MBA 705 Milestone One Guidelines And Rubric Overview

MBA 705 Milestone One Guidelines And Rubricoverview For The Capstone

MBA 705 Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric Overview: For the capstone assessment, you will create a business implementation plan and audiovisual presentation for the product, service, or idea you have been developing throughout your MBA coursework. In Milestone One, you will submit the justification for your idea or concept. You will connect entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship with organization change and survival. This milestone lays the foundation for the rest of the project by outlining the justification of an idea or concept. Ultimately, the justification in this milestone will provide much of the reasoning that decision makers will use to determine if they will fund your idea or concept.

Critical Elements:

• Rationale: Lay out the rationale for the idea or concept.
• Problem or Opportunity: Identify the problem or opportunity that the idea or concept addresses.
• Market: Analyze the market for the product or service.
• Competition: Analyze the key features that set the product or service apart from the competition.
• Company: Explain how the concept fits with the mission, vision, and priorities of the company implementing the product or service.
• Innovation: Discuss how or why the product or service is innovative.

Guidelines for Submission: Your draft must contain all of the elements listed above. It should be 5 to 8 pages in length (excluding the title page and references) using 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins.

You may include summary pictures, charts, graphs, or other explanatory diagrams as needed to successfully explain the concept and implementation, but should use appendices for detailed supporting documentation. Your paper should follow APA guidelines. You must include at least 5 scholarly sources. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of a comprehensive business implementation plan is fundamental to translating innovative ideas into successful products or services. In Milestone One, the primary objective is to articulate a clear and compelling justification for a chosen idea or concept, connecting it to broader themes of entrepreneurship, organizational change, and strategic survival. This paper aims to systematically analyze and present the critical elements necessary for supporting the viability and strategic fit of the proposed idea, thereby enabling decision makers to assess its potential for funding and successful implementation.

Rationale

The core rationale behind the proposed idea—an innovative eco-friendly packaging solution—stems from the increasing global demand for sustainable practices in supply chains. The excessive reliance on non-biodegradable packaging contributes significantly to environmental degradation, prompting consumers, governments, and corporations to seek sustainable alternatives. By providing a biodegradable, cost-effective, and scalable packaging material, this idea addresses a pressing environmental problem while also capitalizing on the burgeoning green market. The rationale is rooted in the urgent need to mitigate environmental harm while aligning with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that enhance brand reputation and stakeholder trust (Porter & Kramer, 2006).

Problem or Opportunity

The identified problem is the escalating environmental impact caused by conventional plastic packaging, which persists in landfills for hundreds of years, pollutes water sources, and harms wildlife. Conversely, the opportunity lies in developing biodegradable packaging materials that meet industrial standards for durability, cost, and scalability. The market opportunity is underscored by regulatory pressures to reduce plastic waste, increasing consumer preference for sustainable products, and corporate commitments to sustainability goals. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2016), the global market for biodegradable plastics is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 20% over the next decade, signifying substantial growth prospects.

Market Analysis

The target market comprises food and beverage companies, e-commerce businesses, and packaging manufacturers seeking sustainable solutions. The market size is estimated to be worth approximately $15 billion globally in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 14% (Grand View Research, 2022). The North American and European markets are leading adopters due to stricter environmental regulations and consumer awareness, whereas emerging markets present untapped potential. Consumer preferences favor brands that demonstrate environmental responsibility, influencing purchasing decisions and brand loyalty (Nielsen, 2015). The market analysis indicates strong demand, driven by regulatory shifts and consumer awareness, supporting a strategic entry and growth plan for the biodegradable packaging.

Competition Analysis

The competitive landscape includes established plastic packaging companies and emerging biodegradable startups. Key features differentiating the proposed product include its superior biodegradability within 90 days, comparable cost to traditional plastics, and compatibility with existing packaging machinery. Companies such as NatureWorks and Bioplastics offer similar products but often face challenges related to higher costs or limited scalability. The innovative aspect of this idea is its use of a proprietary composite of biopolymers derived from agricultural waste, which significantly reduces raw material costs and improves biodegradation time (Lunt, 1998). By focusing on these key features, the product positions itself as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative that meets unmet customer needs for eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Company Alignment

The concept aligns with the company's mission to champion sustainability and innovation, with a vision to lead environmentally responsible packaging solutions. The company's strategic priorities include enhancing environmental stewardship, expanding product lines in green technologies, and capturing market share in sustainable packaging. This idea complements existing initiatives and reinforces the company's long-term goal of reducing plastic waste in supply chains, thus supporting brand differentiation and compliance with upcoming regulations (Tam & Ho, 2017). The integration of this product into the company's portfolio aligns with its core values of innovation, sustainability, and customer focus.

Innovation

The innovative nature of this product lies in its use of plant-based agricultural waste as a primary raw material, which is processed into a durable, biodegradable packaging film. This approach not only reduces reliance on petrochemical sources but also leverages circular economy principles by transforming waste into valuable packaging products. Situating this product within the company's broader portfolio involves positioning it alongside other green materials and sustainable innovations, reinforcing the company's commitment to reducing environmental impact. The proprietary manufacturing process enables cost competitiveness and rapid biodegradation, setting it apart from existing biodegradable plastics that often face cost and performance barriers (Krause & Clark, 2004).

In conclusion, the justification for this innovative eco-friendly packaging solution is grounded in its strong addressing of environmental challenges, the thriving market demand, strategic alignment with company goals, and distinct technological advantages. This foundational analysis provides decision makers with compelling reasons to support further development and deployment, ultimately contributing to organizational change and long-term survival in a competitive and environmentally conscious marketplace.

References

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2016). The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics.
• Grand View Research. (2022). Biodegradable Plastics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report.
• Krause, S., & Clark, J. (2004). Sustainable packaging: Innovation and environmental considerations. Journal of Sustainable Material Science, 2(1), 45-58.
• Lunt, J. (1998). Commercialization of biodegradable polymers: Challenges and opportunities. Polymer Reviews, 38(2), 65-89.
• Nielsen. (2015). The sustainability imperative: New insights on consumer preferences. Nielsen Reports.
• Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2006). Strategy & Society: The link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility. Harvard Business Review, 84(12), 78-92.
• Tam, V., & Ho, S. (2017). Corporate sustainability strategies in the packaging industry. Journal of Business Ethics, 142(4), 635-654.