Selected company: Microsoft

STEP ONE: Company selection and analysis
-The student should select a company for analysis and write up a profile of the company selected. The profile should include:
-Presentation and discussion of firm Mission/Vision
-Presentation and discussion of the firm%u0432%u0402%u2122s current strategic plans and/or direction
-Presentation and discussion of the firm%u0432%u0402%u2122s culture
-A brief discussion of the firm%u0432%u0402%u2122s structure and organization ( no diagrams)
-The above subject areas could be presented in a %u0432%u0402%u045Astrengths/weaknesses%u0432%u0402%u045C format as part of an overall SWOT-style analysis. SWOT style is optional.
-Wirte in order. Start from the firm mission statement and end with SWOT.
-Approximately 4-5 pages, double-spaced, typed
-For Step One, need 2- 3 sources ( work cited); with 5 citations within this section of the paper

STEP TWO: Article selection and analysis
-Write a report on an article that was written within the past year that deals with a topic directly affecting the competitiveness of the student%u0432%u0402%u2122s chosen firm. The article chosen should have something important to say about an element of organizational effectiveness – it can profile a dramatic social trend, give an industry prediction, address a strategic competency like leadership or HR, highlight a current environmental issue (for instance, the social responsibility component of sustainability), or comment on financial or market failures, etc.
-Students should give a brief summary of the article, identifying the issue that attracted them to the article, explain why this issue is important, and what they learned from the article.
-Students should discuss how the subject of the article will affect their firm from a competitive perspective, highlighting any relevant changes necessary to the management structure, culture, or strategic direction of the firm.
-Approximately 4-5 pages, double-spaced, typed

Required parameters:
-8-10 total pages, double spaced, typed
-10 citations throughout the whole paper with 6-8 references listed on Work

Cited page
-All citations and references must be in MLA format