Business Analyst

Team 3

Veronica Aguila

Rori Jackson

Nneka Okobi

Fayetteville State University

School of Business and Economics

BIDA 670, Spring 2024

April 28, 2024

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

1.1. General Overview of The Contents

1.2. Motivation

1.3. Goals

1.4. Company Background

2. Problem Definition

3. Literature Review

4. Approach / Methodology

5. Data Collection

6. Implementation

7. Results and Analysis

8. Project Evaluation

8.1. Project Outcomes

8.2. Contribution To Company

8.3. Contribution to Student

8.4. Performance of Team

9. Conclusion

10. Appendix

1. Introduction

Our analysis encompasses the developing youth STEM programs of the Emerging Technology Institute, a small military and first responder training company. The overarching goal of this research is to optimize its Cohort 4 program called the Young Innovators program. The Young Innovators program is a high-impact internship program targeted towards high school upper class students and college students and prepares them to enter a technologically driven workforce. The structure of the Young Innovators program is undergoing a restructuring thus, this research is critical in setting the foundation for future Cohorts. There are approximately ten Cohort 4 participants during the 2023-2024 school year. The organization aims to increase the participant size and number of internship iterations. To do this, ETI must understand the dynamics between baseline STEM skills and attitude evaluations, workforce readiness metrics and digital competencies.

1.1. General Overview of the Contents

We will explore ETI’s background and evolution, the challenges it faces, and the motivations and goals of this research. Subsequently, we will navigate through a comprehensive literature review of workforce readiness and digital competency as it relates to technological careers. Following, we will meticulously lay out the approach and methodology adopted for the research to include data collection and survey assessments. The culmination will include a discussion of the implications and significance of the research and transformative options for ETI.

1.2. Motivation

Firstly, the motivation behind this research is driven by ETI’s innate desire to offer a next step solution to youth in STEM who are interested in pursuing technology careers. Secondly, to impart on today’s emerging and young adults the skills to successfully operate in the technology driven workforce. Finally, to generate a positive understanding and increased awareness of career opportunities working alongside the military and federal workforce. The company's primary challenge is identifying which metrics are most useful in determining attitude improvements and skill competencies of their emerging and young adult populations.

1.3. Goals

The goals set forth for this research are designed to create the foundation to measure outcomes of ETI’s youth STEM programs. Further, to develop an analysis framework that can be applicable to Cohorts 1-3 which will feed relevant information into benchmarks for Cohort 4 of the Young Innovators program.

1.3.1. The first goal is to establish and validate baseline metrics used to determine participant success.

1.3.2. The second goal is to evaluate the digital competencies of high school students and college students as it pertains to workforce readiness.

1.3.3. The third goal is to identify key steps of the program life cycle, from inception to post-baccalaureate employment, relevant to data collection and analysis.

1.4. Company Background

Emerging Technology Institute (ETI) is a small military and first responder professional training and coaching company established around 2018. ETI specializes in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), robotics and artificial intelligence in addition to offering tactical training at their facilities. Emerging Technology Institute (ETI) is a small military and first responder professional training and coaching company established in 2018. In 2022, ETI established its youth STEM program, broadened to elementary through college students, that offers STEM engagements and curriculum described as Level 1 – 4 services. Services include school-based engagements, intensive clinics, camps, and opportunities for competitions, scholarships, and internships. The goal of the program is to expose students to technology careers and develop the skills needed in Department of Defense and the American workforce.

2. Problem Definition

The company has not established baseline data collection efforts to track participant progress through Cohort programs. Current data collection has revolved around observational engagement and attitude perceptions for Cohorts 1-3. The company is interested in having the ability to determine if positive changes in skills and attitudes correlate with high-impact services to maximize program participation and output. Further, the company would like to understand which indicators are significant in determining changes in skills and attitudes.

3. Literature Review

The DoD (Department of Defense) STARBASE 2022 Annual Report highlights the program's continuous dedication to give the underserve youth with quality STEM learning opportunities and to introduce them with real world applications within military setting (Department of Defense, 2022). This practical experience not only promotes the students' interest in STEM domains but also provides them with the skills needed to efficiently operate in this technological era.

Goulart et al. (2021) highlight the significance of higher education in equipping students with the right knowledge for the digital age, where institutions would be expected to modify their course contents to accord with the changing demands of the job market. Furthermore, Li (2022) puts emphasis on the development of reskilling and upskilling programs so that the existing workforce can keep up with the dramatic restructuring, which comes with the new wave of industry 4.0.

Integration of the objectives of DoD STARBASE program with the implications provided by Goulart et al. (2021) and Li (2022) leads to the conclusion that such programs are the key to overcoming those shortages which exist in educational practices, but which are necessary for the workforce of the present technological age. This STARBASE program, which emphasizes STEM education as well as military precision and discipline, is the pillar of the effort in shaping a workforce that is technically savvy, capable of quick adaptation and innovation. Therefore, the DoD STARBASE program can be seen as a prototype model for workforce readiness programs, and it addresses the present challenge of STEM education and prepares students for the future technological demands. As we face the future, the programs should keep evolving while still growing to offer the required skills to the next generation of innovators in a world that is constantly changing.

4. Approach / Methodology

4.1. Approach

4.2. Methodology

A set of 82 questions was devised using Qualtrics technology, covering five competency areas: Problem Solving, Content Creation, Safety and Security, Communication and Collaboration, and Information and Data Literacy. The questionnaire was inspired by DigComp which is a comprehensive framework for understanding and evaluating individuals’ digital skills and competencies. The competencies are proven to be essential for success in today’s digital society and economy. It serves as a reference for individuals, educators, and employers to assess, develop, and improve digital skills.

Participants rated their responses on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 indicating a lack of proficiency and 4 indicating proficiency in the respective area. Each student's total score in a category was divided by the maximum possible points for that category to determine their average grade. The overall score for each category was then calculated and used to assign scores to the respondents based on a predetermined matrix. Each level corresponded with an assessment at the end of the survey, as shown in Example 1.

Table 1. Scoring Matrix

Table 2. Assessment

Example 1: End of Survey page

5. Data Collection

Data collection will encompass an 82-question digital competency survey distributed to ETI’s Cohort 4 and a broader high school and college student population. The survey is a self-assessment of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes within five specific areas. Further, Cohort 4 participants will be evaluated against the larger population to determine rankings in like programs and to determine baseline skills.

6. Implementation

7. Results and Analysis

(When they are bringing in people to the Cohort, evaluate their skill sets based on their competency, build the program around those competencies, and then evaluate how they progress. Based on the results that we found this is what we recommend moving forward.)

8. Project Evaluation

8.1. Project Outcomes

8.2. Contribution To Company

8.3. Contribution to Student

8.4. Performance of Team

9. Conclusion

10. Appendix

References

Department of Defense. (2022). DoD STARBASE 2022 Annual Report: Promoting STEM and Creating Community Connections. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.