I love group projects!  It puts a stress on us as a team that forces us to work together.  In my first two terms at Norwich University, we’ve had a group project at the end of the term.  We would all get on conference calls and hash out the details of what ends up being a 25-30 page final paper on the topic we’re learning.  It’s a huge undertaking.  In the end, it’s very fun and a rewarding experience.

In the marketing class I am in, we’re being exposed to the team environment at times other than the end.  We’re only in week three and we already have a team assignment.  Being the go-getter I am, I volunteered to be the leader/editor for this assignment.  We have five people (including myself) on the team.  Each person will get an assignment.  Since there are five sections to this assignment, it worked out perfectly.  We’re studying a scenario in the wine industry.  The five sections include:

(1) Given our understanding of case study facts, what elements of the forces driving change in the global wine industry were at play in the shift of market leadership?

(2) What are the sources of competitive advantage along the value chain for the French? For the Australians?

(3) What key factors in the world market, and particularly the UK enabled non-traditional producers like Australia to overcome the barriers to entry?

(4) What were the corner stones of Australia's marketing strategy that made it so effective against the French?

(5) Develop an Action Plan: What are the key action steps that you would recommend the owner of a mid-sized, well regarded vineyard producing wines in the premium and super-premium categories undertake to respond to threats outlined in the case study? Be sure to consider the positions of the government officials and the heads of the wine industry associations in the answer.

As you can see, it can be pretty in-depth. One challenge is that the total paper must be around 750 words.  That averages out to about 150 words each.  It can be hard to state a point and outline an idea with that limitation.  I really think the school does this to make us think and work to meet that requirement.  I love it.