cost per
monthTotal cost per month1. Why is it useful to use formulas in
this situation?2. Which formula did you find hardest to use and
why? Which was most useful and why?© Copyright 2016
College for America at Southern New Hampshire University.
All rights reserved.