Current Events Assignment –  Principles of Marketing
 
It is very important for people to know and understand the events that are happening across the globe. This assignment is designed to have you read one article from a newspaper, magazine, or web site and to analyze those articles.  Forbes.com and Mashable.com are good websites, but you can also search the web for news regarding a marketing topic from our book.  Articles should pertain to events happening in our world today, such as something you see in the news.  Do not pick an educational article that gives advice, as this is not a current event.  If you would like to double check that your article is appropriate, you may email a link to the article (this is not required) no later than 48 hours before the due date.  Make sure you include which chapter and topic apply to the article.
This assignment should be typed, but you may use the format on this page.  Make sure you use the headings (Topic, Title, Article Source….), not just numbers.  Paragraph form is not necessary.  This assignment is worth 100 points.  Please email me with any questions.
You are to include the following criteria in your assignment (notice criteria continue on second page):

1. Topic: 10 points
   1. What is the topic of your article?
   2. What chapter AND subject content in our book does it relate to?  If the topic does not correlate with the chapter and subject you state, you will receive zero points.
2. Title:  5 points
   1. What is the title of your article?  Use exact wording.
3.  Article Source:  10 points
   1. Where did you find the article?  Be specific. Insert link to article.
   2. What date was the article published?
4.  Summary:  25 points
   1. Briefly, in your own words, summarize the content of the article.
   2. Five sentence minimum
5.  Reaction:  20 points
   1. Take a position on the issue contained in the article.

1. How do you feel about the event?
2. How does this event affect you? If the event does not affect you, choose another article.

• Four sentence minimum

1.  World Impact:  15 points
   1. How does this event impact the world?
   2. Three sentence minimum
2. Grammar/Spelling:  15 points

 
This is an example of a current event assignment from a different course, but it is a good guide as far as formatting goes!
Current Events Assignment #1
BADM 105: General Business Administration

8. Topic:
   1. The topic of this article is entrepreneurship.
   2. This topic is discussed in Chapter 6, Starting Your Own Business: The Entrepreneurship
9. Title
   1. “Fiji Water’s David Gilmour Takes Aim At New Start Up”
10. Article Source:
    1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2013/02/13/fiji-waters-david-gilmour-takes-aim-at-new-start-up/ (Forbes.com)
    2. February 13, 2013
11. Summary:
    1. David Gilmour is a serial entrepreneur that has founded over twelve companies. His Fiji water is the number one imported water in the United States.  In 1969, he opened the first of many South Pacific Hotels. His latest start up is Wakaya Perfection, which is a powdered ginger product.  The product is made on his private island in Fiji.
12. Reaction: 
    1. Take a position on the issue contained in the article.
       1. How do you feel about the event? I am impressed that David Gilmour has been and continues to be successful at 81 years-old.  The article explains that Mr. Gilmour has worked hard to achieve his current success.  He is the perfect example of a serial entrepreneur.
       2. How does this event affect you? Knowing how important entrepreneurship is to our nation’s economy, this article reminds me that although many start-ups fail, many do succeed.  Mr. Gilmour’s story reminds me that hard work and calculated risk-taking can pay off in the long run.  This article makes me think harder about my quest to be a successful entrepreneur in the field of facial products.
    2. World Impact: 
       1. Gilmour has started businesses in many different countries. His ventures have impacted the global economy, and his products and services continue to enhance consumers and businesses.  His new ginger powder product is already being sold on Amazon.

Competitive Analysis 
For this project you need to analyze SalesForces and two of its main competitors (Microsoft Dynamics and Sugar CRM) by evaluatingall three companies’:

• strengths and weaknesses
• product and services
• pricing strategies
• targeted costumers
• competitive advantage
• Features

This assessment should provide you with necessary information to answer objections by potential buyers concerning SalesForce’s competitors.
This paper needs to be 2-3 pages in length, typed in a chart format and minimum of 15 criteria need to be evaluated. Brief description of each criteria is required.
Please provide proper citation.
Refer to the syllabus for the due date.
 
Example:

Business MEMO 
lease write the memo to answer the question that : What financial statement adjustments will Spartan Automotive need to make to their March 31 balance sheet and income statement if the Spartan Automotive Board of Directors gives her the go-ahead to make and announce these changes right away (please identify and quantify these items and explain the GAAP conceptual guidance that requires these adjustments )? The background is in the file I upload! Please write the case carefully.

Discuss the Impact of Social Media in Business