Final Project:The Business of Food

Final Project Presentations (300 pts)
Due: Finals Week, June 15-19 (exact finals date TBA)

Prompt and Guidelines:

In groups of three, you will put together and make a 15-20-minute presentation to the class, using visual aids. Notice the plural in there; aids. The most basic visual aid will that you are required to use is a PowerPoint presentation. You must also put together a brief proposal (2-3 pages) with cited research, a poster and a sample menu. You must also hand in a Bibliography (Work Cited page) of researched data used in all documents.

Specifically, you are a group of burgeoning restaurateurs / restaurant owners. You have an idea for a restaurant, you’ve done your research on both the food and the business side, and you need a financial backer. You set up a meeting with a wealthy businessman and his group of lawyers and accountants. You must impress him with both a thorough consideration and outline of the economic aspects, as well as showing him your vision of what the restaurant will look like.

Immediately start research on restaurants and what kind of material goods (from building space to stoves to forks) will be needed and how much things cost (budget!). Those who choose option 2 should to immediately start looking up modern architectural terms, designs, etc. Both groups will benefit from understanding some of the basic/known figures and terms in either the culinary (cooking) or architectural worlds.


Expected Material:

1) Restaurant Concept business proposal

• With restaurant design/concept and other logistical considerations outlined
  
• Discuss menu items and approach towards customers
  
• Explanation/ rationale for concept (why your place will make money)
  
• Researched, thought out points (cited studies)
  
• Address budget concerns; show were money is going!
  

2) PowerPoint with visuals, and main points of proposal highlighted and visualized

• Use of graphics
  
• Use of bulleted points
  
• Clear, readable slides
  
• Prepared team speech to go along with slides
  

3) A poster/advertisement for restaurant that includes graphics, color and appropriate formatting and content choices

• Colors and fonts that fit concept
  
• Important logistical information, appropriate placed 
  
• A memorable slogan and/or content that fits concept
  

4) A sample menu for restaurant

• Content – example food dishes
  
• Design aspects
  

5) Bibliography (Work Cited Page) of research for project

6) One extra technical document – your choice…something group feels is needed for with presentation

7) Other visual/ audio aids: poster-board with restaurant sign; appropriate music (to enhance vision); a company website (this would be impressive and time-consuming, and those with skills and knowledge are encouraged to go with your guts!)

5/27: Charts and Graphs in Documents

Charts and Graphs tutorial...

Practicing Chart

Below is the data that we will use to familiarize ourselves with making charts and graphs. Though the process can be intimidating (at least it is to me, the professor!), and involves using both Word and Excel, once you get the hang of making the graphics, you'll find them not as hard to really make.


1) Having your data handy is the very important first step. You need:

• The numerical values (money spent, intervals)
  
• The items whose values you are comparing (on Excel they call these "categories")
  
• How many times you plan to compare the items (one year, two year, etc.)
  

Example: 2009 Budget for Nike-Apple Integration for Apple

1. Project Management combined salary (executive personnel): 200,000

2. Software Design Team combinedsalary: 450, 000

3. Chicago Technology Lab (new division/area): 1 million

4. Ground transportation of product: 300, 000

5. Air Transportation of product/ team members: 150, 000

Okay, above are example budget concerns that may show up in a proposal. All of this numerical data can be better displayed using graphics. Below are steps outlined for using Word 2003.


Microsoft 2003 steps for making a chart:

1) On the Insert menu, click Object, and then click the Create New tab.

2) In the Object type box, click Microsoft Graph Chart, and then click OK.

Microsoft Graph displays a chart and its associated sample data in a table called a datasheet.

3) To replace the sample data, click a cell (cell: A box formed by the intersection of a row and column in a worksheet or a table, in which you enter information.) on the datasheet, and then type the new text or numbers.


Note: If you close the datasheet you can reopen it by double-clicking the chart and then clicking Datasheet on the View menu.

BTS Student Example, With Comments