2015-2016 IB Business Management SL Internal Assessment/Written Commentary
“The internal assessment is a written commentary that comments on a question based on a problem or issue of
a single business organization.”
Steps to a painless internal assessment!
Your IA/Written Commentary must analyze:
 A specific strategy that has been implemented
 By a selected company
 To solve a problem or address an issue
The strategy must be:
 Specific
 Real (not hypothetical)
Tools/Theory:
 Are an absolute necessity
 Must be integrated as points to reinforce your commentary
The maximum number of words for the written commentary is 1,500…counted from the introduction
through the conclusion!!
First Important Date
January 8, 2016. Assignment #1
Area
Business Organizations
Marketing
Human Resources
Accounting
(Two companies/One article for each & proposed IA title questions)
*Two companies needed in case of overlap with another student
Business Tool/Theory
Organizational Objectives
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR)
SWOT
STEEPLE
Growth (Internal/External)
Ansoff’s Matrix
Globalization
Marketing Mix
Product Life Cycle
Boston Matrix
Product Positioning Map
Promotional Pricing (above-the-line & below-the line)
Branding
Pricing Policies
Channels of Distribution
Motivational Theories
Leadership Style
Communication
Motivation—Financial &/or Non-financial
Sources of Finance
Ratio Analysis
Internal Assessment -- Question
Assignment #1
Name _________________________________________
Due Date January 8, 2016 (turn in sheet with 2 articles)
Written commentary must focus on a strategy the company is currently implementing to address a specific
problem/issue.
Example:
Example Article Title:
Starbucks Goes Blonde to Seduce McDonald’s Customers
Company: Starbucks
Proposed Title (framed as question)
Strategy: Add to product mix to compete with McDonald’s
Will Starbucks new blonde roast increase their market share?
Reason I find this topic interesting/relevant:
I drink Starbucks every day and am curious to know whether adding this milder roast will appeal to
McDonald’s customers (who typically pay less and eat different food for breakfast!)
Article #1 Title: _____________________________________________________________________________
Company: ___________________________ Strategy: ______________________________________________
Proposed Title (framed as question): ___________________________________________________________
Reason I find this topic interesting/relevant: _____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Article #2Title: _____________________________________________________________________________
Company: ___________________________ Strategy: ______________________________________________
Proposed Title (framed as question): ___________________________________________________________
Reason I find this topic interesting/relevant: _____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Internal Assessment – Resources & Analysis Tools Selection
Assignment #2
Due Date January 15, 2016 (turn in sheets with 5 articles)
Topic Question:
5 pts.
State your proposed title question.
Article Selection Criteria:
5 pts.
Select (& print) three to five sources which address your topic. Relevant articles may address:
business strategy implemented, company history, items impacted the industry as a whole, etc.
Articles should provide varying views (pro/con, positive/negative, etc.)
10 pts. Describe how each of the articles provides information that will help you complete your business
tools and/or answer your topic question.
Business Tools, Techniques, & Theories
10 pts. Select (minimum) three business tools to use as the basis for your analysis. You CANNOT use both
SWOT & PEST!
10 pts. State how each of the tools selected will assist you in answering your IA topic question.
Business Tools/Theories
Area
Business Organizations
Marketing
Human Resources
Accounting
Business Tool/Theory
Organizational Objectives
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR)
SWOT
PEST
Growth (Internal/External)
Ansoff’s Matrix
Globalization
Marketing Mix
Product Life Cycle
Boston Matrix
Product Positioning Map
Promotional Pricing (above-the-line & below-the line)s
Branding
Pricing Policies
Channels of Distribution
Motivational Theories
Leadership Style
Communication
Motivation—Financial &/or Non-financial
Sources of Finance
Ratio Analysis
IA – Resources & Analysis Tools Selection
Assignment #2
Name __________________________________________
Due Date January 15, 2016 (turn in sheets with 5 articles)
Proposed Title Question: _____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember proper question phrasing…Method, Problem, Aim or Expected Result!
Would non-monetary motivation methods reduce industrial relations problems to improve labor productivity
at XXX Company?
Article #1
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Website: __________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Article: _______________________________
Date Sourced: ______________________________
Relevant Information from Article:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
IA – Resources & Analysis Tools Selection
Assignment #2
Name __________________________________________
Due Date January 15, 2016 (turn in sheets with 5 articles)
Article #2
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Website: __________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Article: _______________________________
Date Sourced: ______________________________
Relevant Information from Article:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Article #3
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Website: __________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Article: _______________________________
Date Sourced: ______________________________
Relevant Information from Article:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
IA – Resources & Analysis Tools Selection
Assignment #2
Name __________________________________________
Due Date January 15, 2016 (turn in sheets with 5 articles)
Article #4
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Website: __________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Article: _______________________________
Date Sourced: ______________________________
Relevant Information from Article:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Article #5
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Website: __________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Article: _______________________________
Date Sourced: ______________________________
Relevant Information from Article:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
IA – Resources & Analysis Tools Selection
Assignment #2
Name __________________________________________
Due Date January 15, 2016 (turn in sheets with 5 articles)
Business Tools/Theories
Business Tool/Theory #1: ____________________________________________________________________
How will this tool/theory assist you in answering your IA topic question: _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Business Tool/Theory #2: ____________________________________________________________________
How will this tool/theory assist you in answering your IA topic question: _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Business Tool/Theory #3: ____________________________________________________________________
How will this tool/theory assist you in answering your IA topic question: ______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
DO NOT FORGET TO ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR ARTICLES TO THIS PACKET!!
Rough Draft – Due date Friday, February 12, 2016
Late papers will not be reviewed prior to final draft!
You will be graded on format – please follow instructions below and in the IA Guidebook!
 Title Page
o IB Business and Management
o Internal Assessment
o Topic Question
o Candidate Name
o Candidate Number (004872-[your number])
o Date
o Word Count
o Declaration with signature
 Page layout
o One-inch margins
o Double spaced
12 FONT!!!
o Indent Paragraphs
o Number each page
 Table of Contents
 Acknowledgement (if you conducted an interview)
BODY OF REPORT, EACH SECTION STARTED ON A SEPARATE PAGE!!
 Introduction
o Brief introduction of the company
o Brief introduction to the Topic Question
o Description of Methodology (3 tools/theories used)
o List the titles only of your five main Source Documents
 Main Findings and Analysis
o Source #1 – Summary of Article
o Source #2 – Summary of Article
o Source #3 – Summary of Article
o Business tool/theory #1 and analysis
o Business tool/theory #2 and analysis
o Business tool/theory #3 and analysis
 Conclusion (based on tools—NO NEW INFORMATION!!)
o Conclusion #1 and opinion
o Conclusion #2 and opinion
o Conclusion #3 and opinion
 Bibliography (in-text citations preferably MLS format)
 Appendices (each one labeled)
 Copy of each of the five source document HIGHLIGHTED
FINAL REPORT IS DUE TO ME AT THE END OF CLASS ON
MARCH 4, 2016