Your Task:

Select a topic from the following list or from the following report topics. (an expanded list of report topics is available at your Student Companion Website). As a team, begin preparing for your short oral presentation (later in the term).

For this assignment, your team will be submitting:

• Your Topic
• Plan (meeting ideas) for Presentation
• Plan for division of team duties
• Rough Outline of Presentation
• List of two resources that you will be using

Divide the tasks fairly, meet for discussions and rehearsals, and crown your achievement with a 10- to 15-minute presentation to your class. Begin your multimedia presentation interesting and dynamic. (this will be completed in a later week)

1. How are businesses using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn? Is their social media presence effective? Cite specific examples in your chosen field.
2. Which is financially more beneficial to a business, leasing or buying company cars?
3. Tablet computers and other mobile devices are eroding the market share previously held by laptops and netbooks. Which brands are businesses embracing, and why? Which features are a must-have for businesspeople?
4. What kind of marketing works best with students on college campuses? Word of mouth? Internet banner advertising? Social media? Free samples? How do students prefer to get information about goods and services?
5. How can your organization appeal to its members to prevent them from texting while driving or from driving under the influence?
6. Some brands are not afraid to poke fun at themselves. Take Buick, maker of vehicles many associate with older drivers. The company leveraged this perception into a discussion of what Buick is today in a successful series of Experience the New Buick ads. Find three or more examples of companies admitting weaknesses, and draw conclusions from their strategies. Would you recommend this as a smart marketing ploy?
7. How can students and other citizens contribute to conserving gasoline and other fossil fuel to save money and help slow global climate change?
8. What is the career outlook in a field of your choice? Consider job growth, compensation, and benefits. What kind of academic or other experience is typically required in your field?
9. What is the economic outlook for a given product, such as electric cars, laptop computers, digital cameras, fitness equipment, or a product of your choice?
10. What kinds of workers can most easily work from home? Examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed telecommuting.
11. What are the Webby Awards, and what criteria do the judges use to evaluate websites? Alternatively, examine the Clio Awards or Cannes Lions Awards. Consider evaluation criteria and several of the most recent winners.
12. What franchise would offer the best investment opportunity for an entrepreneur in your area?
13. What should a guide to proper smartphone etiquette include?
14. Why should a company have a written e-mail, Web use, and social media policy?
15. Where should your organization hold its next convention?
16. What is the outlook for real estate (commercial or residential) investment in your area?
17. What do the personal assistants for celebrities do, and how does one become a personal assistant? (Investigate the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants.)
18. What kinds of gifts are appropriate for businesses to give clients and customers during the holiday season?
19. What rip-offs are on the Federal Trade Commissions list of top ten consumer scams, and how can consumers avoid falling for them?
20. How can your organization or institution improve its image?
21. What are the pros and cons of using Prezi zoom presentations? Would they be appropriate in your field?
22. How can consumers protect themselves against identity theft?
23. How could people be persuaded to start saving for retirement, considering the magic of compound interest, which allows even small contributions to grow substantially over long periods of time? How could very young people who may not give much thought to retiring be motivated to start?
24. What are the differences among casual, business casual, and business formal attire?
25. What is a sustainable business? What can companies do to become sustainable?
26. What smartphone apps are available that will improve a businesspersons productivity?

(Guffey & Loewy, 2020)