BPW Corporation: Providing Electronic Controls for the Wind-power Industry

About BPW Corporation

BPW Corporation (BPW) is a Canadian based firm that supplies electronic controls to the wind-power/turbine industry. The firm is twenty years old and is a subsidiary of a fifty year old electronics supply firm that specializes in supplying electric power generating components to the military, atomic energy and space industry. It is a publicly traded firm that employs 25 full time staff. This includes three teams of four installers that work all over the world on new-build wind turbine projects. The company prides itself on its commitment to clean, ethical sourcing and ethical labour practices. 

You are the newly hired Director of Operations (You have been there for 2 months). You have been in the transportation industry for ten years and have your CCLP designation. Your responsibilities include warehousing, selecting and coordinating work with 3PLs, transportation, and the scheduling and coordination of service crews for the installation and service of products worldwide. 

In all likelihood, your business case study report submission will contain some assumptions. Some of these assumptions (good ones) are developed from basic facts found in the business case study. Other assumptions are developed from generalized, vague points of note that cannot be substantiated, and can place the report’s validity at peril. Clearly state your assumptions, with reasons.

It is critical that candidates not make assumptions on information that is not in the business case study. All information needed to complete the report is provided. Avoid the terms “further research and analysis is required”; and never state that there is not enough information to complete the case. Ask yourself, “If this report were real, with a real deadline, would you tell your president that it could not be completed without further research?”

General assumptions are not a good way to reduce the workload in a business case report. Citing general assumptions, which cannot be substantiated, are a good way to lose marks.

While it is important to consider the various points within “report writing style”, the major concerns we want you to address can best be considered based on the following points:

• If you were the recipient of the report, what would be your first impression?
• After you have read the executive summary do you have a grasp of the content and the action being recommended?
• If there is a single point on which you require a little more information, could you find it easily using the table of contents and if so was the point clear within the body of the report
• Is the executive summary different from the conclusion, summary portion of the report?

If you are pleased with the responses you give yourself to these four points, then you should receive a good grade for the executive summary and content. 

If you need to refer to the body of the report more than once after reading the executive summary, then your mark will likely reflect this. One of the outcomes of this exercise is to help you develop good writing/communication skills when making presentations to your organization’s executives.