Proposal

DBA 740

Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Introduction and Guidelines:

For your Final Project, you will work with a group of your classmates on a business case study that will

require solving a business related problem using one or more software techniques covered in this course.

This project will involve problem analysis, model formulation, and utilization of appropriate software tools

to solve the problem. The Final Project consists of a Proposal, Paper, and Presentation.

This project will provide you with valuable experience in utilizing the analytical techniques you have

learned in the course to solve business related problems by using computer software, working in groups,

and using web tools to interact with each other. I hope you will enjoy this experience.

In Module 1, you will be randomly divided into groups consisting of 4-5 students. Your instructor will notify

you of which group you belong to.

Each group will elect a leader to coordinate the activities of the project. The group leader is also

responsible for reporting to the instructor if a group member does not respond in a timely manner or

participate in the project. It is the responsibility of each and every member to contribute to the project

and respond on time to your fellow group members.

To begin, each group will identify a problem to be solved using data analysis in SPSS. The problem to

be solved should be real or a close approximation to the real application in business.

Each group will brainstorm on the possible topic based on the past experiences of the group members.

In Module 3, the group is required to submit a Final Project Proposal. The instructor will review the

Proposal and will approve the problem and appropriateness of the model and software techniques to be

used to solve it.

Once the Final Project Proposal is approved, the group is to continue working on the Final Project. In

Module 7, the Final Project is due. The Final Project consists of a paper and a presentation.

The presentation portion of the Final Project will be a narrated presentation including all members of the

group, which will be submitted to the Assignment box and posted to the Module 8 Discussion Board. The

group leader is responsible for posting the Final Presentation to the Module 8 Discussion Board. The

Module 8 discussion will consist of reviewing and discussing other group’s presentations.

For the presentation, you may need recording/editing software. There are many free audio

recording/editing software packages available on the Internet. Just search for, select, and download the

one you want to use and follow the instructions for recording/editing audio. Instructions for how to embed

audio to your presentation can be found by using the PowerPoint help feature. Click Microsoft’s

PowerPoint Narration Guide for additional resources. In addition, you may choose to use a recorded

Collaborate session, if the group desires.

The Final Project Proposal is due no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 3.

The Final Project is due no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 7. There are two

submissions required for the Final Project:

Submission 1

Submit the Final Project to the Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of

Module 7.

Submission 2

The Team Leader must post the Final Project Presentation to the Module 8 Discussion Board

no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 7. This is required to complete the

Module 8 Discussion.

Components of the Final Project:

a) Problem Statement: Narrative of the problem to be solved including title and problem

identification and definition

b) Data Collection: Real or fictitious

• Model formulation and selection of the appropriate software analysis tools and

techniques

c) Solve the model using tools selected in part (b) above

d) Make recommendations for implementing the solution

e) Presentation: Each group will be required to prepare a PowerPoint presentation with a narrated

length of about 5-10 minutes. The purpose of the presentation is to explain the problem, solution,

analysis of results, and recommendations to your colleagues.

Deliverables and Timeline:

Assignment Item Document Minimum

Requirement

Due Date

(Sunday 11:59 PM

EST/EDT)

N/A Group assignment and Group

Leader Identification

The instructor will notify you of your

group. Identify who the Group Leader

will be and notify the instructor.

Module 1

Final

Project

Proposal

Problem statement Word Document 350 words Module 3

Data collection SPSS Data File 50 records or

observations Module 3

Model formulation and selection

of software tools

Add to the Word

document containing

the problem statement

Module 3

First draft including components

a-b of the project

Word Document and

SPSS Data File See above Module 3

Final

Project

Solve the model, test the

solution, and analyze the

results

SPSS Data and/or

Output file showing

the solution

Module 7

Recommendations for

implementing the solution Word Document 100 words Module 7

Final draft including

components a-e of the project

Electronic copy of: Word

Document, SPSS Files,

and

PowerPoint Presentation

See above

Module 7

Narrated Presentation for the

Module 8 Discussion Board

Narrated PowerPoint

Presentation File,

Word file

5-10 minutes

Module 7

*NOTE: Only the Group

Leader will need to post

to the Module 8

Discussion

Board

Grading Rubric:

Grading Criteria

No

Submission Novice Basic Proficient Exceptional

1. Problem Statement

0 < 7 7-8 9 10

2. Data Collection: Real or

fictitious 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

3. Model formulation 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

4. Model Solved 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

5. Tested Solution 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

6. Analyzed the results and

conducted a what-if analysis 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

7. Recommendations for

implementing the solution 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

Competency

5-6

8. Proper use of Grammar, Word Choice, Terminology, Composition and Punctuation

0 < 7 7-8 9 10

Competency 7

9. Proper use of APA Formatting Style, and Required References

0 < 7 7-8 9 10

Competency 8 10. Power_Point Presentation 0 < 7 7-8 9 10

TOTAL AVAILABLE = 100

EARNED = ___

Grading Competencies:

Competency Poor Needs

Improvement Satisfactory Outstanding

1.

Knowledge,

Research Depth,

and Critical

Thinking

Does not refer to

the readings to

support premises.

Alludes to the

readings in a

general way to

support premises.

Refers to

examples or

theories from the

readings to

support premises.

Supports premises with

specific examples and

theories and applies high

level critical thinking skills.

2.

Synthesis,

Analysis, and

Comprehension

Does not integrate

personal

observations or

knowledge.

Integrates

personal

observations

and knowledge

in a cursory

manner.

Integrates

personal

observations and

knowledge in an

accurate way.

Integrates personal

observations and

knowledge in an accurate

and highly insightful way.

3.

Organization,

Formulation,

Logic, and

Identification of

Key Points

Work produced is

disorganized,

response is not

distinct, and

information is not

logically

sequenced.

Work produced is somewhat disorganized, points of response are distinct, but information is not logically

sequenced.

Work produced is

organized, points of

response are

distinct, and

information is

logically

sequenced.

Work produced is

organized, points of

response are distinct, and

information is logically

sequenced; key points are

made obvious.

4.

Demonstration of

Theory

Knowledge and

Usage

Theoretical

terminology is

ignored or

misused.

Terminology

partially

matches the

textbook and

class material.

Terminology

matches the

textbook and class

material

completely.

Terminology matches the

textbook. Messages are

crisp and persuasive.

5..

Grammar, Word

Choice, and

Terminology

Word choice and

sentence structure

are not suitable for

doctoral level work.

Word choice and

sentence

structure need

improvement.

Word choice and

sentence structure

are suitable for

doctoral level work.

Word choice and sentence

structure exceed

expectations for doctoral

level work.

6. Composition and

Punctuation

Regular

typographical,

spelling, and

punctuation errors

that create an

obstacle for the

reader.

Periodic

typographical,

spelling, or

punctuation errors

create reading

interruptions.

Minimal

typographical,

spelling, and

punctuation errors.

Errors are rare.

7.

Proper use of

APA Formatting

Style

Very little use of

references and

citations and/or

poor usage of APA

style.

Some use of

references and

citations and/or

moderate usage

of APA style.

Good use of

references and

citations and/or

reasonable usage

of APA style.

Superior use of references

and citations and/or solid

usage of APA style.

8. Presentation

Quality

Not presented

(PowerPoint only).

Presentation lacks a cohesive

professional

design style.

Slides are more of

a “read-along” with

too much text.

Presentation consists of

rereading case.

Presentation lacks a professional

style and/or does not adhere to APA citation

guidelines.

Presentation seems adequately

rehearsed and captures the

article's essence.

PowerPoint slides are adequate but

lack innovation and

professional style.

Presentation seems wellrehearsed and captures

the article's essence.

PowerPoint slides are professional in style,

including a balance of

graphics and text, and

adhere to APA citation

guidelines.