MGT 5093 Capstone Project Business Management & Strategy Capstone Project Course Overview The catalog description of this course reads as follow: This course is designed for learners to improve business decision-makingskills and to provide strategies for development ofan effective and sustainable business management plan for an organization.Topics covered include the concepts of strategic management and decision makingin a business organization. This course reviews the impact of globalization, innovation, and other challenges to the sustainability of an effective strategic management plan for anorganization. Important concepts are analyzed to effectively manage an organization.  The project is completely individualized; students are encouraged to select work-related projects that are of particular interest to them and that will result in professional growth and benefit the organization. The goal is to produce a viable Strategic Plan & Business Ppolicy—one that has a real chance of being accepted—and to prepare documents and a public presentation that will convince the agency administrators to adopt your idea and plan. I. Written Project or Policy Report · Your professor will assume the role of Capstone Supervisor of the project or policy you have designed for the organization of your choice and will work with you to ask for additional narrative, documentation, research-derived information, etc. You will assume the role of Strategic Planning Director. · You will communicate each week with your instructor (via Discussion Boards or other means of communication) to discuss the progress of your project. · You may desire to establish a phone consultation with your professor to track your ongoing work on the project. Your professor will provide you with his or her schedule to ensure that these consultations comply with both of your schedules. · Your professor may ask drafts of your written work throughout the eight week term; the professor will set a clearly established deadline for drafts. · Any e-mail message between you and your professor that requires a response from either party will be followed-up within 48 hours. · At the end of the term (on a date provided by your professor), you will deliver a 2000-4500 word (10-15 pages) written project report that is consistent with criteria established. Report Requirements: · 1” Margins · Double spaced · 12 point font · Numbered pages · Cover and reference page · Must utilize academic sources to support research Format of paper-- Headings 1. Abstract 1. Introduction 1. Background of Project 1. Explanation of Project 1. Strategic Plan & Business Policy 1. Curriculum Components 1. Review and Summary Appendix A Budget *You may add other appendices for charts, surveys, and other information you would like to include with your project. Note: Your paper must conform to the guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association, and should NOT be written in first person. ...

1. MGT 5093 Capstone Project
Business Management & Strategy Capstone Project
Course Overview
The catalog description of this course reads as follow:
This course is designed for learners to improve business
decision-makingskills and to provide strategies for development
ofan effective and sustainable business management plan for an
organization.Topics covered include the concepts of strategic
management and decision makingin a business organization.
This course reviews the impact of globalization, innovation, and
other challenges to the sustainability of an effective strategic
management plan for anorganization. Important concepts are
analyzed to effectively manage an organization.
The project is completely individualized; students are
encouraged to select work-related projects that are of particular
interest to them and that will result in professional growth and
benefit the organization. The goal is to produce a viable
Strategic Plan & Business Ppolicy—one that has a real chance
of being accepted—and to prepare documents and a public
presentation that will convince the agency administrators to
adopt your idea and plan.
I. Written Project or Policy Report
· Your professor will assume the role of Capstone Supervisor of
the project or policy you have designed for the organization of
your choice and will work with you to ask for additional

2. narrative, documentation, research-derived information, etc.
You will assume the role of Strategic Planning Director.
· You will communicate each week with your instructor (via
Discussion Boards or other means of communication) to discuss
the progress of your project.
· You may desire to establish a phone consultation with your
professor to track your ongoing work on the project. Your
professor will provide you with his or her schedule to ensure
that these consultations comply with both of your schedules.
· Your professor may ask drafts of your written work throughout
the eight week term; the professor will set a clearly established
deadline for drafts.
· Any e-mail message between you and your professor that
requires a response from either party will be followed-up within
48 hours.
· At the end of the term (on a date provided by your professor),
you will deliver a 2000-4500 word (10-15 pages) written project
report that is consistent with criteria established.
Report Requirements:
· 1” Margins
· Double spaced
· 12 point font
· Numbered pages
· Cover and reference page
· Must utilize academic sources to support research
Format of paper-- Headings
1. Abstract

3. 1. Introduction
1. Background of Project
1. Explanation of Project
1. Strategic Plan & Business Policy
1. Curriculum Components
1. Review and Summary
Appendix A Budget
*You may add other appendices for charts, surveys, and other
information you would like to include with your project.
Note: Your paper must conform to the guidelines set forth by
the American Psychological Association, and should NOT be
written in first person.
II. Final Presentation:
You will make a formal presentation to your professor and
possibly other panelists in-person or virtually (depending on
whether you are in a seated or online class) which will be
graded and included in the evaluation of the final course grade.
The committee of professors will assume the role of Agency or
Constituency Board of Directors who have final say on the
implementation of your project or policy.
The presentation will consist of:
· A professional power point presentation of the project
(approximately 15 minutes long) designed to present your plan
to the committee of: a) the value of the plan and policy; b) the
thoroughness of your preparation; and c) your potential for
success.
Detailed Outline
Your capstone project should be based on the following outline:

4. I. Abstract
a. Should provide an overview of the project summarizing the
key points.
b. Briefly introduces the problem and the program/policy.
II. Introduction
a. Formally begins presentation of the problem, introduces the
need for the strategic plan and business poicy, and leads into
the background section.
III. Background (Analysis of the Problem)
1. Document need for strategic change
1. How do you define it?
2. Set boundaries
2. Describe history of problem
1. How long has it existed?
2. Has it changed over time?
3. Examine potential causes of problem
1. What factors cause or contribute to your identified problem
or need? Individual? Group? Organizational? Community?
Social Structure?
4. Identify relevant stakeholders
1. Stakeholder is any person, group, or agency who has a
legitimate interest in the organizational problems and/or
proposed intervention.
2. Asks whose views should be considered in planning process.
5. Identify barriers to change.
1. Insert your Force Field Analysis here.

5. 2. See pg. 53 – barriers may come in the forms of: Physical,
Social, Economic, Educational, Legal, Political, Technological
3. Make sure to include an objective, driving forces, and
restraining forces
IV. Explanation of the Project
a. Mission Statement
1. The objective of the organization itself, and within it, the
goal of the strategic plan itself.
b. Identify Goals and Objectives – see Chapter 2 of Welsh and
Harris textbook
1. Identify Goals:
i. Intended change in business policy
ii. Should be two sentences max. Brief but thorough explanation
of the goal of the project.
iii. Should not have more than two goals.
2. Identify Objectives
i. 3-5 objectives should follow.
ii. Define clearly and concisely exactly what outcome is to be
achieved.
iii. Should include
a. time frame for measuring impact – when will objectives be
completed?
b. key result intended – i.e. a specific change in the problem
V. Strategic Plan
a. Strategic Plan Design –
1. Define target population: Who will be affected by the
strategic plan? What is the organizational population and
culture?
2. Define Decision authority: Who has the authority to carry out
the plan?

6. 3. Provide the provisions of the strategic plan
i. Vision
ii. Mission
iii. Strategic Objectives
iv. Business Policy Strategy
4. Corporate Strategy
i. Overall direction of company and management of it’s business
5. Business Strategy
i. Competitive Strategies
ii. Cooperative Strategies
6. Functional Strategy
i. Maximize Resource Productivity
7. Policy – what links the strategy to the implementation?
8. Strategy Implementation
9. Evaluation & Control
i. Performance
ii. Feedback
b. Develop an Action Plan (i.e writing the instructions!)
1. Specify dates by which implementation tasks will be
accomplished and assign responsibilities throughout the
organization for carrying out tasks.
2. Develop mechanisms of self-regulation
i. Create mechanisms to monitor strategic performance
3. Specify plan to build and maintain support:
i. Anticipate sources of resistance and develop responses.
VI. Curriculum Components (only if applicable)
a. Add this section to your program.
1. Should include important topics your coursework throughout
your degree program.
2.
b. Confirming comprehension of key business components
related to your graduate degree program

7. VII. Review and Summary
a. Provide a brief Review and Summarythat “connects the dots”
of how the strategic plan will benefit the organization and
business community.
APPENDIX A: Budget
a. Create Line Item Budget.
1. Develop a complete budget for your strategic project. Utilize
an Excel spreadsheet to present the numbers, and attach an
accompanying page that provides the basis for the numbers
entered.
2. You must demonstrate an excellent grasp of the line item
budgeting process as indicated by detailed budget categories
with precise supportive rationale. Fully-detailed support for the
numbers must also be supplied.
Note: You may have additional appendices for various
attachments you want to include with your project.
DESCRIPTION
TOTAL POINTS
I. Abstract
Briefly summarizes the project
5
II. Introduction & Background
Meets the criteria established under 5093 Outline.
15
III. Explanation of Project

8. Meets the criteria established under 5093 Outline.
20
IV. Program or Policy Design
Meets the criteria established under 5093 Outline.
30
V. Curriculum Components
Not graded.
10
VI. Review & Summary
Meets the criteria established under 5093 Outline.
10
VII. Appendix A: Budget
Not graded.
10
Capstone Total
Possible 100 Pts
PRESENTATION
Student will be evaluated by a panel of professionals on the
presentation and program viability pursuant to the presentation
rubric.
25
Total Presentation
Possible 25
Capstone Presentation Rubric
Session:
Student:
Project Title:

9. Presentation Evaluation (scale: 0=unacceptable 2=superior)
Organization & Clarity 0 1 2
Use of Prior MBA or MSEM course material 0 1 2
Professionalism 0 1 2
(demonstrated expertise)
PowerPoint slides (clarity, parsimony, 0 1 2
(attractiveness, coherence)
Q & A facility 0 1 2
(adept, well-conceived responses to questions)
Project Evaluation (scale: 0=unworkable 2=fundable and
sustainable)
Feasibility/Attractiveness 0 1 2
Logical Implementation 0 1 2
Ease of Operationalization 0 1 2
Viability/Sustainability 0 1 2
Evidence-based 0 1 2
Total Score: _______/25
2
1