Assignment: Business Brief: Custom Molds, Inc.

Purpose To assess your ability to • Analyze the major issues facing a company. • Analyze the competitive priorities for the company’s processes and the changing nature of the industry. • Recommend alternative approaches that could be pursued and the factors that should be considered when evaluating the alternatives. • Create a flowchart that represents the operations of the company. • Integrate established operation management principles into the discussion. • Write a business report based on 5-step critical thinking decision making model. Action Items 1. Review the Brief Rubric – Custom Molds. 2. Read the Custom Molds, Inc. case at the end of Chapter 2. Case Background: You work for an outside consultant hired by the company. The partners (i.e., Tom and Mason Miller) have asked you to provide an analysis of this problem and make a recommendation. 3. Download the 5-Step Critical-Thinking Decision-Making Model. a. Complete Step 1: Identify the problem(s) and uncertainties based on the assigned problem. b. Complete Step 2: Obtain Information. i. Create a flowchart that represents the operations at Custom Mold. ii. Obtain information addressing the problem(s) from Step 1 and the following: 1. What are the major issues facing Tom and Mason Miller? 2. What are the competitive priorities for Custom Molds’ processes and the changing nature of the industry? 3. What alternatives might the Millers pursue? 4. What are the key factors they should consider as they evaluate these alternatives? c. Complete Step 3: Make predictions about the future on the matrix. d. Complete Step 4: Make decisions by choosing among the alternatives on the matrix. 4. Review the Business Brief Guidelines and Sample Business Brief for correct MBA Business Brief formatting. 5. In MBA Business Brief format, write a one-page analysis incorporating the following: a. Business Brief header – The first half of opening paragraph is to provide a synopsis of the company. The second half of the opening paragraph is state the problem (From Step 1 of the model). b. Analysis header – The analytical section should be based on your personal assessment of the information you obtained from Steps 2 and 3 of the model. Provide only key relevant information and logical discussion in support of your findings. c. Conclusion header – This section should state your recommendation based on your analysis of the case information and situation outcome. (From Step 4 of the model). Your recommendation should be supported by your analysis section. d. APA citation(s) and reference(s). Note: You are expected to compose your Business Brief utilizing the concepts learned in MBA 707. Specifically, Chapters 4, 5, and 6 from the textbook: Bovee, C., & Thill, J. (2015). Business Communication Today (13th ed.). Bullet points and direct quotes are not to be used. 6. Check your writing style by using Grammarly and correct your business brief as needed. 7. Submit your Business Brief to turnitin.com. a. Read the Originality Report you receive from turnitin.com. b. Make any modifications as needed to your Business Brief. This may include adding proper citations or better paraphrasing. 8. Attach the following appendices to your paper: a. Appendix A: Flowchart of Custom Molds’ operations. b. Appendix B: Completed 5-Step Critical Thinking Decision Making Model. c. Appendix C: Grading Rubric for the assignment.