Please turn in hard copies of all assignments. Assignments may be turned in to Professor Hausman's office or during class. Assignments should be double spaced with standard 12 point font. MIT Libraries has many research resources such as Gartner Group, Yankee Group, and Investext. Where appropriate, include footnotes and a bibliography.
Assignment #1: Executive Summary for a Business Opportunity in an Emerging Telecom Segment or Analysis of a Business in Telecom
Should be done by all students individually or in teams of 2.
Option #1: Executive Summary of New Business Opportunity
Using your understanding of course materials and technology, conceptualize an original business opportunity. Create a 5-7 page executive summary describing the opportunity and the competitive landscape of the segment. All papers will be kept confidential. Be creative, yet realistic. Assume your product launch must occur within the next three years.
Note: Do not select a "me-too" company in a different geography. For example, replicating eBay in China is not acceptable. This assignment should focus on emerging technology or emerging opportunities.
Your summary should answer these basic questions at a minimum
Option #2: Analysis of Failed Business in Telecom
Using your understanding of course materials and technology, explain why a telecom company failed or will fail. Create a 5-7 page executive summary describing the business model, the company's competitive challenges and why the company is or was not sustainable. All papers will be kept confidential.
Note: Do not regurgitate Professor Hausman's lectures. Also please analyze a specific company as opposed to an industry.
Your summary should answer these basic questions at a minimum:
Assignment #2: Regulatory Analysis
For 14.28 students only. Has to be done individually.
Each student should research a recent regulatory decision, and analyze the economic impact of this decision. This paper should be 5-7 pages.
Assignment #3: Economic Analysis
Has to be done by all students in teams of 4.
The term paper may be on any topic that relates to the themes of the course. It must be business strategy and economics oriented and not solely focused on a telecommunications technology. You have two options.
Option #1
A 10-15 page paper (double spaced), with a 5-8 slide presentation. (You must turn in the slides as well.)
Option #2
A 20-25 page 'academic' paper (double spaced). No slides. (If you want a definition of 'academic' ask the Professor.)
Note: The best papers take the perspective of one or two companies with contrasting positions, strategies or assets in a specific telecom market. These papers then apply economic and business strategy analysis to propose an approach to the issue(s) you have identified. The approaches should be analyzed within a competitive framework, taking account of relevant regulatory factors.
Presentations
You can present your findings to the class. This is optional. The presentation should be 10-minutes in length and we will have a 5-minute Q&A. The presentation should be at a "high level" meant for the board or top executives, with details contained in the paper and backup material.