Write a 2-4-page academic paper in which you describe a business situation, apply a critical thinking framework to the situation, and recommend evidence-based solutions to the situation. Explain how the concepts of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) could affect both the situation and the solution.

Introduction

This portfolio work project will give you practice with academic writing expectations, while still being work relevant. Many organizations have relationships with professional associations and contribute written articles regularly to newsletters and other publications. In addition, some organizations expect leaders to participate in conferences and seminars, where written work must be submitted using an academic style.

While you are playing the role of a new leader in an organization, remember that you are also writing a paper that will be evaluated by an instructor. Thus, you want to make it easy for the instructor to clearly see that you have demonstrated the outcomes of the assessment. Do not make your instructor search for information; guide them to it. How? By double checking the scoring guide and ensuring that you have clearly demonstrated each of these competencies at what you believe is the Distinguished level.

Read the following and think about how Panera used critical thinking and an understanding of VUCA to solve their mosh pit problem. Pay attention to Kallet’s critical thinking framework in particular.

Then, find another company with a problem they need to fix. You may use NASA, BP, or United Airlines, all of whom have had numerous high-profile problems to solve in recent years, if you wish. Or, you may choose a company that you know has an issue. If you are unsure who to use, try searching “Companies with customer service problems” online and you will get a lot of ideas, though your problem does not have to be about customer service.

In an APA-formatted paper:

1. Summarize the problem you researched. Then, apply Kallet’s critical thinking framework to describe how the leadership of this company should think through the problem to create a solution. Finally, give at least one evidence-based solution—either that you came up with through your research or that you read the company is going to or did employ. Next, describe what VUCA considerations the leadership must keep in mind as they implement this solution.
2. Work on being concise but thorough, keeping academically formatted paper to no more than four double-spaced pages.
3. Be sure your paper includes, and is organized, as follows:
   • Introduction: Write an introduction that tells the reader what to expect of this paper (1 paragraph). It would be most effective to include a brief mention that leaders at Panera Bread effectively used an understanding of critical thinking and VUCA to solve their mosh pit problem, and that this paper applies a similar framework to solving whatever problem in the organization you chose. Choose an organization with a problem you can research.
   • Problem: Describe the problem that you will be solving for another company, describing the situation (1–3 paragraphs).
   • Thinking Critically: Apply the framework for critical thinking as outlined by Michael Kallet in the Think Smarter e-book to the problem you identified to describe an evidence-based recommendation for this company to improve. You can create your own unique recommendation, or show how critical thinking applied to a solution that someone else came up with already or applied, which you read about in your research (1–3 paragraphs).
   • Applying VUCA: Explain how VUCA could affect both the situation and your recommendation, and any important considerations for management in implementing the recommended solution (1–2 paragraphs).
   • Conclusion: Write a conclusion that wraps up and summarizes your document (1 paragraph). The Capella Writing Center, linked in the MBA Program Resources under Writing Skills, has good information on how to write an effective conclusion.
   • References: Include at least two APA-formatted citations in your paper.

Deliverable

Write a 2–4-page academic paper following APA style and formatting. Refer to the writing resources in the MBA Program Resources in the courseroom navigation panel, especially paying attention to the MBA Academic and Professional Document Guidelines, under Writing Skills.

Evaluation

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies through corresponding scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 2: Apply leadership strengths and behaviors to workplace situations.
  • Apply a critical thinking framework to a business situation.
  • Explain how VUCA can affect a business situation and a recommended solution.
• Competency 3: Recommend evidence-based strategies for leading and collaborating in complex environments.
  • Recommend an evidence-based solution to a business situation.
• Competency 4: Communicate effectively through academic and professional writing.
  • Provide an overview of a business situation.
  • Develop text using organization, structure, and transitions that demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the main topic and subtopics.
  • Integrate appropriate use of scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style.
  • Convey clear meaning in text through sound grammar, usage, word choice, and mechanics.

Critical Thinking in Action Scoring Guide

CRITERIANON-PERFORMANCEBASICPROFICIENTDISTINGUISHEDProvide an overview of a business situation.Does not provide an overview of a business situation.Provides an overview of a business situation, but it is incomplete or does not accurately depict the situation.Provides an overview of a business situation.Provides a concise and succinct overview of a business situation.Apply a critical thinking framework to a business situation.Does not apply a critical thinking framework to a business situation.Applies a critical thinking framework to a business situation but applies it incorrectly.Applies a critical thinking framework to a business situation.Analyzes a business situation using a critical thinking framework and explains how each step contributes to a better understanding of the situation.Recommend an evidence-based solution to a business situation.Does not recommend an evidence-based solution to a business situation.Recommends a solution but does not provide supporting evidence.Recommends an evidence-based solution to a business situation.Recommends an evidence-based solution to a business situation and describes the potential outcome of the solution.Explain how VUCA can affect a business situation and a recommended solution.Does not explain how VUCA can affect a business situation or a recommended solution.Explains how VUCA can affect either a business situation or a recommended solution, but not both.Explains how VUCA can affect a business situation and a recommended solution.Explains how VUCA can affect a business situation and a recommended solution, and identifies ways to determine if elements of VUCA are present.Develop text using organization, structure, and transitions that demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the main topic and subtopics.Does not include all components, and organizes text inappropriately for the assessment.Provides an unclear introductory statement and/or presents the text in paragraphs with unclear main ideas and/or transitional phrases.Develops text using organization, structure, and transitions that demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the main topic and subtopics.Develops a strong introductory statement and organizes text with skillful transitions into paragraphs with clear main ideas, sufficient evidence, analysis, and linking information.Integrate appropriate use of scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style.Includes plagiarized information.Does not synthesize information from sources and/or the credibility of the sources is questionable, with many flaws in APA citation style.Integrates appropriate use of scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style.Integrates and synthesizes evidence from credible, scholarly, and professionally sound sources, with minimal flaws in APA citation style.Convey clear meaning in text through sound grammar, usage, word choice, and mechanics.Obstructs meaning due to errors in sentence structure, grammar, usage, word choice, or spelling.Interrupts meaning due to errors in sentence structure, grammar, usage, word choice, or spelling.Conveys clear meaning with minimal issues in grammar, usage, word choice, spelling, or mechanical errors.Produces complex and concise text that conveys clear meaning, with no errors in grammar, usage, word choice, spelling, or mechanics.