Learning from Past Mistakes

Description

Your job in this assignment is to select one problem from the inventory of three important problems you researched in Challenge 1. For this problem, you will provide a detailed analysis, the characteristics of which are described below.

The purpose of Challenge 2 is twofold: to enable you to dive deeper into your selected problem, while providing you with practice researching past attempts and mistakes in solving important problems. You will continue to use effective and credible research sources to deepen your understanding of the problem you are focusing on.

Challenge 2 is worth 20% of your final grade.

Before beginning Challenge 2, read Module 3, paying particular attention to the content on the Module 3d page.

Guidelines

From the problems identified in Challenge 1, choose one problem you feel is most important and has potential for entrepreneurial solutions. At this point, you still may not have a solution in mind, and this is fine. The focus is still on understanding as much as you can about the problem itself.

In general, we recommend you build on your one fleshed out problem from Challenge 1 (using TA feedback to improve your analysis).

If you wish to use a problem that was NOT considered in Challenge 1, you need to include relevant research citations that demonstrate the problem is significant.

1. For your selected problem include the following:
   1. Expand on why the problem is important, using evidence and/or arguments based on the scope or scale of the problem. Include citations from approved source(s). For the problem, you are expanding on the importance of the problem, and potential for it to be solved. [Approved citation sources are specified below.]
   1. Address the questions below, using citations from approved sources. [Target 350 words for problem description and importance, similar to the format of the "fleshed out" problem in Challenge 1]:
      1. Why does the problem exist?
      1. Why and/or how is this chosen problem growing? (Demonstrate it's scope and scale using research and stats where applicable)
      1. Why do you feel this is an important problem to address? (Here you may consider the various people, industries, or systems impacted by the problem).
   1. Remember to use research to support your reasoning.
2. Describe recent attempts to solve the problem, using citations from approved sources. In other words, describe HOW they tried to solve the problem. (These attempts were, of course, unsuccessful since you are discussing a problem presently unsolved.)
3. What mistake or mistakes were made in the attempt(s) to solve the problem described in Step 2? Explain WHY the attempt failed. Use citations from approved sources.
   1. Also consider the following questions in your report:
      1. Why did they fail?
      1. What mistakes were made, and by whom?
      1. What gaps existed in the previously attempted solution(s)?
4. Submit your work for this problem in one report to the Learning From Past Mistakes Dropbox by the deadline indicated in the Course Schedule.

Your report can be a maximum of 1,000 words, double-spaced, plus exhibits presented in the required format described on the Course Policies and Style Guide page.

Approved Citation Sources

The guidelines for citations are the same as for Challenge 1. Additional sources may be used to supplement and extend your research.

Information about Factiva is found on the Personal Information Strategy lecture content in Module 3c.

Remember to use APA formatting for citations. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is a good resource for APA.

NOTE: If you wish to use a problem for Challenge 2 that was NOT done in Challenge 1, you will need to include the research tasks that correspond with Challenge 1 in your Challenge 2 submission for the new problem.

How Your Assignment Will Be Graded

The rubric for this assignment can be viewed by clicking Resources and then Rubrics on the course navigation bar above. The rubric for grading can be found here: Your Challenge 2.

*NOTE: 1 Fleshed out problem - 4 x 4 = 16 marks total.

This Challenge is worth 20% of your final grade.

Academic Integrity

Turnitin.com: Text matching software (Turnitin®) may be used to screen assignments in this course. For details, please visit the University Policies page.

DO NOT START THE ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT READING THE NEXT SECTION.

How To Submit Your Assignment

Please note that the following instructions pertain to this specific assignment. Instructions for other assignments may differ.

Your assignment must be submitted online to the Learning from Past Mistakes Dropbox by the deadline specified in the Course Schedule. Dropboxes can be accessed by clicking Submit and then Dropbox on the course navigation bar above. Please note: Your instructor/TA will mark only the final document uploaded, so make sure to verify your final upload is the correct one, and ensure it is submitted before the deadline to avoid late penalties.

Your assignment must be submitted in one of the following file types:

• Portable Document Format (PDF)
• Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX)

Please refer to the Submitting to a LEARN Dropbox page for general guidelines, how to submit to a dropbox, and how to create a PDF.