Access case materialshere.

Situation

Investors were pleased with Papa Murphy’s for the first year after its 2014 initial public offering at $11 per share. Its stock appreciated and briefly broke $20 in June 2015. But the excitement quickly dwindled. After losing three-quarters of its value over the next year, its stock hovered around $5 per share. Now MTY Group, a Canadian firm who owns Cold Stone Creamery and other brands, is buying the company for a mere $6.45 per share.

Meanwhile, Domino’s Pizza’s stock has appreciated from $79 to $279 in the last 5 years, and until 2017 Papa John’s stock was also flying high. So what is wrong with Papa Murphy’s? More specifically, (a) what is one problem that is causing Papa Murphy’s poor performance, and (b) how should they fix the problem?

Directions

In 600 words or fewer (excluding references, tables, or figures), respond to the question above. First, identify Papa Murphy’s single most significant problem and, second, identify a strategic solution to address the problem. Papa Murphy’s may be experiencing multiple problems, but only choose one to address in your response.

To identify Papa Murphy’s most significant problem, compare the performance of Papa Murphy’s to Domino’s Pizza and/or Papa John’susing the profitability ratios and financial data available in the case file. Then use concepts from class and your own analysis to create a cogent argument for your recommended solution.

You may collaborate with your classmates and ask them to edit your paper, but the writing must be your own.

Either use endnotes or hyperlinks within the text to cite your references. If using endnotes, you may follow APA, MLA or Chicago guidelines for the references. References do not count toward your word limit.

Recommendations

You should craft your response such that it presents a central problem and that your recommended solution clearly resolves it. Further, your arguments should flow logically from problem to solution. Do not present multiple disparate solutions to the problem hoping that at least one of them is credible. Instead, walk me, the reader, through the problem and solution in a logical, systematic way.

Spend roughly half of your word count on articulate the problem and half your word count to justify your solution. Both the problem and the solution must be backed by logic and data. Use tables or charts to summarize data you are using to make your argument.

This case will require substantial quantitative analysis that must be complemented by a qualitative understanding of Papa Murphy’s and its industry. Use both to support the arguments you make. Do not make a claim and leave it unsubstantiated. The articles and data I provide can help you build support for your arguments.

Moreover, your argument must be well written to be compelling. Use correct spelling and grammar. Make sure each paragraph presents only one idea, not multiple. Omit needless word. Avoid jargon. Use the active voice. Use headings instead of transition sentences. And avoid obtuse and abstract descriptions; be specific and concrete.

If you struggle to write well, I encourage you to seek help from the writing center and your peers. If you are concerned about your individual challenges with writing, please visit with me.

I strongly suggest that you ask a peer to read your response and to point out where your arguments are weak or difficult to follow. Peer review is an excellent way to improve your writing.

Use the curated articles and data I provide in thecase folder to conduct your analysis, but some of the materials may not be useful for this particular question. (The materials are curated such that different strategic questions could be asked; not all material may be relevant to this particular question.) Skip materials that do not help you answer the question or build your argument. Moreover, you may search for additional materials beyond what I provide if you need additional facts and data to bolster your argument or to complete your analysis.

Your response must be pithy to be both convincing and adhere to the word limit. You may want to first draft a longer response and then eliminate parts of your argument that are redundant or less compelling. You will need to draw on some class concepts to make your argument logically sound, but you do not need to use all of them. Only use the class concepts that help you respond in a convincing way.

Further, you do not need to summarize the case or write an introduction. Simply begin your argument. (I wrote the assignment, so you do not need to summarize it for me.)

Rubric

90 – 100 pts	The argument is clear and presents sound logic. It correctly applies class concepts and analysis skills to the question at hand. The claims are supported by good evidence and data. The writing is concise and compelling. It uses correct spelling and grammar. The paper is easy to follow start to finish and demonstrates that the student conducted a thorough analysis. Overall, the paper is sound but may have minor flaws.
80 – 89 pts	The argument is generally okay, but displays one or more of the following weaknesses: the argument is unclear or difficult to follow, it does not apply or incorrectly applies class concepts, it is poorly written, the quantitative analysis is flawed, or it fails to correctly include evidence to support the claims. Overall, the paper is reasonable but lacks in one or more important ways.
60 – 79 pts	The argument is incoherent or poor, and it contains multiple weaknesses: the argument is unclear or difficult to follow, it does not apply or incorrectly applies class concepts, it is poorly written, the quantitative analysis is deeply flawed, or it fails to correctly include evidence to support the claims. Overall, the paper is unconvincing.
0 – 59 pts	The student did not follow directions or otherwise showed little effort to address the question.