ASSIGNMENT
Goal: Conduct/construct an experiential evaluation/assessment of the business model of your
organization (or one with which you are closely familiar) using the business model canvas and related
text.
Introduction: Managers who want to improve the effectiveness of their business model and
organization, as well as to increase their own ability to manage, use diagnostics/assessments to
determine the reality of business effectiveness in comparison to what they originally envisioned. Good
feedback contributes to the development of plans to improve business/organizational effectiveness
and management performance.
Instructions: Students will write a 2500-3000 word (about 10 pages in the main body) properly
formatted APA paper (including a title page and references page, but no abstract) that
evaluates/assesses the overall effectiveness of the business model used by your organization. This is
the third of three assignments that draws from your association with your organization. The previous
two “canvas” assignments flow into this one. Identify one or more of the building blocks from the
business model canvas where modification should be recommended. Be careful to avoid bias in
determining the issue/problem identified by using the canvas. Do not merely critique, but contribute to
your organization’s overall success. This paper should be the culmination of the overall work you have
done with the business model canvas so that all the pieces go together.
Your final paper should include:
Your business model canvas – Post-It notes discussion/observations (week 2)—summarize this
area, but provide the initial canvas.
Identification of theoretical/behavioral trends that you observe in the business model and
organization (week 5)—summarize this, do not merely cut and paste.
Discussion of appropriate theory, metaphors, and frames with which to describe your business
model in operation, as well as to identify areas needing improvement and how to get there.
Use of the Osterwalder/Pigneur text to evaluate and diagnose your organization’s business
model, as well as an integration of the course materials into your writing and consideration.
Recommendations for improvements identified using the canvas, theories, and assessment
tools used in this course. What are the expected outcomes.
Use eight scholarly sources besides our textbook (especially case studies) to undergird your
assertions from peer-reviewed literature.
Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the assignment specs and ask questions if you are unsure
of expectations.
The paper must have at least eight additional scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook. No
abstract is necessary, but a title page and references page should be included. Write your paper in
third person, even though you are writing about an organization that you are familiar with. To do this,
write from the perspective of a scholar who observes and researches about the case. Therefore, first
person should be avoided.
Upload your paper (.doc) in the assignment section for grading. Follow the Submissions Guidelines as
listed in the Syllabus: The various assignments for this course should be submitted as Word.doc
attachments in the Assignment section of our virtual classroom. Do not use macros or automatic
referencing in your papers for this course. The auto features usually cause unforeseen problems in
format. Plus, part of the evaluation of this paper involves your ability to write using the essentials of
the APA style format. Each file OF YOUR WORK should be named in the following manner: Last name–
truncated Week Number-Assignment name (abbreviated if necessary)
