Project LifeCourse

Client: Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts Target: LifeCourse Associates

KKR

  

LCA

LifeCourse Associates
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) is an investment bank that assembles funds from institutional and wealthy investors to buy companies with the intent of improving them and then selling them for a profit. The firm's website claims that KKR has completed "more than 150 transactions involving in excess of $279 billion of total financing".  Although they have 90 professionals dedicated to sourcing, analyzing, executing and managing investments, they know little of US History. That's where the scholars of AP US History come in.

KKR is reviewing a possible takeover target, (LifeCourse Associates), and they need your expertise in United States History to assess the historical theories upon which the business is based. 

LifeCourse Associates (LCA) is a publishing, speaking, and consulting company founded on the theory of history advanced by Neil Howe and William Strauss.  They not only sell books, but provide provide companies like Ford, Honda, Merrill Lynch and Walt Disney with marketing advice in the form of predictions of buying and living habits of the public.

from the LCA website:

Ford Motor Company wanted to understand how car tastes were likely to change in the 2000-2010 decade as generations began to move into their next phases of life. They also wanted to know whether and how these trends were playing out in overseas markets. The Department of Defense, in order to plan a new "corporate" recruiting campaign, wanted greater insight into how each living generation currently viewed military service and what messages might best improve the military's image with different age groups.

The profits of LifeCourse Associates are based on a conception of history - if that conception is correct, LCA profits would be enormous - which explains the interest of KKR.   However, if this theory is too general or inaccurate, making a move on this company would be a complete waste.

LifeCourse Associates could be a target of a KKR takeover - you must help them decide if this is a sound investment.

Therefore your group will act as consultants to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.  They need to understand the historical foundation upon which LifeCourse Associates is based, they must also figure out whether this theory is valid.

You are expected to create the products outlined below in a polished, professional manner.  Adherence to interim due dates in the creation of high quality presentations and well-documented, fully referenced and comprehensively researched reports are assumed.  

Main Project Products

I.  Your first task is to provide a synopsis of the theories of history and generation of Neil Howe and William Strauss in a stand-alone media product (video or narrated PowerPoint) that will not last longer than 8 minutes.  The representatives of our client do not have the time to listen to high school students make presentations, they need a product that they can view when they have the opportunity.

II.  Your second task is to provide a written report of not less than 2,500 and not more than 3,000 words that explains a purchase recommendation for KKR.  

III.  Your third task is to present the written report to the class in rehearsal for the formal presentation to KKR.