Students working through GM520 often discover that Week 2 is where the project begins to take shape. The discussion shifts from broad ideas to structured planning, team roles, research responsibilities, and realistic timelines. A strong Week 2 submission lays the foundation for everything that follows.
- Choose a focused project topic with clear business relevance.
- Define objectives, deliverables, and success criteria.
- Assign responsibilities to each team member.
- Create a realistic timeline with milestones.
- Identify research sources and supporting data.
- Anticipate risks and communication challenges.
- Prepare a concise and organized written submission.
If you need background help, start with the home page. You may also find these resources useful:project support,team collaboration,presentation outline,research guide, andassignment structure.
What GM520 Week 2 Usually Requires
Week 2 commonly asks students to present a formal project plan. Depending on the instructor's wording, you may need to identify the project topic, explain why it matters, define roles, establish milestones, and outline how your team will gather evidence.
The assignment looks simple on the surface, but professors are evaluating several skills at once:
- Strategic thinking
- Team coordination
- Research planning
- Business communication
- Project management fundamentals
A thoughtful response demonstrates that your team is organized and capable of delivering a polished final project.
How Project Planning Actually Works
What Matters Most
- Clear problem statement — what business issue are you solving?
- Specific objectives — what outcomes will the project achieve?
- Defined scope — what is included and excluded?
- Role ownership — who is responsible for each task?
- Realistic timeline — when will milestones be completed?
- Reliable research — what data supports your recommendations?
- Risk planning — what could delay progress?
Many students assume planning means writing a list of tasks. In reality, effective project planning connects every task to a business objective and assigns accountability.
Step 1: Select a Narrow and Manageable Topic
The strongest projects focus on a specific organizational challenge rather than a broad industry issue.
Weak Topics
- Improving healthcare
- Reducing employee turnover
- Expanding into new markets
Strong Topics
- Reducing nurse overtime costs in a regional hospital
- Improving retention among first-year call center employees
- Launching a subscription model for a mid-size software company
A narrow topic makes research easier and recommendations more persuasive.
Step 2: Define the Problem Statement
Your problem statement should explain:
- What is happening?
- Why is it a problem?
- Who is affected?
- What evidence suggests action is needed?
Example:
The organization has experienced a 28% turnover rate among newly hired customer service representatives, increasing recruitment costs and reducing service consistency.
Step 3: Establish Project Objectives
Objectives should be measurable and aligned with the final deliverable.
| Weak Objective | Improved Objective |
|---|---|
| Study turnover. | Identify three root causes of first-year employee turnover and recommend two cost-effective retention strategies. |
| Analyze customer satisfaction. | Compare customer satisfaction trends across three service channels and propose improvements. |
Step 4: Define Deliverables
Deliverables are the outputs your team will submit.
- Research summary
- Data analysis
- PowerPoint presentation
- Recommendations
- Speaker notes
Step 5: Assign Team Roles
Even if all members contribute to every section, assigning primary ownership prevents confusion.
| Role | Main Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Project Manager | Coordinates deadlines and meetings |
| Lead Researcher | Finds academic and business sources |
| Data Analyst | Interprets statistics and charts |
| Writer/Editor | Ensures consistency and APA formatting |
| Presentation Designer | Creates slides and visuals |
Step 6: Build a Timeline
Sample Week-by-Week Timeline
- Week 2: Topic selection and project plan
- Week 3: Literature review and source collection
- Week 4: Data analysis and draft recommendations
- Week 5: Presentation development
- Week 6: Final editing and submission
Always include internal deadlines that are earlier than the official due date.
Step 7: Plan Your Research Strategy
List where information will come from:
- Peer-reviewed journals
- Government reports
- Industry white papers
- Company annual reports
- Professional associations
Use the research guide for source selection strategies.
Step 8: Identify Risks
Project risks are common in team assignments.
- Missed deadlines
- Uneven workload distribution
- Communication delays
- Weak research quality
- Formatting inconsistencies
Explain how your team will reduce these risks.
Step 9: Create a Communication Plan
Describe:
- Meeting frequency
- Primary communication tool
- Response expectations
- Conflict resolution process
More collaboration tips are available in the team collaboration guide.
Project Planning Template
Project Topic:Business Problem:Objectives:Deliverables:Team Roles:Timeline:Research Sources:Risks:Communication Plan:Success Criteria:
What Other Students Often Miss
Common Oversights
- Choosing a topic that is too broad
- Assigning roles without deadlines
- Ignoring data requirements
- Not defining success criteria
- Waiting until the final week to build slides
Professors reward teams that think ahead and anticipate execution challenges.
Mistakes That Lower Grades
- Generic objectives with no measurable outcome
- No evidence of team coordination
- Unrealistic timeline
- Limited research sources
- Missing risk assessment
- Poor APA formatting
How to Write a Strong GM520 Week 2 Submission
Organize your response with clear headings and concise paragraphs. Use business language, not vague academic wording. Show how your planning choices support the final recommendation.
For writing help and editing support, some students use professional academic services when deadlines are tight.
Recommended Academic Writing Services
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If your team is behind schedule, these services can help polish drafts, improve clarity, and ensure APA compliance before submission.
Example Project Planning Summary
A five-member team selects the topic of reducing turnover among call center employees. The project manager schedules weekly meetings. The researcher gathers six peer-reviewed articles and industry reports. The analyst compares turnover metrics and costs. The writer prepares the final report, while the designer builds the presentation. Milestones are set for source collection, analysis, drafting, and final editing.
This structure demonstrates ownership, accountability, and a logical workflow.
How Instructors Evaluate the Assignment
Most grading rubrics focus on:
- Clarity of the project topic
- Quality of objectives
- Feasibility of timeline
- Evidence of teamwork
- Research planning
- Professional presentation
Preparing for Later Weeks
Week 2 planning decisions affect every future deliverable. A weak project plan often leads to confusion, duplicated work, and rushed analysis. A strong plan makes later weeks significantly easier.
When developing slides, review the presentation outline. For organizing your written response, see the assignment structure guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How detailed should the GM520 Week 2 project plan be?
Your plan should be detailed enough to show exactly how the team will complete the project. Include the topic, objectives, roles, timeline, research sources, risks, and communication methods. Instructors want evidence that your team has thought through the process rather than simply choosing a topic.
What if our team members disagree on the topic?
Choose a topic using objective criteria: availability of research, business relevance, manageable scope, and team interest. Vote after discussing pros and cons. If disagreement continues, select the option with the strongest available evidence and clearest path to actionable recommendations.
How many sources should we plan to use?
Most graduate business projects benefit from at least 6–10 strong sources, including peer-reviewed journals and reputable industry reports. The exact number depends on assignment expectations, but quality matters more than quantity.
Can one student complete most of the work?
While some members may contribute more, instructors expect balanced participation. Assigning clear ownership and documenting responsibilities helps distribute work fairly and reduces tension later in the course.
What is the most important part of the project plan?
The most important element is alignment. Your problem statement, objectives, research strategy, timeline, and deliverables should all support the same business goal. When these pieces fit together logically, the project becomes much easier to execute.
Should we include risks even if the professor does not ask?
Yes. Briefly identifying risks demonstrates mature project management thinking. It shows your team understands potential obstacles and has a plan to address them before they affect performance.
Final Thoughts
GM520 Week 2 is the point where successful teams separate themselves from disorganized groups. A clear topic, measurable objectives, realistic timeline, and defined responsibilities create momentum for the rest of the course.
Invest time in planning now, and the final project will be easier to research, write, and present.