This project will focus on the primary and secondary research that will help you to develop and support your big idea to an audience. The assignment has 3 parts: a pre-interview worksheet, a discussion of secondary sources, and an APA-formatted references page. Use the Reflecting on Sources worksheet posted in Doc Sharing and be sure to follow instructions carefully.

Part 1) Successful interviews are results of completing pre-interview tasks, such as identifying the interviewee, doing research on the topic and interviewee, choosing a location or method for the interview, and developing a list of questions. This information will help build your confidence in interviewing, along with helping negotiate a difficult interview. While you are not required to conduct the interview and/or include the information in your draft and final project, preparing for the interview will enhance your knowledge about your chosen topic.

Use complete sentences and Standard American English as needed. The interviewee you have chosen should be someone who can effectively contribute information to your final project; this primary research will play a significant role in persuading your audience to accept the ideas of change that you are proposing in the final project.

Part 2) Writing at least one well-developed paragraph about each source, summarize, assess, and reflect upon 3 secondary sources related to your big idea. At least one of these needs to present challenges and/or disagreements that you will have to acknowledge and address as you develop your argument. Compare and contrast the approaches these authors take towards this issue, and determine which sources will be helpful and why.

Part 3) Create a references page that lists the sources discussed in part 2. The citations should be in APA format. Review the Writing Center resources on APA manuscript style and citations:

Managing a business supply chain involves maximizing the flow of materials and information from raw materials to finished product. The strategy for carrying out individual components of the process is affected by and may be changed due to many things including industry, current product life cycle stage, production and delivery costs, product profitability, and competition. For example, a company in the manufacturing industry could build a second warehouse closer to its customers if delivery costs increased. An example in the service industry would be a restaurant changing vendors due to increased material costs.

In this assignment, you will identify the supply chain process and strategy for the operations of a business from either the service industry or manufacturing industry. 

Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, address the following:

• Identify a product or service and assess the location where the company offers it in the supply chain. Define the stage in the product life cycle. 
• Develop a questionnaire with 10–12 questions that will allow you to do the following:
• Explain what the company does to protect its business and manage risks.
• Analyze cost savings by determining the return on investment (ROI) for one product offered by the company.
• Identify the company’s competitors and determine who owns what market share for the product.
• Evaluate how the company manages production or delivery of service.
• Defend your choice of questions and support your selection with scholarly articles.

Your final product will include two deliverables. In addition to submitting your questionnaire, submit a 2–3-page paper in Word format. Include a minimum of three scholarly articles to complete your research. Your writing should be clear, concise, and organized. Demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of resources. Display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. 

Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M2_A2.doc. For example, if your name is John Smith, your document will be named SmithJ_M2_A2.doc.

Grading Criteria