At the end of Chapter 1, please read the Craft Originalities Case Study and respond to all three of the case questions.
For each Discussion, you will post one thread of at least 800 words. For each thread, you must support your assertions with at least 5 scholarly peer-reviewed sources in the current APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. The main post and replies must contain biblical integration. The Bible must be cited to support your assertions regarding biblical integration and be included in references in addition the number of required scholarly peer-reviewed sources.
Please do not use AI as this will be run through AI detection
Background
This assignment invites you to explore real-world small businesses, think critically about their operations, and reflect on how small businesses shape our economy and communities. You will:
Analyze real small business models
Apply strategic thinking to one case
Reflect on the broader role and future of small businesses.
Read each of the descriptions of businesses below:
Lilas Custom Cakes
Lila runs a small bakery from her home kitchen, creating custom cakes for birthdays, weddings, and local events. She takes orders through social media and delivers locally.
Green Edge Landscaping
Owned by brothers Marcus and Troy, this landscaping company offers lawn care, garden design, and seasonal clean-up services. Most of their clients are local homeowners and small businesses.
Thread & Co.
Maya launched this online clothing store during college. She designs and sells eco-friendly t-shirts and hoodies made from recycled materials. Her brand focuses on sustainability and comfort.
Wag-On-The-Go
Samantha owns a mobile dog grooming van that visits clients at their homes. Her services include baths, trims, and nail clipping. Her flexible hours and personal service attract busy pet owners.
NextGen Game Lounge
This startup-style business is a small gaming caf where people can play console and PC games by the hour. It also hosts weekend tournaments and gaming nights for local teens and young adults.
Boxed & Bright
A small subscription box company run by two friends who curate monthly wellness boxes filled with candles, snacks, journals, and self-care items. They ship across the country from their garage.
For this assignment, please craft a professional reflection that addresses the following questions.
Part I Business Snapshots (Brief Comparative Analysis)
Review the six business profiles. For each, answer the following in 23 sentences per question:
Is this a product or service businessor both?
What is one advantage the owner might enjoy as a small business?
What is one challenge the owner might face?
Part II Focus Case: Choose One Business
Choose one business from the list above and write a short case analysis (approx. 1 page). Include:
What makes this business stand out (its value proposition)?
What problem does it solve for customers?
Whats one ethical, operational, or growth-related decision the owner might face?
Suggest one smart strategy this owner could try next.
Part III Final Reflection: Why Small Business Matters
In one well-organized paragraph (approx. page), reflect on:
Why are small businesses important to local communities and the economy?
How do you think small business and entrepreneurship will evolve in the next 10 years?
Submission Details
Length: 23 full pages (not including optional title page)
Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point
Spacing: Double-spaced
Margins: 1 inch on all sides
Headings: Label each part clearly (Part I, Part II, Part III)
At the end of Chapter 1, please read the Craft Originalities Case Study and respond to all three of the case questions.
For each Discussion, you will post one thread of at least 800 words. For each thread, you must support your assertions with at least 5 scholarly peer-reviewed sources in the current APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. The main post and replies must contain biblical integration. The Bible must be cited to support your assertions regarding biblical integration and be included in references in addition the number of required scholarly peer-reviewed sources.
Our business is aiming to reach the $1M annual revenue milestone, but we are concerned that our current processes are too manual and “founder-dependent” to sustain that volume.
I am looking for a comprehensive breakdown of how to scale without compromising profit margins. Specifically, please address:
Operational Bottlenecks: How to identify which workflows will break first under increased load.
Automation & Systems: Strategies for implementing SOPs and software to replace manual tasks.
Unit Economics: Ensuring our Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) remains sustainable as we scale.
Resource Allocation: Deciding when to hire “force-multiplier” talent versus investing in technology.
The goal is a roadmap that balances aggressive growth with lean operations.
Please write a detailed report on the topic listed below.
Topic: The Mississippi state is rated as being number 1 among all 50 states with the highest percentage of its population (19.1% in 2022) living below the poverty line. Also, the state of Mississippi has the 11th highest number of students enrolled in Head Start programs.
Is there a relationship between poverty and head start enrollment? If we take Thomas Sowells statement, There are no solutions, only tradeoffs,” whats the tradeoff if we seek a solution to poverty?
Note: Your answer should be a minimum of 5-6 pages in total and include a minimum of 4-5 references. APA format, and no plagiarism or AI content is allowed.
Note:
Content should be clear, concise, and understandable in APA format
No plagiarism or AI content is allowed.
Please follow the minimum number of pages and include a minimum number of references.
Check for any grammatical errors and sentence structure.
The Assignment must be submitted only in WORD format via allocated folder. Assignments submitted through email will not be accepted. Students are advised to make their work clear and well presented, marks may be reduced for poor presentation. This includes filling your information on the cover page. Students must mention question number clearly in their answer. Late submission will NOT be accepted. Avoid plagiarism, the work should be in your own words, copying from students or other resources without proper referencing will result in ZERO marks. No exceptions. All answered must be typed using Times New Roman (size 12, double-spaced) font. No pictures containing text will be accepted and will be considered plagiarism). Submissions without this cover page will NOT be accepted. ASSIGNMENT-2
Throughout this course, you will be working with an organization that has global business operations. In this assignment, you will select that organization and gather foundational information about it, including history, industry, and resources for future research. You will use the information gathered here for your Wk 2 Summative Assessment: Business Administration Outline.
Assignment Preparation
Visit the page from the University Library. Use the resources provided in the Finding a SWOT Analysis information box to look for a global organization with a SWOT analysis published within the last two years. Select the global organization that will serve as the focus of your assignments throughout the course.
Assignment Deliverable
Create a basic chart or outline in which you convey the following information about the organization or company you selected:
Organization Overview
Provide the name of the organization.
Identify the industry in which the organization operates.
Provide a brief history of the organization, including at least 3 key milestones.
Identify the mission and vision of the organization.
Research Resources
List at least 3 resources where you can locate company information in future weeks. These may include:
Company websites or official reports
Databases listed in the University Library
Journals, articles, or interviews about the companys leadership model, demographics, or use of technology
Competitive Landscape and Opportunity
List at least 2 other companies or organizations in the same industry.
AI-Driven Research and Resources
Identify 3 AI tools or platforms (e.g., natural language processing tools, predictive analytics platforms, or AI-driven market research platforms) you could use to gather insights about the organization in future weeks.
Explain how each identified tool might enhance your understanding of the companys leadership model, demographics, or use of technology.
Cite any sources used according to APA guidelines.
Explain how technology positively and negatively impacted communication in the workplace?
Discussion Rules: Your initial post should be done by the Thur of this week at least a paragraph in length if not longer. And please respond to four classmates by Sunday Midnight to receive full credit your response should be at least a paragraph in length (meaning at least 5 sentences)
Technology has been impactful in transforming workplace communication, both positively and negatively. One of the positives is that technology has enhanced instant communication regardless of the location through tools such as Zoom, Slack, or Microsoft Teams (Hall, 2025). As a result, remote work has been enhanced, improving collaboration across departments. It has been easier to share files, stay connected, and hold virtual meetings, which have boosted productivity and flexibility in the workplace. All the same, despite the positives, technology has some negative impacts. For instance, employees may become overwhelmed and have reduced focus due to information overload through receiving too many messages, emails, or notifications. In addition, communicating digitally may lack body language and tone, which are important in enhancing interpretations and understanding.
References
Hall S. (2025). The impact of technology on business communication. Cambridge Advance Online.
Mar 28 5:31pm| Last reply Mar 28 7:34pm
Reply from Sabrina-Amorette Burton
Technology has numerous positive impacts on communication in the workplace. It has made communication, more efficient and faster through things like emails and IM messages. Due to this there has been an high uptick in the ability to network with people across the world. For me personal as I Work from home most all my communication is done via IM, E-mails, or company wide e-mails. It has left a void for face to face connection and lack of a sense of camaraderie for coworkers outside my immediate circle. Sometimes there can be a misunderstanding causing a disconnect on projects or assignments.
NZ
Mar 28 2:26pm
Reply from Naheth Zora
Technology has help shape the average workplace in many ways when it comes to communication. In terms of benefits, technology has allowed employees, supervisors, managers, and even customers to effectively communicate simultaneously regardless of distance, time, and location. The various technological advancements in cellular devices, apps, social media platforms, etc. have positively opened new doors to an easier way of communicating between company/business workers while also providing a means of various creative online workspaces where tasks and meetings or arrangements could be executed instantly. Although, despite the ease and effectiveness that technology has provided to all workplaces, many employees and managers have been caught abusing the benefits in ways where technology is actually seen as negatively impacting communication. In many circumstances, more gossip and insulting speech has been exchanged through these advanced online workspaces, which has negatively affected many workers’ emotional and mental states. Technology has also damaged people’s abilities to effectively communicate in person as they often grow to become very antisocial and comfortable with confrontation only through their screens.
WP
Mar 28 11:46am| Last reply Mar 28 2:26pm
Reply from Wafaa Polus
Technology has both, positive and negative, impact on communication at workplace. On positive side it has improved efficiency and speed of communication at workplace. Digital tools like mobile, and laptops made instant communication possible even when there is geographical gap between two parties. Cost of paperwork, mailbox expenses, and manual recording all have been eliminated and there is cost efficiency now. Tools like Zoom and Slack has allowed for instant collaboration and made it possible to communicate with people who are anywhere in the globe. Now there are virtual teams who regularly meet and discuss things by locating at different places.
On negative side, it has reduced social cohesion which was main benefit of face-to-face and personal communication. It also does not support non-verbal communication like the personal communication does. There are problems of information overload and digital fatigue because of high volume of digital communication.
Identify two of French and Ravens bases of power in the case study, and explain how leaders can use these bases of power to exert influence.
Explain how you might use your knowledge of French and Ravens theory to resolve one of the problems presented in the case study. Justify your response.