How many employees has the business laid off or furloughed?
Business news discussion #2—complete instructions
In this second business news discussion, instead of researching an article in the news media, you will be the reporter, reporting on how a small, local business has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
(1) Select a local small business1 that you know well. You might choose a business of which you are a customer, an employee, and/or a neighbor. Or you might choose a business owned by you, a friend, or a family member, or a business that employs a friend or family member. In any case, it should be a business already known to you. (2) Answer the questions below. Post your report, along with a link to the company’s website or social media presence, and any photos, no later than 11:59pm on Thursday, July 30th. (3) Comment on at least two of your group-mates’ posts; in your comments, please offer your opinions on the company’s strategy and its response to current events, and indicate whether or not you believe the company is moving in the right direction. Post comments no later than 11:59pm on Saturday, August 1st.
Each student in your group should analyze a different type of business. So, for example, if your first two groupmates have selected a restaurant and a barber shop, you might select a yoga studio or a day care or a car repair shop or a home contractor, etc. PRO TIP: Use the Announcements function in your Group area to let your group-mates know which company you plan to analyze and where it is located, along with a brief description. Remember that each group member must analyze a different type of business. The rule is first-come, first-served, so as soon as you identify a business, let your group-mates know via an announcement.
For your chosen company, answer the following questions. 1. Name of the company, location, and line of business. How does the company make money? 2. How has the company responded to the coronavirus pandemic and/or the Black Lives Matter protests? Refer to information posted on the company’s website or social media page, or posted on its door or window. If you are the business owner or an employee, please speak from personal experience. If you know an employee or the owner, interview them, if possible, for this assignment. PRO TIP: Be specific. The topics you address may include: Exactly how is their business affected, and how, if at all, have they strengthened their social responsibility initiatives? Are they completely closed, have they modified their operations, or are they open as usual? Has their revenue declined—or has it increased? How many employees has the business laid off or furloughed? How are their customers responding? If they are closed, when do they expect to re-open? 3. Suppose the owner asks you for suggestions on how to respond to the current situation. What would you advise the company to do, that it’s not already doing? Be creative! 4. Finally, provide your opinion on what you think the next 6 months will hold for this company. In the long run, will this company survive? Why or why not?
For full credit, Be sure to include a link to the company’s website or social media page. If possible share a photo of the business, showing any notices posted on the door or window that explain the company’s situation. Type or paste your analysis directly into the discussion reply box; no attachments please.
1 Chapter 5 defines a small business as “any independently owned and operated business that is not dominant in its competitive area and does not employ more than 500 people.” The ideal companies for this assignment will be sole proprietorships or closely-held corporations with no more than a few locations (all in the same geographic region) and, in most cases, no more than 50 employees. If you’re not sure whether a specific company qualifies, please ask!
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