Assessment 4
Capstone Project
InstructionsResourcesActivityAttempt 1availableAttempt 2Attempt 3
InstructionsResourcesActivityAttempt 1 availableAttempt 2Attempt 3
Create a 15-20 page capstone paper that analyzes a business topic and provides recommendations and is supported with credible resources that demonstrate evidence-based thinking.
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Introduction
Throughout your MBA program, you have worked to develop as a business professional and prepare to meet future challenges as a business leader. Your program culminates in the capstone project, which forms the primary focus of this course, the final course you will take in the program. The capstone project is intended to provide for you the opportunity to demonstrate your MBA program outcomes in these ways:
· Planning and executing the strategic and tactical elements of a comprehensive project.
· Integrating and demonstrating the business leadership skills and techniques you have learned throughout the MBA program and your own growth as a business leader.
· Communicating your analysis and recommendations for a real organization both in written form and in a formal presentation.
· Completing your MBA program with an experience that reinforces what you have learned throughout your MBA program.
Assessment Description
For complete details, refer to the MBA Capstone Project Description [PDF] Download MBA Capstone Project Description [PDF]and scoring guide. Your capstone project should address these expectations:
· Apply foundational knowledge and an understanding of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines.
· Integrate information across disciplines from differing perspectives.
· Develop logical, well-supported, evidence-based solutions to business challenges and opportunities.
· Apply innovative, strategic, and sustainable approaches to business practice and planning.
· Apply leadership and collaboration principles and strategies for virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments.
· Integrate principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions.
· Communicate clearly and effectively in a business environment.
Additional Expectations
· Include an executive summary following your cover page.
· Include various body sections that contain the analysis and recommendations.
· Include a conclusion that summarizes main points of the paper.
As an MBA learner, you have access to a free subscription to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Take advantage of that subscription, and do some of your research in the WSJ. Try to include at least one source from the WSJ in your final draft.
Submission Requirements
· Style: Your paper should follow the corresponding MBA Academic and Professional Document Guidelines (available in the MBA Program Resources), including single-spaced paragraphs. Use a professional writing style.
· Communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message and quality.
· APA guidelines: Format your citations according to current APA style.
· Resources: Use at least six citations from credible sources.
· Length: Your paper should be 15–20 pages, not including front and back matter (cover page, executive summary, table of contents, references, appendices). Papers that do not meet this minimum will be immediately returned for revision.
· Font and font size: 12 point, Times New Roman.
ePortfolio
You should consider adding this to your personal ePortfolio. Your completion of this comprehensive capstone project demonstrates your ability to identify a problem or opportunity to be researched, analyze the data, apply your own leadership abilities to suggest solutions, and then present your analysis and conclusions in a credible way. This key program deliverable will be an invaluable part of your portfolio.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
· Competency 1: Apply foundational knowledge and an understanding of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines.
o Apply foundational knowledge and an understanding of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines.
· Competency 2: Integrate information across disciplines and from differing perspectives.
o Integrate most relevant supportive and conflicting information (data, insights, best practices) across disciplines from differing primary functional perspectives individually and holistically.
· Competency 3: Think critically and analytically to provide evidence-based solutions to business challenges and opportunities.
o Develop logical, well-supported solutions based on relevant, sound, logical, and credible evidence (data, insights, analyses, best practices) to solve business challenges and opportunities.
· Competency 4: Apply innovative, strategic, and sustainable approaches to business practice and planning.
o Apply innovative, strategic, and sustainable (long-term) approaches to business practice and planning.
· Competency 5: Lead and collaborate in virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments.
o Apply leadership and collaboration principles and strategies for virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments.
· Competency 6: Integrate principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions.
o Integrate principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions by assessing ethical implications and resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas.
· Competency 7: Communicate clearly and effectively in a business environment.
o Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional.
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
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Evidence-Based Decisions
You may find these resources on evidence-based decision making useful as you explore this topic:
· Building Your Credibility.
o This brief video provides an overview of how evidence-based decisions improve credibility.
· Center for Evidence-based Management. (n.d.). Articles on evidence-based management. https://www.cebma.org/articles/
· Barends, E., Rousseau, D. M., & Briner, R. B. (2014). Evidence-based management: The basic principles [PDF]. https://www.cebma.org/wp-content/uploads/Evidence-Based-Practice-The-Basic-Principles-vs-Dec-2015.pdf
o This is great primer on evidence-based decisions.
· Center for Evidence-based Management. (n.d.). Our presentations. https://www.cebma.org/presentations/
· Center for Evidence-Based Management. (n.d.). What is evidence-based management? https://www.cebma.org/faq/evidence-based-management/
· Decision Innovation. (n.d.). Evidence based decision making builds the case for the preferred solution. http://www.decision-making-solutions.com/evidence-based-decision-making.html
o Read this brief article to see what types of evidence are important and why, as well as to be aware of cautions against misuse of evidence that could damage your credibility.
· Pfeffer, J., & Sutton, R. I. (2006, January). Evidence-based management. Harvard Business Review, 84(1), 62–74.
Writing and Researching Tips
Strong writing leaves an impact, solicits responses, and connects with the intended audience through storytelling. You might find these chapters useful for crafting the story of your business topic via text and images:
· Huber, A. M. (2018). Telling the design story: Effective and engaging communication. Taylor & Francis.
o Chapter 3, “Story Design.”
o Chapter 4, “Writing for Impact.”
o Chapter 6, “Visual Storytelling.”
o Chapter 7, “Storytelling with Information.”
o Chapter 8, “Storytelling with Ideas.”