Business Problems and Gaps

Aligning Frameworks

Write a 4-page analysis providing evidence and a rationale that identified
frameworks are the right ones to address a business problem and gap in practice.

Introduction

A framework is the body of literature that supports an approach to a project and how to answer project questions. A framework establishes a blueprint for constructing a project. It identifies key concepts and connects them.
This assessment asks you to apply two frameworks to your selected problem and gap in practice, then make the case for them providing the best blueprint for addressing your problem and gap.
Again, building a rationale and providing supporting evidence gives you the chance to hone your literature-search skills. You will choose a different problem and gap in practice than your previous assessment.
The three labeled pairs of problems and gaps in practice for this assessment in the business stories relate to three topics that form current and essential research in strategy and innovation. The readings provide background for these topics, and therefore context for the problems and gaps.
The three topics addressed in this assessment are as follows:

• Advanced Competitive Strategy: Expand Your Boundaries.
• Strategy for Future-Ready Growth.
• Winning Sustainability Strategies.

Overview

The business story you draw from for this activity allows you to analyze a problem and gap in a specific business context while describing practitioner (business) and scholarly (academic) frameworks applicable to your identified problem. You will build on your earlier experience

assessing a gap in practice by finding and assessing appropriate frameworks for a different problem and gap in practice you choose.
Employer Expectations

The following skills, which apply to this assessment, frequently appear in articles, job posts, and university reports related to employer expectations of a DBA degree holder:

• Know how to forecast and evaluate financial risks, time-oriented risks, or risks that might affect professional relationships. Know how to identify procedures and methodologies that will help avoid or mitigate these risks.
• Know how to filter through research data and identify relevant information. Know how to gather and understand information, and how to utilize this information to devise the most appropriate actionable intelligence.

Preparation

If you have not done so, practice choosing which framework best describes a problem and gap in the activity Practice Aligning Frameworks.
Also, review the business story for the business you selected in the earlier assessment Evidence for Gaps in Practice, or choose one of the other two businesses and view the corresponding business story.

Choose one problem and its matching gap from those identified for this assessment.

Instructions

Using your chosen business story, choose a problem and its related gap in practice labeled for this assessment, which relates to the assessment topics.
Write a 4–page analysis in which you:

• State the specific business problem and the gap in practice.
• After researching articles that inform your selected gap in practice, identify two frameworks (one practitioner and one scholarly, meaning one written for a business and one for an academic audience) that provide evidence for the selected gap in practice and discuss how they apply to current trends in the field of strategy and innovation. Then add these sources to your Capstone Literature Matrix, fully completing the matrix categories.
• Explain why the frameworks you identified properly align with the selected specific problem and gap in practice. Why are these the right frameworks rather than others?
• Based on your selected problem, gap, and frameworks, identify a related business problem and potential business project appropriate for the field of strategy and innovation.
• Describe why removing your personal biases from the literature discovery process might help you in identifying more relevant research to provide evidence for your topic and project.

Submit your analysis and literature matrix spreadsheet in the assessment area. Download the if you need a copy.
Additional Requirements

As you complete your assessment, be sure your submission meets the following guidelines:

• Capstone Literature Matrix: Submit the literature matrix with your selected articles entered.
• Written communication: Use error-free doctoral-level writing, with original (nonplagiarized) content, logical phrasing, and accurate word choices.
• APA formatting: Format all references and citations according to APA style and formatting guidelines. Refer to as needed.
• Font and font size: Use an APA-compliant font, 12 points, throughout.
• Length: Submit 4 double-spaced pages for the analysis plus the literature matrix.
• File naming protocol: Follow the standard naming conventions for any files you upload. Refer to the for details.

Competencies Measured

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

• Competency 1: Create academically sound annotations into a matrix of literature to support business research of problems and practices occurring in the field of strategy and innovation.
o Make annotations in a literature matrix that convey how the literature provides adequate evidence for the problem, gap, and project need.
• Competency 2: Critically integrate existing relevant literature to determine an important and meaningful gap in practice for strategy and innovation.
o Identify examples of scholarly and practitioner frameworks that provide evidence for a chosen gap in practice.
• Competency 3: Identify personal bias to create project topics in strategy and innovation based on need versus want.
o Describe the role of removing personal biases in the project discovery process.
• Competency 4: Analyze and assess gaps in practice in strategy and innovation to consider specific actionable responses to the gaps.
o Explain why selected frameworks properly align with a specific problem and gap in practice.
• Competency 5: Analyze trends in the field of strategy and innovation as drivers of business problems and gaps in practice.
o Discuss how selected scholarly and practitioner frameworks apply to current trends in the field of strategy and innovation.
• Competency 6: Integrate results from multiple sources to formulate a problem and provide a rationale for a business project in the field of strategy and innovation.
o Identify a business problem and project appropriate for the field of strategy and innovation.
o Use varied sentence structures and correct grammar to convey clear meaning and engage readers.

o Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.

Readings on Three Assessment Topics

The problem and gap you choose from the business story for your assessment relate to the three topic areas addressed by the articles given in the following reading list, which address advanced competitive strategies such as blue ocean strategy, open innovation, product innovation, process innovation, and business model innovation:

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Frameworks

The articles given following reading list provide examples of and background about strategy and innovation frameworks that will be helpful for your assessment:

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Literature Search Literature Guide
Your assessment asks you to integrate two or more frameworks. The resources in this guide will help you find articles to make your case for your chosen frameworks. The articles also provide helpful tips about how to conduct your search.

• Topic Exploration Quickstart Literature Guide: Strategy and Innovation.

Search Terms

Following are examples of search terms to help you find articles related to the three topics and therefore the problems and gaps labeled in the business stories for your upcoming assessment.
Advanced Competitive Strategy: Expand Your Boundaries

• Search terms: blue ocean strategy, open innovation, business model innovation.

Strategy for Future-Ready Growth

• Search terms: future growth strategies, strategic preparation, strategic business growth, processes and procedures for growth.

Winning Sustainability Strategies

• Search terms: strategy and sustainability, strategic processes for sustainability, sustainability practices.

Strategy and Innovation Frameworks

• Search terms: strategy and innovation framework, Porter’s Five Force Model, strategic models.