Purpose 

In this project, you will be organizing human capital. Drawing from the course material, you will

• Use the course material through week 7 and your research to complete Phase 3 of the Strategy Analysis.
• Learn and apply concepts concerning human resources. You will also write an Executive Summary.

Skill Building:

You are also completing this project to help develop critical thinking and develop part of a management plan. 

You will be required to continue researching the infant formula  industry as a continuation of Project 1.  Do not take the research  lightly as you are required to do significant research to answer the  requirements of the project.

Skills:  Research, Critical Thinking, Write a Strategy Analysis 

Outcome Met by Completing This Assignment

• employ effective planning processes to develop strategies, goals,  and objectives in order to enhance performance and sustainability
• organize human, physical, and financial resources for the effective and efficient attainment of organizational goals
• demonstrate leadership skills by communicating a shared vision,  motivating and empowering others, and creating a culture of ethical  decision-making and innovation
• develop measures and assess outcomes against plans and standards to improve organizational effectiveness

The Executive Director for the new Asia Division, has been  asked by Warren Pfife to put together, and present in a report to him, a  business strategy that will be a guide for the next year as the new  division moves forward. The Executive Director will be working with the  consulting group and they will assist with putting together this plan.   The final plan will be laid out as outlined below and developed in two  phases.

You have successfully completed Project 1 and it is now time to  complete Project 2. In the second project, Section I, Section V, Section  VI, and Section VII will be completed.

Section I – Executive Summary

Section II – Environmental Analysis

Section III – Goals and Objectives

Section IV – Competitive Analysis

Section V – Description of Organizational Structure and Culture

Section VI – Breakdown of Product and Services

Section VII – Human Resources Plan

The business strategy will provide the organization an opportunity to  explain the goals and objectives of the new division and help with the  development of the strategy to achieve them.  The plan will allow the  company to gain insight into the current status of the industry it is  venturing into using internal and external analysis tools, and then use  this analysis to design its division’s business environment.  In  addition, the plan will be used to form the team that will bring the  vision for this division to reality.

Instructions for Completing Project

These final sections will finalize the strategy the group from Expert  Foods Consultants has been assisting the Melanie and the New Executive  Director with. Although you typically would be combining all three  phases into one document, for the purpose of this work, you will on  present the parts identified above.

You will need the Great Start Nutrition Company Profile to complete the analysis. 

Step 1: Course Material

Although you are required to research  information for this project, you are also accountable for using the  course material to support the ideas, reasoning and conclusions made.   Course material use goes beyond defining terms but is used to explain  the ‘why and how’ of a situation.  Using one or two in-text citations  from the course material and then relying on Internet source material  will not earn many points on an assignment.  A variety of source  material is expected and what is presented must be relevant and  applicable to the topic being discussed.   Avoid merely making  statements but close the loop of the discussion by explaining how something happens or why something happens,  which focuses on importance and impact.  In closing the loop, you will  demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally showing an  understanding of the logical connections between the ideas presented in a  case scenario, the course material and the question(s) being asked.

Step 2:  Description of the Organizational Structure 

• Drawing from the information presented in Exercise 3 create an  organizational structure through the use of an Organizational Chart for  the new division and delivered informally to the director. It is  intended that this section will now formally present the structure and  explain the rationale behind its construction. The idea with presenting  the Organizational Chart is to understand why the levels of the chart  are developed.  
• Explain why each part of the structure is critical to the success of  the organization.  For example, if an Assistant Executive Director  (ADD) of Research and Design was placed in the Org Chart, you could  explain that he or she will be responsible for finding ways to integrate  green/sustainable materials into infant formula, something that has not  been done on a large scale in the past.  The ability to create products  that have not been introduced in the marketplace in mass production  will give Great Start Nutrition a competitive advantage, and under the  VP of R&D there is a person responsible for the local testing.  You  will explain why testing will have a critical impact on the success of  the new product line.

Step 3:  Cultural Complexities

• Drawing from Exercise 3, you will also present the cultural  complexities that will need to be monitored and possibly addressed.  The  Executive Director will be bringing a facility online in an area in  which Great Start Nutrition currently has no presence and there could be  unforeseen cultural dilemmas that could arise.  Mayberry Consultants  has considered whether or not to use local nationals in management roles  or to bring in current Great Start Nutrition employees from other  locations.  Each of these will have their own complexities from a  cultural standpoint so consider them as you generate your response.   Consider how the new location’s citizens view work hours, holidays,  religious beliefs, etc. while researching this topic.   Another example  about understanding business cultures in foreign countries is how  bribery is a big part of business for some cultures but still illegal  for a U.S. based company to participate in this act while operating on  foreign soil.  If the location of the new facility has some cultural  differences from what other locations do, you should explain whether  Great Start Nutrition will need to recognize the difference or expect  the employees to adhere to Great Start Nutrition’s standards.

Step 4:  Breakdown of Products and Services

• You will present the products that Great Start Nutrition will  release in the first launch of the new division.  You addressed the  products in Exercise 3 and will now be formally introduced as the  product line.  Great Start Nutrition needs to formally introduce the  line of products that it will be presenting to the public.
• Explain how the production of the product(s) aligns with Great Start  Nutrition’s mission.  This section will need to provide specifics on  the product and how it meets the sustainable, green, and human friendly  mandate set forth from Melanie at the beginning of this project.

Step 5: Human Resource Plan

A human resource plan will allow the director of the new Asia  division to identify the future human resource needs for the  organization.  The director has asked Mayberry Consultants to evaluate  the product line identified and conduct market analysis to determine  possible man power needs for the product manufacturing and all  management and supervisory roles (to include all levels of management).   The management levels should have been identified in the Description of  Organizational Structure section of this strategy, but the resource  needs in manufacturing will need to be considered.  Remember the only  person currently hired for the new facility is the Executive Director so  there will need to be Assistant Executive Directors (AED) for the other  areas identified in the Structure such as Marketing and R&D.  Each  of the AED’s will need to have staff as well; you will need to identify  how each AED will be provided staff.  Will they identify and interview  themselves or will HR be a part of the hiring process.  The  Organizational Chart is also a part of the HR plan so ensure that a  revised organizational chart is placed in this section for reference. 

Training is a key to retention in business today; employees like to  feel they are important to the organization and investment in their  competencies shows commitment to them.  So, consider what the new  division will need to do to ensure they are keeping the best talent they  find. 

Evaluation is another way organizations can show their commitment to  employees.  How will the new division conduct employee evaluations based  on what is common in the area that the Mayberry Consultants  identified?  This will require a level of research in common HR  practices in that region.

You needs to remember that this is a brand new division that will be  selling products that Great Start Nutrition currently is not involved in  so all aspects of business will need to be considered.  Remember there  is no perfect HR Plan, just plans that work and plans that do not.  Good  plans consider the employee and the culture around them just as  important as the organization itself.

Step 6:  Executive Summary

The Executive Summary will be the first section of the paper but  should be written last since it will highlight what is intended for  discussion in the rest of the strategy.  A good executive summary is  compelling. It reveals the company’s mission statement, along with a  short description of the products Great Start Nutrition will provide at  the launch of the new division. It is also necessary to briefly explain  why Great Start Nutrition is starting the new division and include  details about Great Start Nutrition’s experience related to the industry  the company is entering.  This requires integration of key information  from the exercises as well as Project 1.

Step 7:  Review the Plan

Read the paper to ensure all required elements are present.  Use the  grading rubric to ensure that you gain the most points possible for this  assignment.