Create a 15-20 page capstone paper that analyzes a business topic and provides recommendations and is supported with credible resources that demonstrate evidence-based thinking.
Throughout your MBA program, you have worked to develop as a business professional and prepare to meet future challenges as a business leader. Your program culminates in the capstone project, which forms the primary focus of this course, the final course you will take in the program. The capstone project is intended to provide for you the opportunity to demonstrate your MBA program outcomes in these ways:
For complete details, refer to the MBA Capstone Project Description [PDF] and scoring guide. Your capstone project should address these expectations:
As an MBA learner, you have access to a free subscription to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Take advantage of that subscription, and do some of your research in the WSJ. Try to include at least one source from the WSJ in your final draft.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies through corresponding scoring guide criteria:
Criteria | Non-performance | Basic | Proficient | Distinguished |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apply foundational knowledge and an understanding of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines. | References but does not apply fundamental, practical foundational knowledge (theories, models, practices) and a functional understanding of business systems, processes, and technology. | Applies fundamental, practical foundational knowledge (theories, models, practices) and a functional understanding of a limited set of business systems, processes, and technology within but not across core disciplines. | Applies foundational knowledge (theories, models, practices) and an understanding of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines. | Applies a balance of theoretical and practical foundational knowledge (theories, models, practices) and an in-depth understanding of a full range of business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines. Justifies approach to integrating foundational knowledge, business systems, processes, and technology within and across core disciplines. |
Integrate most relevant supportive and conflicting information (data, insights, best practices) across disciplines from differing primary functional perspectives individually and holistically. | Analyzes information from a singular discipline or perspective or poorly analyzes information across disciplines from few differing primary functional perspectives. | Analyzes but does not integrate limited information (data, insights, best practices) across disciplines from few differing primary functional perspectives individually but not holistically. | Integrates most relevant supportive and conflicting information (data, insights, best practices) across disciplines from differing primary functional perspectives individually and holistically. | Evaluates supportive and conflicting information (data, insights, best practices) integrating insights across disciplines from multiple diverse functional and strategic perspectives individually and holistically. |
Develop logical, well-supported solutions based on relevant, sound, logical, and credible evidence (data, insights, analyses, best practices) to solve business challenges and opportunities. | Develops unsupported (emotional testimonials, anecdotes, or lacking in evidence) solutions and solutions that are not logically connected to business challenges and opportunities. | Develops unsupported (emotional testimonials, anecdotes, or lacking in evidence) solutions or solutions that are not logically connected to business challenges and opportunities. | Develops logical, well-supported solutions based on relevant, sound, logical, and credible evidence (data, insights, analyses, best practices) to solve business challenges and opportunities. | Develops logical, well-supported solutions based on relevant, sound, logical, and credible evidence (data, insights, analyses, best practices) to systematically solve business challenges and opportunities relevant to all applicable stakeholders and cross-functional departments. |
Apply innovative, strategic, and sustainable (long-term) approaches to business practice and planning. | Does not apply or poorly applies elements of innovative, strategic, and sustainable approaches to business practice and planning. | Applies some elements of innovative, strategic, and sustainable approaches to business practice and planning. | Applies innovative, strategic, and sustainable (long-term) approaches to business practice and planning. | Integrates and justifies innovative, strategic, and sustainable approaches to business practice and planning that appropriately challenge the status quo while recognizing change management implications. |
Apply leadership and collaboration principles and strategies for virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments. | Does not describe or poorly describes leadership or collaboration strategies. | Describes leadership and collaboration principles and strategies that may or may not be appropriate to virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments. | Applies leadership and collaboration principles and strategies for virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments. | Assesses leadership and collaboration principles, strategies, and opportunities in virtual, global, and culturally diverse environments and integrates flexible perspectives and collaborative approaches in business. |
Integrate principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions by assessing ethical implications and resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas. | Does not assess or poorly assesses principles of ethics and integrity. | Assesses principles of ethics and integrity by analyzing ethical implications but may overlook important ethical considerations. | Integrates principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions by assessing ethical implications and resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas. | Integrates principles of ethics and integrity into business decisions by assessing ethical implications, resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas, and making right and just decisions for the organization and the larger business community. |
Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional. | Does not write coherently nor use grammar and mechanics as expected of a business professional; writing has major errors. | Writes somewhat coherently to support ideas, but writing has some grammar, mechanics, or other errors that detract from credibility as a business professional. | Writes coherently with minimal or minor errors to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional. | Writes coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional; writing is free from errors and formatted appropriately for the purpose or audience. |