Context:
This subject allows you to synthesise the knowledge and skills gained from all other MBA
subjects that you have studied up to this point. The main deliverable in the subject is a
major project and, in this assessment, you will negotiate your proposed project idea with
your Facilitator.
Instructions:
In this assessment, you are required to propose how you are going to study your capstone
project. Before you can propose, you first need to identify a project idea on which to
develop your project proposal. Your project proposal must include the opportunity
statement or pain/problem statement.
The capstone project proposal serves two basic functions. Firstly, it presents and explains
how you are going to study and analyse the issue of your capstone project. This is essential
to make clear what you aim to achieve by the end of this study period, what data you will
collect and analyse and what MBA subject theory applies to your project. The aim/purpose
statement of your project proposal must be a very precise, clear statement preferably in single
sentence.
Secondly, how you will conduct the capstone project. This is an account of the steps you will
take until you produce the final report. This includes a timeline. The timeline will help you
track your progress.
With this information, your facilitator will be able to guide you concerning the suitability and
feasibility of your capstone project idea.
Formulating a project idea
As mentioned above, before you can develop your capstone project proposal, you need to
identify a problem or opportunity. Ideally, this should be a project idea that is personal to
you and your context, and of immediate relevance to you in your workplace or career. A
project idea may be producing a business plan, business report, a marketing plan, a
project for your employer, a new venture proposal, a critique, a strategy formulation, an
academic research paper in an area relevant to your studies or profession – the topic
ideas are limited only by your imagination. Check out the “Broad Capstone Project Ideas”
pdf file in Blackboard for some possible ideas.
You need to ‘negotiate’ the assessment with your facilitator to check that they are happy
with your project idea and that it will meet the requirements of the capstone unit.
If you are not able to identify a suitable project your facilitator may specify a topic for
you. Avoid randomly picking a project idea. Also avoid a project idea involving common
companies. Such project ideas have been studied many times, therefore there is nothing
new you can do in your study that is not otherwise commonly available online.
Once ‘agreed’ with your facilitator, you need to present the project proposal in a manner
that suits you and meets the marking criteria (rubric) below.
The project proposal
The project proposal needs to:
● have a clearly defined issue (‘problem’ or ’opportunity’ to address),
● a clear aim statement (advisably a single sentence only),
● identify sources of data relevant to analysing the issue,
● identify how analysis of the data will be done,
● relate to a theoretical base that allows you to apply the theory to your situation
to make recommendations for resolution,
● provide a timeframe of your capstone project activities.
Word count
You can present your proposal in a document that can be up to 1500 words in length, or
in an equivalent, detailed form. For example, a 1500-word paper is equivalent to a
McKinsey style PowerPoint presentation of approximately 6 minutes. There is no
tolerance on the word count. You are not expected to exceed 1500 words and penalties
may apply for exceeding the word count.
References Note
Your capstone project itself must use and list at least six (6) peer-reviewed academic
references to theoretical literature sources in addition to any references relating to the
data sources you will use. You do not need to include all 6 in your proposal, but it may
benefit you to identify the theoretical base at this time. The key theoretical model(s)
you will utilise for the project does need to be identified and referenced in the
proposal.
Individual or Group
You may complete your capstone project individually or as a group. If you choose to
work on your capstone project as a group, you will have to negotiate with the facilitator
about it. Your facilitator will need to be convinced that your group will perform as
expected.
Special conditions
If the project involves an industry partner, a letter of support from the partner is required in
an appendix.
Except otherwise approved by the Facilitator, you may not collect and use any form of
primary data for the purpose of this capstone project. That means no interviews, questionnaires,
focus group discussions or direct measurement/observation involving humans can be used for
data collection. If possible, try to use secondary data only.
Your capstone project must be an original submission (your own work). Your project must
not be a repackaged assessment from another subject you have done before or any other
source.
Submission
Submit a capstone project proposal that meets the requirements of the marking rubric.
Please refer to the Academic Integrity policy and the Assessment policy for more
information.
Use Assessment 1 link in Blackboard to submit your capstone project proposal. Give your
file a name of this format – Your name_Subject and code_Assessment number.
If submitting as a written assessment, please note that the submission must be in
Word document format and contain a signed cover sheet