Assessment 1 Instructions: Capstone Project Summary
Review Attachments
Create a 2-3 page project summary that describes your chosen organization, a business problem or opportunity, the kind of data you will need, and how your topic allows you to demonstrate the MBA program outcomes.
Introduction
This course revolves around the creation of a single, significant capstone project. In other words, a project that caps off your learning and your program, allowing you to demonstrate the competencies of leadership and collaboration, ethical and evidence-based decision making, and innovative and strategic thinking.For your capstone, you will choose a real companyand analyze it in a way that demonstrates your understanding of the MBA program outcomes.You will turn youranalysis of that company into a written report with recommendations and a formal presentation foryour intended audience.
Having a solid, doable scope is an important part of creating a successful capstone project, and the exact scope is up to you. To help you establish a realistic scope, you will start with the project summary. Be careful to consider the scalability of your project scope, ensuring that it demonstrates your ability to lead in a business environmentand showcases your achievement of all MBA program outcomes.
Examples
A scope that is poorly defined:
I want to write a general analysis of the bookseller, Barnes & Noble.
This topic is too broad, and it would probablyrequire hundreds of pages to address all of the possible analyses.
A scope that is better defined:
I want to focus on how Barnes & Noble has managed to survive the Internet age while Borders has crumbled.
What makes this a better scope? The scopeis grounded in a problem (such as how to survive Internet competition) or opportunity (such as the area lacking a business that you plan to open), which allows you to focus the analysis.
It must also allow for you to analyze and suggest evidence-based recommendations, takeaways, or actionable next steps as the crux of your project.
Preparation
Readthe MBA Capstone Project Description [PDF].
Assessment Description
For this assessment, introduce the organization you have chosen to research, why you chose it, and how it will allow you to demonstrate all of the MBA program outcomes.
Write a 23 page paper, in an academic writing style, that details the topic and scope of your capstone project. Your project summary should be clear and conciseyet thorough enough for facultyto provide feedback and guidance. Your project summary should be wellorganized and include the following sections:
Describe the background of your chosen organization.
Provide a brief background of your selected organization. For instance, discuss its product lines, number of years in business, organization structure, location, et cetera.
If you choose an organization for which you work, your introduction must include a statement that you received permission to use the company from a supervisor.
Describe a business topic, problem, or opportunity that you intend to research.
Describe the problem or opportunity you see that makes this company a good choice.
Explain the scope of your project by clearly identifying the topics or areas you intend to research.
Explain the level of accessibility to data necessary to examine the chosen business topic, problem, or opportunity.
Address how you will go about obtaining the data.
Identify any special requirements that you might need to meet to access the data you will need.
Explain risks you think will be encountered and the mitigation plan to manage thoserisks.
Explain how your topic will allow you to showcase your leadership ability by demonstrating each MBA program outcome.
List out each program outcome clearly, and then explain in 34 sentenceshow your topic will allow you to demonstrate each.The MBA program outcomes are listed in the MBA Capstone Project Description.
Identify specific items of your project summary that you believe demonstrates the outcome.
Wrap up your paper with a clear, concise conclusion that summarizes your plan. Just a couple sentences is fine.
Your project summary should have these sections:
Introduction.
Statement of scope.
Demonstration of outcomes.
Conclusion.
Review Attachments
8/16/2020 Capstone Project Summary Scoring Guide
https://courserooma.capella.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/MBA-FPX/MBA-FPX5910/200700/Scoring_Guides/u01a1_scoring_guide.html 1/1
Capstone Project Summary Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED
Describe the
background of the
chosen
organization.
Does not
identify a
specific, real
organization.
Identifies an
organization but does
not describe sufficient
details to gauge
whether the
organization is an
appropriate selection
for use in the capstone
project.
Describes the
background of the
chosen organization.
Describes the background of
the chosen organization;
includes factors or
characteristics about the
organization that makes it
appropriate to use for the
capstone project.
Describe an
intended business
topic, problem, or
opportunity to
research.
Does not
identify a
business topic,
problem, or
opportunity.
Identifies a business
topic, problem, or
opportunity, but the
research intent and
scope is unclear.
Describes an
intended business
topic, problem, or
opportunity to
research.
Describes an intended
business topic, problem, or
opportunity to research;
provides concrete examples
and citations that support
selection of the business and
the scope of research.
Explain the level of
accessibility to data
necessary to
examine the chosen
business topic,
problem, or
opportunity.
Does not
identify the level
of accessibility
to data
necessary to
examine the
chosen
business topic,
problem, or
opportunity.
Identifies the level of
accessibility to data
necessary to examine
the chosen business
topic, problem, or
opportunity.
Explains the level of
accessibility to data
necessary to
examine the chosen
business topic,
problem, or
opportunity.
Explains the level of
accessibility to data
necessary to examine a
business topic, problem, or
opportunity; outlines the
process for obtaining the
data and mitigating risks in
obtaining the data.
Explain how the
topic will allow
showcasing of
leadership ability by
demonstrating some
MBA program
outcomes.
Does not
explain how the
topic will allow
demonstration
of MBA
program
outcomes.
Explains how the topic
will allow
demonstration of each
MBA program
outcome; however, the
explanation does not
support the alignment
of topics to the
program outcomes.
Explains how the
topic will allow
showcasing of
leadership ability by
demonstrating some
MBA program
outcomes.
Explains how the topic will
allow showcasing of
leadership ability by
demonstrating some MBA
program outcomes.;
explanation includes specific
details and examples.
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. 1
MBA Capstone Project Description
MBA Capstone Project Description
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 MBA-FPX5910, the final course you will take
in the program. The capstone project is intended to provide you the opportunity to demonstrate
your MBA program outcomes by:
Planning and executing the strategic and tactical elements of a comprehensive project.
Integrating and demonstrating the business leadership skills and techniques you have
learned throughout the MBA program.
Communicating your analysis and recommendations for a real organization both in
written form and in a formal presentation.
Completing your MBA program with an experience that reinforces and integrates what
you have learned throughout your MBA program.
The following information outlines the requirements and work associated with the capstone
project for MBA-FPX5910.
Capstone Project Examples
You have a wide variety of choice when it comes to choosing a capstone project that is
personally interesting and rewarding to you. It is your responsibility to propose a capstone topic
and scope that will allow you to demonstrate all of the MBA program outcomes.
Examples of project types that might be proposed to meet these requirements include, but are
not limited to:
A strategic plan developed for an organization to use that helps them solve a problem or
take advantage of an opportunity.
A strategic analysis conducted on a selected part or area of an organization.
A case study developed on a selected part of or situation within an organization.
An intervention developed to address an organizational issue; for example, a workshop
or training activity. The intervention should be broad-based enough to demonstrate the
program-level outcomes.
A consulting report developed to analyze a problematic issue within an organization; the
issue and analysis should be broad-based enough to demonstrate program-level
outcomes.
You may propose other project types for the capstone project so long as you are able to identify
how the proposed project satisfies the requirement of demonstrating the program-level
outcomes. When choosing your project type and/or topic, keep in mind that it must result in
recommendations, next steps, or some other type of actionable, evidence-based takeaways for
your intended audience, user, or subject of the project.
2
Capstone Project Selection and Proposal Guidelines
The organization must be real, not fictitious. This may be an organization to which you have
direct access for data gathering or one for which you will gather data via published sources. In
either case, it must be an organization for which you can gather the data needed to complete
the project. If need be, you may be allowed to use a disguised name for the organization in the
project report, but you must disclose to faculty what actual organization is being used as the
setting for the project.
There are certain organizations that we want you to avoid using for your capstone. These
organizations have been overly covered in the various business courses and might not be
fresh enough for you to showcase your MBA outcomes. For that reason, we encourage you to
select more low-profile organizations, or ones you can easily access for researching and
analyzing. Do not select these organizations for your capstone project:
Proctor & Gamble.
Johnson & Johnson.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
PepsiCo.
The Coca-Cola Company.
Amazon.com.
Apple Inc.
Starbucks Coffee Company.
Toyota Motor Corporation.
Walmart.
Google.
Kelloggs.
Target Corporation.
McDonalds Corp.
Burger King.
Ford Motor Company.
When proposing a capstone project, you will be required to briefly identify how the proposed
project ensures the demonstration of all seven program outcomes.
The scope of effort required should be such that it is doable in a 1520 page paper, which is to
be submitted in Assessment 4.
3
Capstone Project Requirements
The capstone course project must demonstrate your achievement of the MBA program
outcomes. The following table is taken from the Capstone Project Scoring Guide, at the Proficient
level. It outlines the expectations, at a minimum, for demonstrating each program outcome. (For
the best grade possible, strive to meet the grading criteria at the Distinguished level.)
MBA Program Outcome Grading Criteria (at the Proficient Level)
1. Apply foundational knowledge
and an understanding of
business systems, processes,
and technology within and
across core disciplines.
Applies foundational knowledge (theories, models,
practices) and an understanding of business systems,
processes, and technology within and across core
disciplines.
2. Integrate information across
disciplines and from differing
perspectives.
Integrates most relevant supportive and conflicting
information (data, insights, best practices) across
disciplines from differing primary functional
perspectives individually and holistically.
3. Think critically and analytically
to provide evidence-based
solutions 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.
4. Apply innovative, strategic, and
sustainable approaches to
business practice and planning.
Applies innovative, strategic, and sustainable (long-
term) approaches to business practice and planning.
5. Lead and collaborate in virtual,
global, and culturally diverse
environments.
Applies leadership and collaboration principles and
strategies for virtual, global, and culturally diverse
environments.
6. Integrate principles of ethics
and integrity into business
decisions.
Integrates principles of ethics and integrity into
business decisions by assessing ethical implications
and resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas.
Capstone Deliverables
You will plan, execute, and deliver your capstone project; it should include the components and
requirements listed in this table.
Assessment Brief Assessment Description Submission Requirements
Assessment 1:
Capstone
Project
Summary
You will develop a brief summary of
your capstone project so that faculty can
approve your organization choice and
scope and provide appropriate
guidance. The project summary will also
list out each program outcome and how
the topic allows you to demonstrate
mastery of each.
Double spaced, academic
style.
Use at least one resource
from the Capella library
and one from the Wall
Street Journal.
Length is 23 pages.
4
Assessment 2:
Capstone
Proposal
Once your topic and scope are
approved, you will submit a formal
proposal that includes a concise
analysis of your business topic. You will
also explain how you will leverage your
leadership strengths assessment results
and coaching experience (provided by
BetterUp), as well as your knowledge
and experience as a leader, to support
your capstone work.
Single spaced,
professional style.
Use at least two resources
from the Capella library.
Reference your BetterUp
leadership strengths
assessment results and
coaching experience.
Length is 23 pages.
Assessment 3:
Annotated
Outline
To help you stay on track and receive
faculty feedback, you will create an
annotated outline of your paper. This
document will list all of the major
sections and sub-sections of your paper
and include some resources.
Double spaced, academic
style.
Use at least four resources
from the Capella library, in
addition to Internet
resources.
Length is 25 pages.
Assessment 4:
Capstone
Project
The final written project report will be a
formal document prepared for the key
stakeholders of your project. The
structure and length of the document will
vary according to the type of project
being undertaken, but the report is
expected to be substantial.
In Appendix A, you can view the
Capstone Project Scoring Guide. Be
sure to review these criteria often
throughout your project to ensure you
are fulfilling the expectations of the MBA
program outcomes.
Single spaced,
professional style.
Use at least six resources
from the Capella library, in
addition to Internet
resources.
Length is 1520 pages.
Assessment 5:
Reflection and
Goal Setting
(Note: this
assessment is
not part of the
Capstone
paper)
This paper will summarize how your
strengthsas identified in the BetterUp
leadership assessment and improved
through your coachinghelped you to
create an effective capstone project.
Your paper will include a reflection of
your growth, how you have applied your
strengths, & how you would apply those
strengths further to enact the
recommendations you made in your
Capstone paper.
Single spaced,
professional style.
Reference your
BetterUp strength
assessment
results and
coaching
Length is 2-4
pages
5
Assessment 6:
Capstone
Presentation
This formal oral presentation will be
supported by a PowerPoint presentation
including slides with notes. You will
record the oral presentation and upload
it to the courseroom for formal review by
faculty. Your presentation should
present all facets of the capstone
project.
Presentation slides with
audio recording of you
presenting to your
audience.
Length is 1020 slides.
Not to exceed 8 minutes of
run time.
Credible Resources
The majority of your resources should be from credible sources such as peer-reviewed,
scholarly journals and articles found in the Capella library. Other resources/databases, also
available from the Capella library, are the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Lexis
Nexis, IBIS, et cetera. By now you should have solid skills in navigating the Capella library, but
just in case you need a refresher, remember that we have a custom library guide, Research
Guide MBA, which is an excellent place to start your research.
https://capellauniversity.libguides.com/MBA
https://capellauniversity.libguides.com/MBA
6
You may also use additional Internet resources (such as blogs, websites, white papers, et
cetera), but evaluate and vet these sites/resources diligently to ensure you are using information
that is credible and evidence based. Use this information to determine whether or not the
resource is credible: Sources: What Can You Use for Your Research?; make sure you explore
the source types listed on the left.
http://media.capella.edu/NonCourseMedia/library/sourcesForResearch/wrapper.asp
7
Appendix A Capstone Project Scoring Guide
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
(that is, emotional
testimonials, anecdotes,
or lack of evidence)
solutions and solutions
that are not logically
connected to business
challenges and
opportunities.
Develops unsupported
(that is, emotional
testimonials, anecdotes,
or lack of 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 (that
is, data, insights,
analyses, or best
practices) to solve
business challenges and
opportunities.
Develops logical, well-
supported solutions
based on relevant,
sound, logical, and
credible evidence (that
is, data, insights,
analyses, or 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 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,
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
8
global, and culturally
diverse environments.
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.
MBA Capstone Project Description
Capstone Project Examples
Capstone Project Selection and Proposal Guidelines
Capstone Project Requirements
Capstone Deliverables
Credible Resources
Appendix A Capstone Project Scoring Guide
