White Paper – Assignment #2

You will select your final white paper topic and confirm the client organization. In addition, you will add to your research and further define your problem/solution.

For this assignment, you must submit:

  • Expanded Client Background
    • Describe the organization (If you decide to write for a hypothetical client, create your dream client)
    • Mission
    • Sector/Industry
    • Size
      • Number of employees
      • Budget
      • Earnings
    • Core Services or Products
      • Provide a brief overview of the primary services and/or programs
      • Emphasis should be on what is most relevant to your problem/opportunity
    • Context
      • Organizational
        • Are there any current initiatives, changes in the industry, or new priorities making your idea(s) particularly relevant?
      • Identify key stakeholders
        • Identify main stakeholder groups (Primary, Secondary, or Key) that are affect by this topic
        • Stakeholders can include, but are not limited to, roles such as managers, front-line workers, clients, students, and community partners
        • Explain how they are affected:
          • Workload
          • Access
          • Cost
  • Rationale for Client and Topic Selection
    • What is your interest in this client or organization? If it is a hypothetical client, what about this industry interests you?
      • Explain your professional or academic connection to this context
      • Why does this issue matter to you
    • Why is the problem or opportunity significant?
    • Demonstrate why now (or in the very near future), this client should act on this issue.
      • Illustrate why this problem/opportunity is timely
      • Examples:
        • New legislation
        • New investment
        • Innovations in the industry
        • Holes in the marketplace / services provided
      • Explain how your white paper can provide a clearer picture of how this problem or the lack of opportunity is affecting stakeholders
        • Highlight the potential usefulness of your perspective
        • Demonstrate how your research and recommendations could support decisions makers in the organization
      • 2 Additional Sources
      Format and General Requirements:
      • 12 point font
      • 1″ margins on all sides
      • APA title page
      • At least 3 pages of content (does not include title page)
      • Paragraph = 3 to 6 sentences
      • Sources:
        • Presented in APA Style
        • Annotation:
          • 200 to 300 hundred words for each annotation
          • Each annotation should include:
            • Summary of findings
            • Usefulness for your white paper
            • Credibility evaluation (Example: TRAAP test)