Innovation Options with Greater Financial Benefit

MBA 580 Module Two Report Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

You work as a middle manager for one of the top U.S. producers of luxury and mass-market automobiles and trucks. The company from the course scenario has decided to incorporate internet of things (IoT) technology in its vehicles (also called connected cars). Often organizations have to choose from multiple innovative implementation options. The choice is usually determined by many factors including the financial viability of each idea. In this assignment, you will compare the financial benefits for two innovation options and create data visualizations to help determine the option with greater financial benefit. This assignment will help you make a recommendation for one of the two options in Milestone One.

Prompt

Create a series of charts in an Excel spreadsheet and a memo that compares the financial benefits of options A and B. The charts in your spreadsheet should include a comparison of financial forecasts from both innovation options (discontinuous and incremental). You should create the charts using the data in this Sales Forecast. Make sure to add titles to all your charts so you can clearly reference them in your memo. Consider the following points:

Create a chart for sales forecast data.

Graph sales forecast data for total sales for options A and B on a three-dimensional stacked column chart.

Each column should show traditional sales on the bottom and connected sales on the top.

Both options may appear on the same three-dimensional chart, or you can make a separate chart for each option.

Create a chart for gross margin forecast data.

Graph gross margin forecast data for total sales for options A and B on a three-dimensional stacked column chart.

Each column should show traditional sales on the bottom and connected sales on the top.

Both options may appear on the same three-dimensional chart, or you can make a separate chart for each option.

Create a chart for gross margin less R&D and capital costs calculations.

Calculate gross margin less R&D and capital costs for options A and B.

Graph total gross margin less R&D and capital costs forecasts to compare options A and B on a line chart.

Both options should appear on the same chart.

Explain any conclusions you can draw from your data visualizations.

Review the charts and discuss any conclusions you can make from those data visualizations.

Explain whether option A or option B will provide your company the most financial benefit. You should reference your data visualizations to justify your explanation and conclusions.

What to Submit

Submit an Excel document with all your charts.

Submit a ½- to 1-page Word document with 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. If you include references, they should be cited according to APA style. Consult the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.

Module Two Report Rubric

Criteria Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Visualize Sales Forecast Data Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Creates three-dimensional stacked column chart visualization(s) for sales forecast data for two innovation options Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include creating a stacked column chart and not just a column chart Does not attempt criterion 15

Visualize Gross Margin Forecast Data Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Creates three-dimensional stacked column chart visualization(s) for gross margin forecast for two innovation options Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include using data for both innovation options in the stacked column chart visualization(s) Does not attempt criterion 15

Visualize Calculations Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Creates a line chart for the specified calculations Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include correctly calculating gross margin less R&D and capital costs that were used in line chart Does not attempt criterion 15

Conclusions from Data Visualizations Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Explains any conclusions you can draw from your data visualizations and identification of innovation option with the greatest financial benefit Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include referencing visualizations in justifications of conclusions Does not attempt criterion 40

Articulation of Response Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Clearly conveys meaning with correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, demonstrating an understanding of audience and purpose Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, negatively impacting readability Submission has critical errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, preventing understanding of ideas 15

Total: 100%