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Bus 210

Project Guidelines

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of your term project is to provide you with an opportunity to develop in-depth
critical thinking, planning, and management skills. Projects will be completed in your class
teams (same as case teams).

Projects entail the following responsibilities:

1. Topic presentation
2. Written paper
3. Visual display of main findings of the project

Format and Content of Project

The project itself is fairly open-ended with several options open to you:

1. Develop a plan to solve a problem or exploit an opportunity in an organization

2. Write an executive briefing paper on a management topic
3. Conduct a research study and write a standard research paper documenting the results
4. Another format that you discuss with me before doing the project

Problem-Solving Or Opportunity-Exploiting Paper

Your task is to apply the course material to either of these issues for the organization of your
choice. Your impetus may be any number of things: a simple desire for enhanced performance,
a critical performance problem, a need to develop new business processes, etc. Your efforts may
focus on whatever aspect of the organization you feel is relevant. The content of your paper
should include (at a minimum):

1. A concise description of the problem or situation you face and its relevant attributes
2. A diagnosis of its causes
3. A complete description of your recommendations for solving it including complete
implementation plans and contingency plans

Executive Briefing Or White Paper

The purpose of the project is to allow you to research in depth a particular topic of interest. You
should do an extensive review and synthesis of both "popular" and "academic" literature on your
subject. Your paper should present your research in an easily understandable fashion. At a
minimum, your paper would include
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1. A write-up of your research that reviews and integrates information across your sources
and evaluates the quality of the information
2. A discussion of the managerial and organizational implications of your information
3. A discussion of further research needed

Original Research Paper

This is a more traditional format. In this type of paper, you formulate a hypothesis and collect
original data to investigate your idea. In the paper, you should:

1. Survey and report on the literature relevant to your hypothesis

2. Describe your method (including sample, procedures, and variables)
3. Report on the analysis of your results
4. Discuss the implications of your findings

Other Format

If you have any other ideas for topics or formats for the project, please do talk to me about them.
I would much rather that you do something in which you are interested or which will be of use
to you than do something right out of the syllabus.

Responsibilities and Deliverables

Topic Presentation

The project topic presentation should be a five minute (maximum) presentation of the topic you
have identified. You will present your topic to a subset of the class and get feedback from them
on your ideas. I strongly encourage you to consult with me regarding your topic before you
begin. Please do so by the sixth week of the term. I am also happy to provide feedback on first,
second, third, etc. drafts of your project.

Written Paper

The paper is due the last day of class. Papers should be of sufficient length to get the job done. I
do not care about fonts, margins, etc., as long as they are reasonable and consistent. You may
use any standard reference format. Please just be consistent and accurate.

Project Display

Project displays will be made on the last day of class. The purpose of these presentations is to
inform all of us about your project.

Your presentation will be similar to those at poster sessions at professional conferences (or trade
shows, if you really make a stretch). Your presentation will be largely visual. Each group will
be assigned to a wall space around the classroom. You should prepare either PowerPoint slides
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or other visual documentation of your project. There is no need to make this overly dramatic or
complex. Three sections should be sufficient:

1. Statement of Purpose
2. Major Findings
3. Conclusions/Implications.

Your displays should be self-explanatory. You need only to be available to answer questions
from viewers. You do NOT need to make a formal oral presentation.

Grading Criteria

Your grade will be determined by both the content and style of the paper. As in previous
assignments, I am most concerned about the quality of the information, analysis, evaluation, and
the clarity, persuasiveness, and accuracy of your communication (including spelling, grammar,
etc.).