Final Project Deliverable #2 - due Wednesday 4/28 @ 4:30pm

BUS 450 (02) - Greening of Business SPRING 2021 Final Project Guidelines (300 points)

For this semester’s final project, you may apply Greening of Business concepts to a particular business enterprise, research endeavor, or creative project, working in a team or as an individual. The instructor can provide additional suggestions, examples, and feedback on project ideas and expectations upon request. The instructor will be available for final project check-ins during regular class hours on 4/27, and other times by appointment.

FOR ALL PROJECT OPTIONS - Deliverable 1: Project Idea (50pts) Due: Sunday, 3/21 by 10pm Format: Due via iLearn (one per project) Description: Prepare a one-page Project Idea that includes the following:

1. What type of project would you like to do: develop a proposal for a new business; develop a plan to green an existing business; creative project; or research project?

2. What is the big idea that you would like to pursue? (1-2 sentences) 3. Why did you decide on this idea? (2-3 sentences) 4. If working in a team, please list each team member and include either one specific role

that they will play in the project or one link to a helpful resource that they have found that will inform the team’s project. If doing an individual project, please list at least one resource that will inform your thinking.

5. Develop a proposed timeline for the project (including the deliverables below, plus additional steps needed to produce the deliverables).

TEAM PROJECT OPTIONS

Team Option 1: Develop a business plan for a new green business Your team may develop a plan for a new product or service that helps solve climate change. Your team will analyze the market opportunity and develop a proposal, including a budget, for introducing the product to market. You are encouraged to select a product that your team could realistically launch within three to five years with sufficient resources and expertise.

Team Option 2: Develop a plan to green an existing business Your team may develop a plan to improve the environmental performance of an existing organization (e.g. by improving resource use efficiency, reducing pollution, shifting to a circular business model, introducing new eco-friendly products, etc.). You are encouraged to select an area for improvement that your team is passionate about, that is a priority for an organization, or that you could realistically influence with a well-developed plan.

Deliverable 2 for team options 1 and 2: Draft Final Project (100 pts) Due: Wednesday, 4/28 by the start of class via iLearn

Description: - Video outline or draft slides organized in a professional way - For new businesses: Draft Excel budget with descriptive notes (template

provided) - For existing businesses: 2-3 page greening plan covering the who, what, when,

how, and why of your greening plan.

This deliverable will be assessed on completeness, quality, and level of detail provided.

Deliverable 3: Final Project (150 pts) Due 5/5 or 5/12: Video or live Zoom pitch followed by audience Q&A Due 5/12: Final Budget (for new businesses) or Greening Plan (for greening plans) submitted via iLearn

Description: - Video or live Zoom pitch describing your project to potential investors,

supporters, etc. (i.e. your classmates!). After your video or pitch, take and respond to questions from the audience.

- Final Budget (for new businesses) or Greening Plan (for existing businesses) submitted via iLearn.

- Time limit: 3 minutes (max) per team member, plus time for questions

Suggested content for video or pitch: ● Introduction, include catchy product or project name ● What is the problem being addressed and your proposed solution? ● What are the key features of the new business idea or greening plan? ● What does your team need to succeed (e.g. funding, executive support, customer

buy-in, etc.)?

Recommended additional content for new business video/pitch ● Target Market. What is your target market? ● Business Model. How do you plan to make money and/or fund the service? ● How is your product better than what is currently on the market? ● How much funding do you need to get started?

Recommended additional content for greening video/pitch ● Benefit to company. Why should the company make this improvement? ● Upfront investment. How much do you estimate it will cost to implement the

business improvement? Can you project the savings or revenues over time? ● Who needs to be involved? What is the proposed timeline for change?

This deliverable will be assessed on quality, feasibility, persuasiveness, and facilitation of audience discussion.

Team Option 3: Your team may produce a creative or research project on a Project Drawdown or Greening of Business topic. This may be in the form of a blog post, music video, research paper, etc. The format is up to your team, as long as you creatively apply course concepts or demonstrate mastery of course-related material.

Deliverable 2: Draft Project Outline (100 pts) Due: Wednesday, 4/28 by the start of class via iLearn Description:

- Detailed 2-3 page outline of your team project. Provide an overview of what your team plans to produce, including sections, script, slides, topics to be included, sources, tools or materials to be used, as relevant.

This deliverable will be assessed on completeness, quality, and level of detail provided.

Deliverable 3: Final project and summary report for class via Zoom (150 pts) Due: Project Share Wednesdays 5/5 or 5/12 Due: Final project submitted via iLearn 5/12

Description: - Share your actual project with the class or give a short summary during the Zoom

meeting followed by taking and responding to questions from the audience - Submit your project via iLearn (link, research paper, slide deck, image, etc.) - Time limit: 3 minutes (max) per team member

This deliverable will be assessed on quality, creativity or rigor of analysis, and facilitation of audience discussion. Research papers are to exemplify professional standards.

INDIVIDUAL PROJECT OPTIONS

Individual Option 1: Develop a business plan for a new green business

You may develop a plan for a new product or service that helps solve climate change. You will analyze the market opportunity and develop a proposal, including a draft budget, for introducing the product to market. You are encouraged to select a product that you could realistically launch within three to five years with sufficient resources and partners.

Individual Option 2: Develop a plan to green an existing business You may develop a plan to improve the environmental performance of an existing organization (e.g. by improving resource use efficiency, reducing pollution, shifting to a circular business model, introducing new eco-friendly products, etc.). You are encouraged to select an area for improvement that you are passionate about, that is a priority for an organization, or that you could realistically influence with the right strategy.

Deliverable 2 for options 1 and 2: Simplified Draft Budget or Greening Plan and Video or Pitch Outline (100 pts) Due: Wednesday 4/28 by the start of class via iLearn Description:

- Excel spreadsheet with descriptive notes based on provided template (for new businesses) or 1-page greening plan covering the who, what, when, how, and why of your plan (for existing businesses)

- 1 page outline of your video or draft slides, including relevant information organized in a professional way (standardized formatting, typo-free, etc.).

This deliverable will be assessed on completeness and level of detail provided.

Deliverable 3: Final video or live Zoom pitch, followed by audience Q&A (150 pts) Due: 5/5 or 5/12 in class Description:

- Submit video link or slide(s) via iLearn - 2-3-minute (max) video or live Zoom pitch describing your project to potential

investors, supporters, etc. Since this is a short pitch or video, I expect it to be polished, professional, and punchy (definition: having an immediate impact; effective).

- Field questions from the audience.

Suggested content for video or pitch: ● Introduction, include catchy product or project name ● What are the key features of the new business idea or greening plan? ● What do you need to succeed (e.g. funding, executive support, customer buy-in,

etc.)?

Potential additional content for new business video/pitch ● Target Market. What is your target market? ● Business Model. How do you plan to make money and/or fund the service? ● How is your product better than what is currently on the market? ● How much funding do you need to get started?

Potential additional content for greening video/pitch ● Benefit to company. Why should the company make this improvement? ● Upfront investment. How much do you estimate it will cost to implement the

business improvement? Can you project the savings or revenues over time? ● Who needs to be involved? What is the proposed timeline for change?

This deliverable will be assessed on quality, feasibility, persuasiveness, and facilitation of audience discussion.

Individual Option 3: You may produce a creative or research project on a Project Drawdown or Greening of Business topic. This may be in the form of a blog post, music video, extended reflection, research paper, or other format of your choice.

Deliverable 2: Draft Project Outline (100 pts) Due: Wednesday, 4/28 by the start of class Description: Detailed 1-2 page outline of your project (e.g. provide a detailed overview of what you plan to produce, including sections, script, slides, topics to be covered, etc.)

This deliverable will be assessed on completeness and level of detail provided.

Deliverable 3: Final project and summary report for class via Zoom (150 pts) Due: Summary report due 5/5 or 5/12 via Zoom meeting Due: Final project submitted by 5/12 Description:

- Share your project with the class or give a brief summary via Zoom (2-3 minutes max).

- Solicit and respond to questions from the audience - Submit your project via iLearn (link, paper, slide deck, etc.)

This deliverable will be assessed on quality, creativity or rigor of analysis, and facilitation of audience discussion.