Competency
In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competency:

Utilize information from industry and scholarly sources to inform problem solving and decision making
Scenario
You are the sales department manager for a U.S.-based company that builds engines for the automotive manufacturing industry. Your company is considering diversifying into other business opportunities where your motors can be sold in order to bolster the companys portfolio and increase revenue. Based on your knowledge of the national sales landscape, your manager would like you to conduct preliminary research and prepare a presentation with your recommendation for opportunity in a new industry that will allow for this diversification through a new sales division and increased sales. You have been asked to make your presentation at the next stakeholder meeting, where you will address internal stakeholders from across the company as well as external stakeholders such as customers, investors, and suppliers.

As a preliminary step in developing this presentation, your manager would like to see an executive summary of your research findings and evaluate your decision modeling.

Directions
Part 1: Define
You will first conduct research on the U.S.-based automotive manufacturing industry using the Shapiro Library database links provided in the supporting materials section below. Then, prepare an analysis report that addresses the following:

Define the problem.
Explain the type of qualitative and quantitative data you will be targeting in your research.
Provide a broad description of the U.S. automotive manufacturing industry and its net worth. Include:
Total net worth of the industry
Sales by region
Sales by fuel type: electric, hybrid, and gas
Describe the current trends in the automotive market.
The trend toward different types of motors for the vehicles being made and sold, such as electric and hybrid
Trends in customer demands such as vehicle color, extra features, and styles
Trends in the body types of vehicles sold (SUVs, trucks, sedans)

Part 2: Research (Durable Goods)

Please use Durable Goods aka raw materials industry

Provide a broad description of the new industry.
Describe the overall attractiveness of the industry.
Is this a growing industry?
Is this an industry that has a lot of growth potential?
What outside factors are affecting its growth?
Identify the factors that have allowed competitors to be successful in this industry thus far.
Summarize the overall net worth of the industry.
How is the industry currently trending?
Summarize the sales by region.
Define expected growth areas.
Describe the current market trends for the new industry.
What products or services are trending?
What are some current customer demands?
Perform a Porters Five Forces analysis to determine the potential success of moving into this new industry.
Explain your rationale.

Part 3: Compare
Compare the Automotive and Durable Goods industries and summarize your findings.

Perform a Porters Five Forces analysis to compare the two industries.
Summarize how your findings address the problem.