MBAA 551 Applied Business Project (ABP)

Calendar Description:

A substantive research-based project which will provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills through the investigation and analysis of a complex business problem or management issue that will form the basis of their internship (MBAA 550). Results must be presented in the appropriate written format.

The overall objective of the MBAA 551 Applied Business Project (ABP) is to demonstrate the student’s ability to undertake a practical business research project, built on the foundation of existing theory and sound methodology. The project should produce strong, well-supported, and workable recommendations.

Learners who successfully complete the course will have reliably demonstrated an ability to:

1. Identify a relevant research question of suitable scale related to the investigation and analysis of a complex business problem or management issue.
2. Create and execute a plan to address the relevant research question.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the current state of knowledge related to the research question.
4. Determine and apply a suitable methodology to carry out original research related to the research question.
5. Collect and analyze primary and/or secondary data related to the research question.
6. Determine key findings from the analysis of primary and/or secondary data.
7. Develop evidence-based recommendations to address the research question.
8. Evaluate ethical implications and sustainability issues and their impact on internal and external (including international) stakeholders.
9. Reflexively assess their own experience in the MBA program, ABP and internship and identify key learnings.
10. Demonstrate professionalism and effective communication skills throughout the research project.

Project Proposal

The first deliverable is an effective and feasible research project proposal that identifies: project clientele, participants, timelines, deliverables, communications methods, protocols and frequency. The proposal should:

1. Establish the general project domain, identifying the field of study, geographical and industrial boundaries;
2. Fully specify project clientele and other stakeholders with a general description of their interests and requirements;
3. Provide a clear timeline for the project work, including critical delivery dates, interactions with supervisor and clients, necessary concurrent activity;
4. Recommend protocols and a schedule for communications with client and supervisor, including delivery of interim report(s) and final report.

Topic Choice

As noted in the Learning Outcomes above, the MBAA 551 Applied Business Project (ABP) involves the student’s investigation and analysis of a complex business problem, or management issue. The topic the student chooses may be related to:

• The company in which they are completing their internship. In essence, the student is acting as an internal consultant to the organization in which they are doing their internship. The intention is to apply the knowledge and skills gained through their MBA program to a complex adaptive system (also known as an organization).
• A generic complex business problem or management issue.For example, students undertaking the Community Action Project (CAP) for their internship will likely pursue this option. In this instance, the student will need to prepare a written argument for why this exception is meaningful and should be considered. For example, if your company does not want you to write about their operations because of privacy issues, you might look at a generic challenge (i.e. industry based).
• A company the student wishes to work for or one that represents the kind of company they hope to create. The requirement that their work is grounded within an organizational or industry challengewill remain the same.