In 2020, the U.S. retail industry experienced many high-profile bankruptcies. Large retailers such as Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, and Sears filed for bankruptcy, as did many more in the industry. Many of these retailers had been struggling

In 2020, the U.S. retail industry experienced many high-profile bankruptcies. Large retailers such as Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, and Sears filed for bankruptcy, as did many more in the industry. Many of these retailers had been struggling for a variety of reasons, with the increased popularity of online shopping and home delivery being the two reasons most apparent to the public. The COVID-19 pandemic and widespread lockdown orders drove even more customers to online shopping and delivery.

Retailers that filed for bankruptcy in 2020 reported more than $100 million in assets. The bankruptcies had many far-reaching effects on domestic economies, supply chains, and continued shifts in consumer practices.

In this assignment, you will create a professional slide presentation analyzing a retail company that filed for bankruptcy between 2020 and the present. Your presentation should evaluate the financial and investment decisions that contributed to the company’s bankruptcy.

Preparation

This Strayer library resource contains guidelines and tips for creating and designing effective slides, using speaker notes, and citing sources in a presentation:

• Microsoft PowerPoint.

Instructions

Create a 10–15 slide PowerPoint presentation that meets the following requirements and includes all listed sections.

Presentation Requirements

• Length: 10–15 slides (not including the Title and Sources slides).
• Include speaker notes or brief explanations on each slide.
• Use visuals such as charts, graphs, company logos, or financial data when appropriate.
• Apply professional formatting, clear headings, and a readable design.
• Cite all sources in SWS format on a Sources slide.

Presentation Content

Include all the following sections:

1. Title Slide
   • Company name.
   • Assignment title.
   • Your name.
   • Course name and date.
2. Company Background
   • Brief overview of the retailer.
   • Industry and market position.
   • Bankruptcy filing date and type.
3. Financial Decisions
   • Describe three financial decisions that contributed to bankruptcy.
   • Examples may include excessive debt, poor cash flow management, or declining revenue strategies.
4. Investment Decisions
   • Describe three investment decisions made before bankruptcy.
   • Examples may include store expansion, technology investments, acquisitions, or inventory management.
5. Impact on Bankruptcy
   • Explain how the company’s financial and investment decisions led to financial decline and bankruptcy.
6. Impact on Stakeholders
   • Analyze how the bankruptcy affected key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors/shareholders, suppliers and creditors, communities, and business partners.
7. Ability to Raise Capital
   • Analyze how the company’s decisions affected investor confidence and access to financing.
8. Innovation and Operational Changes
   • Evaluate whether the retailer invested in innovation, e-commerce, technology, or operational improvements to remain competitive.
9. Conclusion
   • Summarize key findings.
   • Discuss lessons businesses can learn from the company’s failure.
10. Sources Slide
    • Use at least five quality sources to support your writing. Choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate. You may use your textbook as a source. Cite each source listed on your source page at least once within your assignment. For help with research, writing, and citations, access the library or review the library guides.

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library SWS site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

• Evaluate causes of large-scale corporate financial distress and its impact on individuals, businesses, industries, and the economy.

Week 8 Assignment – The Retail Bankruptcies of 2020CriteriaRatingsPointsProvided the company background, including a brief overview of the retailer, its industry and market position, and its bankruptcy filing date and type.ExemplaryProvided the company background, including a  brief overview of the retailer, its industry and market position, and its bankruptcy filing date and type. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentProvided the company background, including a brief overview of the retailer, its industry and market position, and its bankruptcy filing date and type, but the information was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementProvided the company background, including a  brief overview of the retailer, its industry and market position, and its bankruptcy filing date and type, but the information was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not provide the company background. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsDescribe three financial decisions that contributed to bankruptcy.ExemplaryDescribed three financial decisions that contributed to bankruptcy. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentDescribed three financial decisions that contributed to bankruptcy, but the description was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementDescribed one or two financial decisions that contributed to bankruptcy, or described three but the description was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not describe any financial decisions that contributed to bankruptcy. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsDescribe three investment decisions made before bankruptcy.ExemplaryDescribed three investment decisions made before bankruptcy. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentDescribed three investment decisions made before bankruptcy, but the description was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementDescribed one or two investment decisions made before bankruptcy, or described three but the description was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not describe any investment decisions made before bankruptcy. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsExplain how the company’s financial and investment decisions led to financial decline and bankruptcy.ExemplaryExplained how the company’s financial and investment decisions led to financial decline and bankruptcy. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentExplained how the company’s financial and investment decisions led to financial decline and bankruptcy, but the explanation was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementExplained how the company’s financial and investment decisions led to financial decline and bankruptcy, but the description was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not explain how the company’s financial and investment decisions led to financial decline and bankruptcy. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsAnalyze how the bankruptcy affected key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors/shareholders, suppliers and creditors, communities, and business partners.ExemplaryAnalyzed how the bankruptcy affected key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors/shareholders, suppliers and creditors, communities, and business partners. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentAnalyzed how the bankruptcy affected key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors/shareholders, suppliers and creditors, communities, and business partners, but the analysis was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementAnalyzed how the bankruptcy affected key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors/shareholders, suppliers and creditors, communities, and business partners, but the analysis was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not analyze how the bankruptcy affected key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors/shareholders, suppliers and creditors, communities, and business partners. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsAnalyze how the company’s decisions affected investor confidence and access to financing.ExemplaryAnalyzed how the company’s decisions affected investor confidence and access to financing. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentAnalyzed how the company’s decisions affected investor confidence and access to financing, but the analysis was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementAnalyzed how the company’s decisions affected investor confidence and access to financing, but the analysis was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not analyze how the company’s decisions affected investor confidence and access to financing. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsEvaluate whether the retailer invested in innovation, e-commerce, technology, or operational improvements to remain competitive.ExemplaryEvaluated whether the retailer invested in innovation, e-commerce, technology, or operational improvements to remain competitive. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentEvaluated whether the retailer invested in innovation, e-commerce, technology, or operational improvements to remain competitive, but the evaluation was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementEvaluated whether the retailer invested in innovation, e-commerce, technology, or operational improvements to remain competitive, but the evaluation was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not evaluate whether the retailer invested in innovation, e-commerce, technology, or operational improvements to remain competitive. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsSummarize key findings and lessons businesses can learn from the company’s failure.ExemplarySummarized key findings and lessons businesses can learn from the company’s failure. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentSummarized key findings and lessons businesses can learn from the company’s failure, but the summary was incomplete or incorrect on 1–2 key points. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementSummarized findings and lessons businesses can learn from the company’s failure, but the summary was incomplete or incorrect on more than two key points. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not summarize key findings and lessons businesses can learn from the company’s failure. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsFollow the requirements specified in the assignment instructions as to the number of slides, speaker notes, organization and formatting of content, title and sources slide.ExemplaryFollowed the requirements specified in the assignment instructions as to the number of slides, speaker notes, organization and formatting of content, title and sources slide. 20 to >17.99 ptsCompetentFollowed the requirements specified in the assignment instructions with the correct number of slides, but with 1–3 errors in the inclusion of speaker notes, organization and formatting of content, and the formatting and information on title and sources slide. 17.99 to >15.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementFollowed most of the requirements specified in the assignment instructions with four or more errors in the correct number of slides, the inclusion of speaker notes, organization and formatting of content, and the formatting and information on title and sources slide. 15.99 to >13.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not follow the requirements specified in the assignment instructions. 13.99 to >0 pts/20 ptsUse at least five credible, relevant, and appropriate sources to support your writing.ExemplaryUsed at least five credible, relevant, and appropriate sources. 10 to >8.99 ptsCompetentUsed five sources, but one source was not credible, relevant, or appropriate. 8.99 to >7.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementUsed fewer than five sources, or used five but two or more were not credible, relevant, or appropriate. 7.99 to >6.99 ptsUnacceptableDid not use any sources. 6.99 to >0 pts/10 ptsWriting contains accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling in accordance with SWS style.ExemplaryWriting contained accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling in accordance with SWS style, with 0–2 errors. 10 to >8.99 ptsCompetentWriting contained 3–4 errors in grammar, mechanics, spelling, and/or the application of SWS style. 8.99 to >7.99 ptsNeeds ImprovementWriting contained 5–6 errors in grammar, mechanics, spelling, and/or the application of SWS style. 7.99 to >6.99 ptsUnacceptableWriting contained more than six errors in grammar, mechanics, spelling, and/or the application of SWS style. 6.99 to >0 pts/10 pts