memo

   
Here are a few things I want you to remember BEFORE you submit this paper:
1. This paper is worth 25% of the overall grade. Be sure you answer the entire question. Have you explained your position clearly? Are your reasons for selling OR not selling this product examples of elevated business thinking?
You should avoid superficial or overly simplistic ideas like : it’s a free country; no one is forcing them to drink our product; someone else is going to do it if we don’t <- these are weak ideas some writers use who will want to sell the juice. If you use any of these ideas – you better have lots of detail, research, and support to make these strong, impressive points.
Here are some weak ideas some who are AGAINST selling the juice might use: kids need to be protected; we don’t need more profit; our company was founded on ethics. If you use any of these ideas – you better have lots of detail, research, and support to make these strong, impressive points.
 Have you added any research? Did you include the article title and web address – as the sample in the Business Ethics section shows? Be sure your focus is on the ethical questions raised. Be sure you have plenty of examples/ideas that fully explain your position. The length is up to you (as always).
2. Be sure the MEMO format is correct and business-like. The LOOK of the document must be excellent.

3. By now, you should know exactly what I am looking for: have something to say, write well, make it look good! 
4. Here is what you MUST avoid: wordiness (I think, I feel, I believe, In my opinion, etc, etc, UGH!!!); easy spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation errors. Do not tell the CEO of Happy Bunny basic business principles (We need customers to thrive! Profit is important. We don’t want to hurt our customers. – really? How insightful.) DO NOT talk down to the reader.
I expect your writing to be better than it was when you began the class. The best way to guarantee this is by PROOF-READING YOUR MEMO BEFORE YOU SUBMIT IT!
Once you have met all of the qualifications, submit your ethics memo, and I will grade it. Good Luck.

Adding research to your memo is not difficult. Even though our HAPPY BUNNY ENERGY JUICE is mythical, the REAL research you add can be very helpful.
Up to this point of our class and your writing, I have wanted to hear only your opinion, your thoughts, your analysis. I have asked you to stay far away from research. (Many modern writers are too quick to add outside sources because research is now so easy to find.) This eagerness to add research has lead to a lack of personal opinion and a lack of analytical skills. 

However, there are times in the business world when research WILL help you. 
If you are going to start your own business in San Bernardino, think of all the helpful information you could find by doing some research: what specific areas are fastest growing, what is the local demographic, how have other businesses fared in this area, what expenses can you predict, what might the interest rates be in the future, what have the rates been in the past? There are hundreds of research options to help prepare you to open a business.
If you plan on getting financing for your business, many banks will require you to create a business plan. Inside this business plan, you might be expected to project costs and revenue. Your research will help you calculate this information. And, you will be expected to have added this research to the business report, which the bank will use to determine your loan.
Here is how you might add research to a business report:
According to the City of San Bernardino’s official website, “San Bernardino is offering significant tax incentives to small business owners. As a result, small businesses have seen a healthy increase in profit over the past 5 years – averaging a 23% increase in sales from 2014- 2019.”(ci.san-bernardino.ca.us)
Additionally, in a recent survey of businesses located in downtown and northern San Bernardino, 85% of business owners have noticed an “significant” increase in walk in customers during the past calender year. (thesun.newspaper.org)

In a recent interview, the Mayor of San Bernardino, Bradley Cooper, had this to say about the improving conditions for small businesses, “The negativity surrounding San Bernardino is gone. People are beginning to see the benefit of living, shopping, and going to school in San Bernardino. This new found optimism is creating a financial benefit felt throughout the city.” (smallbusinessnews.net)
This is how I want you to approach the research aspect of this assignment. Find three or four sources that help you make your case to the reader.
So, if you plan on selling Happy Bunny Energy Juice, you need to use research to convince the reader (your boss – the CEO) your plan is sound. The research you add is of course up to you, but I want it to be legitimate. Find actual sources that support your ideas that selling an energy drink/juice to kids is a good business decision.
Like this:
We know the demand for fruit juices is very high. The website Super Market Shelves claims the juice aisle at most local supermarket stock on average of 40-50 options for parents who want their kids to have the health benefits a fruit juice provides. I say we make Happy Bunny Energy Juice a more advanced option for parents who want all the health benefits of a fruit juice and the added benefit of Happy Bunny’s natural energy boost.
Yes, there are many options, but once we throw the Happy Bunny brand into the mix, our adult consumers who love our product, will be eager to share the benefits of our new energy juice with younger consumers. This will help us gain an edge over the competition and the Happy Bunny brand will become a major force in the lucrative fruit juice market.
(I made this up, but I would find this information and use it to help prove that the demand will lead to profit.)
Now, let’s say you are NOT going to sell Happy Bunny’s new product. You should use the same approach, but use the information to help YOUR argument:
We know the demand for fruit juices is very high. But, this demand has already flooded the market with so many choices, it is hard to distinguish one product from another. The website Super Market Shelves claims the juice aisle at most local supermarket stock on average of 40-50 options for parents who want their kids to have the health benefits a fruit juice provides.
Adding another option, even a great brand such as Happy Bunny, would be risky. We risk being swallowed by the huge number of options already available. Do we really want to do battle with established juice brands like Dole, Ocean Spray, Langers, and Del Monte? These brands have a foothold in this market that many companies have tried to break, and they have failed miserably, spending millions on the way.
I say we continue to make Happy Bunny Energy Drink a more advanced option for consenting adults who want all the benefits of a top-selling energy drink including Happy Bunny’s natural energy boost.
Now, what about sources?
How do I add the sources to my memo?
I want you to add the name of the website to your memo whenever you use source material. You can add it to the text: According to the website energydrinkinfo.org, “In 2016, 115 deaths have been linked to the consumption of energy drinks.”  
– OR, you can add the website in parenthesis at the end of the information: “In 2016, 115 deaths have been linked to the consumption of energy drinks” (energydrinkinfo.org). The PERIOD goes outside the parenthesis and the name of the website is italicized.
Where do I find sources?
The library! Yeah, right. What decade is it? Yes, the library used to be the place that housed all research material. Now, your pocket has the material you need. Most research (not all) is found on-line. So, you can use your phone or other electronic resources to find research.
What kinds of sources should I use?
Well, what subject are you researching? If you are writing an academic paper about infectious viruses, you would NOT want to use The National Enquirer, right? But, if you are writing an academic paper about the impact the paparazzi has had on our opinions of celebrities, then the Enquirer might be a great place to find source material. 
So, for this assignment, use legitimate, respected, reputable sources. Most newspapers, government sites, national magazines, and journals are fine. Consumer groups’ website are tricky, but most are effective. Use your own judgment and use quality sources. There is no shortage of sources, so you should have no trouble finding credible information.
How Many Sources Should I Use?
This is easy. The “rule of thumb” for most research assignments is: use, on average, one source per page. If you have a 10 page research paper, you should have approximately 10 sources. If you have a 25 page research paper, you should have about 25 sources. This is for future papers you will write.
What are we creating? A 2- 3 page memo. You should have a few sources, 3 or 4 is good. Obviously, 6-10 is way too many. But using 1 or 2 sources is probably too few.
FINALLY
Remember, I want YOUR IDEAS, YOUR OPINION, YOUR ANALYSIS. The quality of your writing is still the main focus of this assignment. The majority of your grade is based on the writing you create. 
Research is designed to assist you as you make your points to the reader. So, do NOT begin this memo by doing research about the positives or negatives of selling energy drinks. Begin by writing down your ideas. 
If you are in favor of selling Happy Bunny’s Energy Juice explain why this is a good business idea. If you are against selling this new product, explain why this is a good business idea.