Imagine that you recently began working in a department that supports your company’s strategic planning for growth in the industry

Imagine that you recently began working in a department that supports your company’s strategic planning for growth in the industry. Your department head has asked you to do research from a newcomer’s perspective to inform future marketing directions for the company. He has asked you to write a detailed memo that identifies the three top trends in the industry. If he likes your work on this initial research, he will ask you to write a position paper on the most important issue related to these trends. (The position paper will be your assignment for project 3.) He is hoping to use your research to prepare your department to launch a new strategic plan.

This is your first real task for your new job, and you are excited and a little nervous about the assignment. You think you have a sense of the industry but know you need to do more research to be accurate in your analysis. The ability to spot trends in your industry is an important skill, and your boss wants to spend energy and capital on new growth areas, products, and services. Writing for Entrepreneur, Spader (2007) offers ideas about how to Spot the Latest Trends.

Your assignment is to produce a well-researched and properly cited memo of approximately 500 words (about two pages in double-spaced Times New Roman font) in which you identify three trends in your industry and discuss each one briefly. You are to provide citations for at least THREE SOURCES. These sources should be a mix of journal articles from the UMGC library, information from Vault, and other pertinent and valid websites or online materials pertaining to your trends. Be sure to cite any words or ideas from your sources in correct APA format, and include a properly formatted list of references. For example, please refer to the APA formatted template for project 2.

1. Submit your APA-formatted title page, introductory paragraph, and reference list to the DRAFT of Project 2 Memo assignment

2.  Submit your full 500-word memo with a title page, citations, and at least three references in APA format to the FINAL Project 2 Memo assignment