Descriptions
Company Description:
Road repair and maintenance utility manufacturer
Short Project Name:
Complementary product investigation
Project Description and Deliverables:
The fundamental question that needs to be answered is whether or not our organization can profitably participate in the sale and distribution of additives in a way that makes sense to its customers and is complimentary with its current business. While not meant to be an all-inclusive list, some of the key questions that would need to be addressed in formulating a recommendation to our organization’s fundamental question are:
Customers:
- What portion of our customers currently uses additives?
- For those that don’t use them, why not?
For those customers that do use additives:
- What is their current reclamation process and how do additives fit into this process?
- Which additives do they use? How much do they use?
- Why did they select these additives over other additives?
- How do they currently obtain these additives?
- How are they stored and then used?
- What do they cost (full costs, not just initial acquisition costs)?
- What parts of this process (and their suppliers) are they satisfied with?
- What parts of the process (and their suppliers) are they dissatisfied with?
- How would they like to see the process (and/or the offerings of their suppliers) improved?
Competitors/Suppliers:
- Who are the current “competitors” in selling and distributing these additives?
- What is their value proposition?
- What are their economics of the road repair additives business?
- How does the additives business fit into their overall business? How important is it to their total business?
- Where are these competitors / suppliers vulnerable?
Company Description:
Major durable goods producer’s banking institution
Short Project Name:
Business/marketing strategy
Project Description and Deliverables:
Use market and competitive information, along with the consumer survey, to create a proposed business/Marketing strategy for on-line consumer deposits. We need to conduct a full market assessment, analyze potential entry, delivery and servicing options and then develop a product plan for a new offering of Retail Deposits on a national basis.
Market Assessment:
Review and understand the market size, players, market share, approaches and offerings.
Delivery and Servicing Options:
Explore our options to develop, deliver and service this product “in-house” or look for an outsourced “backroom” service provider or even partner with an existing player for a full “turn-key” private-label offering.
Recommended Approach:
Based upon the market assessment as well as the product delivery and servicing analysis, what would be the most economical and market successful approach for our organization It is imperative that our firm remain anonymous throughout the product development project process.
Company Description:
Private equity firm with large investment in restaurant
Short Project Name:
Evaluate a strategic alternative compared to current business model
Project Description and Deliverables:
The MBA Field Study team is to evaluate a recent strategic alternative of the restaurant and determine its likelihood of success relative the current business model. This project will consist of significant marketing and consumer research analysis related to a new service model for the restaurants stores. It will require competitive positioning and industry analysis on a regional and national scope as well as an assessment of the unit economic / financial implications of the new model. The team will have an opportunity to work directly with our firm and select restaurant employees to develop a final presentation to be given to the restaurant executive management team. The next 6 months will be extremely critical in determining the success this new initiative and our organization places significant importance on the completion of this project.
Company Description:
Athletic department
Short Project Name:
Developing metrics to track performance
Project Description and Deliverables:
The project’s objective would be to evaluate and define performance metrics for our organization. It is anticipated the performance metrics would better help our organization predict and measure their financial and operational performance. Project work would likely include an evaluation of current key indicators, identifying best practices at other athletic departments to determine additional success metrics, and then recommending the most effective measures for our firm to track and report in order to meet their goals.
Company Description:
Scrapbooking Company with multiple retail outlets
Short Project Name:
Reposition chain of stores
Project Description and Deliverables:
We have been a scrapbook store many years and I believe we must transition to a Memory / digital store in order to remain a viable business for years to come. I love Memories and how they strengthen family & friendships. I would appreciate any help that your team of people can offer us. We are ready to learn from you and incorporate the ideas that you feel are best.
Deliverables
Test Repositioning Concept
- Is it possible for a retail store to be profitable with digital?
- How to reduce existing retail floor space and create smaller stores with a focus on digital services: photo books, enlargements, digital classes, photo & slide scanning, digital products along with traditional coordinating products.
- Raising capital $$
Write a business plan
- How to more efficiently manage 3 retail locations and website
- Sales / Healthy product turns / How to move older product out of store?
- Create a sense of community within stores
- New products and services to offer / What does the consumer want?
- Make the transition from a traditional scrapbook store to a digital memory store
- How do we stay a viable business during tough economic times?
Write a Marketing Plan
- Branding or rebranding the new digital concept of revised company
- Best Forms of Advertising / How to decide when and where to advertise. How to track?
- Marketing / Keep existing customers, bring back past customers and bring in new customers
- What is our customer demographic? How do we reach those not familiar with with us?
- Utilize blog, email, postcards… How to include call to action/How often to contact customers?
- Customer loyalty program
- Free advertising & marketing ideas / cross advertising ideas
Organizational Issues
- Get employees to be invested in programs
- Hire salespeoplevs store clerks
- How to more efficiently delegate and follow through with assignments
- How to get all managers & employees on the same plate
Company Description:
Agricultural investment firm
Short Project Name:
Organizational evaluation and redesign—financial and HR functions
Project Description and Deliverables:
We want to analyze the current state of the organizations and identify opportunities to optimize organizational effectiveness. We are currently conducting an electronic survey and would like to follow that up with a project to determine current inefficiencies, functional inconsistencies and dysfunctional elements which impact morale and organizational success. The team will benchmark our metrics against other shared services organizations to determine opportunities for improved organizational structures and leadership approaches and styles. Comparing the current state of the organization with the benchmarked best practices will allow the field study team to make recommendations for improvement.
Company Description:
Auto manufacturing company
Short Project Name:
Organization tool kit development
Project Description and Deliverables:
The team will be involved in creating a toolkit for HRBO generalists regarding Organizational Design. It would involve understanding the challenges/gaps our organization currently has in Organizational Design, future business needs and creating a toolkit that addresses those needs based on organizational development theory.
Company Description:
Consulting group
Short Project Name:
High performing organization modeling
Project Description and Deliverables:
The project will involve blending proprietary software capabilities and methodologies in the areas of process modeling, financial modeling, Human Resource Information, and motivation alignment, performance transparency and internal controls, into one effective and easy to use web based solution. Then building sample models of high performing organizations. Areas of focus will be in business modeling, strategy, HR/OB, Finance and Marketing.
Company Description:
Japanese Retailer
Short Project Name:
Supply chain organization
Project Description and Deliverables:
The focus of this project is on Supply Chain Optimization to reduce operating costs and improve revenue streams, critical to the organizations turnaround. Students who participate will be exposed to a rather complex supply chain network that exists in Japan today, but which is evolving. They will assist in investigating and modeling actual logistics costs of our company’s top 500 suppliers in Japan. As a result, we expect to identify better, more specific, opportunities for reduction of costs and allocation of revenues that are tied to the supply chain. In this project, students will work closely with Supply Chain experts in a leading consulting firm’s Tokyo office who are already engaged in establishing the basic framework for this important project. We are particularly interested in students who have some fluency in Japanese, and/or past experience in either the retail or supply chain sectors. However, more important is a desire to work hard, and to quickly learn and contribute to our company’s success in Japan.
Company Description:
Restaurant and other B2B goods supplier
Short Project Name:
Supply Chain Migration
Project Description and Deliverables:
We are a major importer of goods from China for restaurant supplies and other B to B and B to C opportunities (linens, uniforms, flatware, etc). As manufacturing costs continue to spiral higher in China, there appears to be an exodus to Viet Nam and other Asian countries for a source of lower wages and lower manufacturing costs. We have started to move manufacturing to Viet Nam, but would like an MBA team to provide a broader look at options, countries and supply chain optimization. This will include:
- Benchmarking best import practices today in the relevant industries (Where are they going for manufacturing and why)
- Why are companies looking to sites other than China for manufacturing (e. g. Vietnam)
- Identification of trends in manufacturing sourcing and supply chain
- Considering the relative benefit of manufacturing in countries other than China and Vietnam
- Develop alternative manufacturing approaches to serve import needs
- Consider the financial impact of each of the alternative manufacturing approaches for our organization
- Make a recommendation of short-term and long-term manufacturing approaches for importation to the US
Company Description:
Private equity firm
Short Project Name:
Accelerated beta testing of new online investment portal
Project Description and Deliverables:
- Our firm is launching in Q4 of 2010 a new website portal that will allow limited partners to have online access to their investments in Portfolio Advisors’ funds and will provide limited partners with the analytical tools to review their portfolio performance. Currently, the limited partner portal is under beta testing with select clients. We are looking to partner with BYU-MBA Program on a field study to accelerate beta testing and ultimately launch the portal.
- Our firm prefers to work with students that have a working knowledge and interest in finance and private equity – ability to use Microsoft Excel is important. Students working on this project will gain familiarity on how private equity products work. They will see first-hand how a major private equity funds-of-funds firm invests and reports to its clients. They will gain exposure to multi-geography and product investment strategies and performance measurements. Students will also receive insight as to the importance of the client service relationship between the firm and its limited partners.
Deliverables
- Students will work with the Marketing, IT, and Accounting teams at our firm to thoroughly test existing data in the system for accuracy (IRRs, diversification, and other key performance calculations, tables, and graphs), to assess website functionality, and to evaluate the user interface of the portal.
- The field study will consist of a series of various beta testing objectives from the Marketing, IT and Accounting teams that will involve individual and group efforts to identify errors and potential weaknesses of the system as well as to provideour firm with constructive feedback and ideas to improve the product.
Company Description:
Heating and cooling systems manufacturer
Short Project Name:
Financial Analysis and Market expansion
Project Description and Deliverables:
The team will look for a financially stable way to identify and grow target segments which will provide profitability and strong growth. Supply chain will remain a critical element as product is shipped from Germany and must be available all over the US and Canada with hundreds of SKUs to maintain in inventory.
Main Issue to be faced in 2010:
- Proper Financing
- Operating capital—We are currently experiencing 198% growth in the US market
- Financing in General—We need time to break even as a company and become viable on our own
- Clear Marketing Clear Strategy (we do not specifically deal with end users)
- Staying within the budget and need of proper planning every month
Company Description:
Private equity firm
Short Project Name:
Market analysis
Project Description and Deliverables:
We are a Private Equity Firm that manages fund to fund investing. Our firm works with Wealth Managers (Private and Institutional) who want to invest in private equity firms, but do not have the analysis commitment to that field.
The MBA team will provide a market analysis of the potential market for providing outsourced financial services for Wealth Managers desiring to invest in Private Equity. The team will analyze the size and characteristics of the Wealth Management market to determine the potential level for investment in Private Equity firms and the potential for outsourced analytical services. The team will also determine the desired services and the current unmet needs of Wealth Managers. They will understand the difference between private and institutional Wealth Managers and the services they will buy. An analysis of competitive providers, their strengths, weaknesses and image in the market, and their methods of compensation are also desired. If time permits, a prioritized list of Wealth Managers open to outsourced Private Equity Firm analysis (and the characteristics most desire in a service firm) would be a potential deliverable.
Company Description:
Global systems and services company, technology company
Short Project Name:
HR Mergers and Acquisitions benchmarking
Project Description and Deliverables:
This project will be focused on HR M&A benchmarking with two main components, cultural integration and M&A team structure.Students will provide a recommendation on how to enhance our process during the cultural assessment and assimilation phases of M&A activity.Additionally, students will benchmark how HR M&A is structured at other “best of breed” companies and recommend how we might want to structure our team.
Company Description:
Large aerospace company
Short Project Name:
Talent development & succession planning
Project Description and Deliverables:
The primary project will include HR analysis of talent development and succession planning for North America. There may also be some organizational design analysis. There will be global implications to the project.
Company Description:
Energy technology start-up
Short Project Name:
Alliance partner identification and development
Project Description and Deliverables:
We are a start-up company seeking help in performing primary and secondary research as well as strategic planning for a potential strategic partnership with a multibillion dollar company in the engineering industry (i.e. GE, Siemens, Foster Wheeler, etc.). We have developed a revolutionary carbon capture technology and will soon be ready to start forming strategic relationships in order to get this technology to market. Work on this project is expected to involve several tasks, some of which are listed below.
- speaking with representatives from large international companies in the energy and engineering industries
- researching and presenting case studies related to firms and technologies that have successfully (or unsuccessfully) followed a similar path to market
- researching possible legal and logistical structures for the proposed strategic relationship
- researching possible candidate companies for the strategic relationship and proposing the best candidates
- a possible trip to several European countries to work with engineering companies and large energy conglomerates
Company Description:
I/T outsourced services
Short Project Name:
Business/marketing plan development
Project Description and Deliverables:
This firm is a local/regional supplier of I/T outsourced services. Their customers are in the business to business market segments and go across a wide range of industrial and professional office settings. The business is established and growing very quickly. They have many part time students and interns working for them and they are also initiating hiring from the business school for full time hires (both undergraduate and MBA).
As their business is growing so quickly, they would like to focus and prioritize their strategy through an updated business plan and subsequent marketing plan. They will have a review of possible products, services and compensation models considered in the establishment of the new business model and plan. The team will need to consider novel business models and plans; and use financial analysis to recommend the optimum business and marketing plans.
Company Description:
Data transmission tool manufacturer
Short Project Name:
Market opportunity and business plan
Project Description and Deliverables:
We have developed unique antenna assemblies that will drive significant cost improvement. Part of our product strategy involves developing revenue streams along the path to creating the antenna assemblies our OEM partners will need to make their final products. To achieve huge cost break-throughs in antenna costs, we had to build our own subcomponents. We have endeavored to find markets for these new and capable subcomponents.
We would like the MBA teamto help us to identify, evaluate, and build value propositions (feature requirements and critical price points), preliminary business plan, and one or more possible early, partial liquidation potentials for one of the subcomponents.
Company Description:
Franchise Restaurant Chain
Short Project Name:
Marketing strategy supporting Social Responsibility
Project Description and Deliverables:
Our organization is interested in a cause based marketing strategy. They will be looking for a strategy to link emotionally their employees and customers with the city of our name’s reference. This will involve humanitarian and charitable activities linking the restaurants to the city of our name’s reference and involving employees and customers. This team will look at business strategy and marketing strategy as well as a promotional approach to link to the market place and increase profitability while providing charitable services. They will also need organization and HR strategies to implement the approach in the local franchise restaurants.
Company Description:
Private equity firm
Short Project Name:
Business plan for 30-store franchise
Project Description and Deliverables:
We have a project that involves building a business plan for a thirty-store franchise restaurant rollout program beginning in Jan./Feb. and will include the selection and prioritization of real estate options for franchise locations. The project will be open to many needs across this private equity play including elements of real estate, finance, operations, and marketing. Expect this project to be dynamic and demanding and a real-time exposure to critical business start-up decisions.
Company Description:
Newspaper
Short Project Name:
Business plan and distribution modeling
Project Description and Deliverables:
The field study team will be involved in business model development and financial projections of various content and delivery scenarios for the college age geared inserts. They will run multiple simulations to understand the potential for profits or the need for underwriting by our organization based on the receptivity and readership of college aged members to the different formats. This could include strategy, supply chain analysis, organizational design as well as financial analysis of the different proposed models.
Company Description:
International conservation partnership
Short Project Name:
Partnership analysis and business plan development
Project Description and Deliverables:
Our organization is a successful partnership between four international conservation organizations. The program has been running for nearly 20 years and is supported entirely by an outside organization. A number of critical factors necessitate a reevaluation of the current management model. The following research questions are suggested, and other suitable questions are encouraged to be developed:
- What are the pros and cons of the current organization?
- What are the pros and cons of adopting an alternative model (based on the various models suggested) and what would this entail (management, fundraising, financial, legal, communications, etc.)?
- How does the current structure compare with these other models (using cost/benefit analysis, SWOT analysis, and/or other appropriate tools/methods)?
Company Description:
Specialty clothing manufacturer
Short Project Name:
Business plan and strategy for expanding sales
Project Description and Deliverables:
Our company has recently been able to expand from exclusively specialty shop sales to road shows at a major big box mass merchandizer. This has created a number of growth issues and concerns. Current critical issues or needs include:
- Issues with supply chain and distribution channels for sales expansion.
- Capital vs. debt to fund the additional capital needs for sales growth.
- Employee hiring and training to service the upcoming road shows in the various markets. Currently we are schedule to do approximately 6 different market areas next year.
- Pricing model for other stores to make sure we have proper margins.
- Issues addressing returns and disposing of returned merchandise in a secondary market or distribution levels.
- Lowering cost of goods and figuring out actual cost of goods.
- Market research: determining the size of the total addressable market and the growth potential of current models
- Marketing and finding other outlets to sell our concept (QVC, department stores, etc.)
- Marketing our brand.
Company Description:
Supplier and contractor verification firm
Short Project Name:
Risk mitigation analysis and marketing plan
Project Description and Deliverables:
We are interested in researching how implementing and utilizing our firms system can assist global corporations and their suppliers in reducing associated insurance costs. It is implied that companies registered in our data base are compliant with contractual and regulatory, i.e., OSHA, MSHA, requirements and thus pose a reduced risk.As a result, we believe that registration in our firm could be valid justification for reduced insurance premiums to suppliers and contractors. In the light of today’s business environment, a successful cost reducing strategy that also saves lives and maximizes business assets would be in high demand. We are looking for skills in financial modeling, statistical and regression analysis, and corporate marketing to complete this research. A high probability exists that one of more of the team members participating in this field study will qualify for an internship with our firm.
Company Description:
Major durable goods producer’s banking institution
Short Project Name:
Marketing Survey research
Project Description and Deliverables:
Perform a market research/survey project designed understand consumer needs and preferences in on-line banking. We need to conduct a full market assessment, analyze potential entry, delivery and servicing options and then develop a product plan for a new offering of Retail Deposits on a national basis. Consumer research will be performed to understand what drives depositors to on-line banks and what would it take to grow preferentially in the market segment.
Company Description:
Supplier of healthcare products
Short Project Name:
Hospital buying process for medical devices and key influencers
Project Description and Deliverables:
The ongoing debate about healthcare reform will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on all healthcare delivery. The objective of this project is to better understand today’s hospital buying process for medical devices used in neurointerventional procedures and how the buying process may change with pending healthcare reform.
Desired research outcomes:
- Identify the hospital buying process for medical devices used in neurointerventional procedures
- Identify the key stakeholders in the buying process and their relative importance/influence to the buying decision
- Determine what information each stakeholder uses to influence the buying decision.
- Recommend strategies and tactics for neurointerventional medical device manufacturers to support the buying decision and better inform the buying process stakeholders.
- Provide an assessment of the potential impact of healthcare reform on the hospital buying process decision for neurointerventional procedures.
- Recommend modifications to strategies and tactics for neurointerventional medical device manufacturers to support the buying process given the potential impact of healthcare reform.
Company Description:
Construction labor provider
Short Project Name:
Market and demographic analysis
Project Description and Deliverables:
Create a customer segmentation profile of our current and future customer base – Trade contractors (Exteriors, Interiors, Painting, Drywall, Landscaping, & Framing).
Geographic Profile
Where are our customers located?
How many customers are there in our market?
Who are the customers in our market?
Who are customers doing work for in our market (Commercial or Res.)
How many employees are employed by our customers?
What is the dollar value of labor for each of our customers?
What type of work is currently available? (Volume)
What is the next 60 month projected volume?
Greatest Preceived Value From Current and Prospective Clients
What kind of service do these customer segments expect?
What are the needs of these customer segments as it relates?
Have they been looking for this type of service?
Did they know there was this type of service available?
Out of the benefits we provide, what are the greatest perceived hot points? (Compliance assistance, financial aspect, scalability, OSHA, safety, insurance, new health care provisions, I9 documentation, Unemployment claims…)
Company Description:
Consumer goods manufacturer
Short Project Name:
Marketing plan development and creative design concept for product
Project Description and Deliverables:
The BYU Field Study team will work closely with the BYU design and visual arts team in developing a marketing plan and creative design concept for the positioning of a brand of adhesive bandages. Challenge: Our brands are suffering from fading consumer loyalty, losing market share—in favor of private label brands (for reasons mostly associated with cost).
Project Outline
- Phase I: Introduction and exploration (3 weeks)
- Our current team travels to Salt Lake City (SLC) and Field Studies team meets with them.
- We brief the project outline and review the design brief (who we are, project parameters and expectations)
- Students research and conduct exploratories broadly defining and visualizing our brand.
- From those exploratories collaborative teams are formed and assigned to one of our two current brands.
- Teams run a deep-dive exploration of their brand, its consumer and their connection to our company.
- Teams summarize their learnings in a visual expression (poster, postcard, motion design, etc.) connecting their brand to our concept.
- Phase II: Concepts (4 weeks)
- Teams present visuals to our team (in person or via video conference)—align on path forward
- Teams develop concepts. These are proposals for physical/visual manifestations that define what our program is to their brand (e.g. printed collateral, website, proposal for a charity, guerrilla awareness campaign, etc.)
- Teams present to our team—align on path forward
- Our team to work with key individuals and the Marriott School (BYU business school) to develop and perform consumer research to test consumer appeal of concept
- Each team refines their concept according to consumer feedback to generate an updated final proposal (explaining in greater depth their inspirations, concepts, consumer touchpoints, etc.)
- Teams present final proposals to our team for feedback
- Phase III: Execution and presentation (8 weeks)
- Teams plan and execute their concept
- Teams document their execution for the final presentation
- Our team travels to SLC (or group leaders travel to NYC)
- Teams present their final execution to our team (including Chief Design Officer)
Deliverables
- Marketing research report of findings and marketing plan of positioning program
- Concepts in their executed form (e.g. book, website, ad campaign, etc.)
Company Description:
Energy product manufacturer
Short Project Name:
Pre-launch testing and business structure
Project Description and Deliverables:
We have developed a low cost, easy to install, flexible solar building material product for US markets. Regional and cultural preferences in building materials require an exploration of customer needs and requirements before developing a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) product for solar markets in Europe. A potentially different business structure and value chain requires a study of the European solar market. (European Travel Likely)
An exploration and scoping project of the BIPV opportunities in Europe would include:
- The current value chain structure for solar in Europe and some of the key players in each part of the chain. Key countries include: Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Switzerland
- The players that are offering a BIPV product:
- Overview, size, market share, position, growth projections
- Business model
- Competitive advantage and strengths / weaknesses
- The product description and the total cost of installation
- What are the complementary roofing products (if any) the BIPV product is being integrated into and who produces them?
- Deep drill on a few competitors
- Installers/Customers—unmet needs, processes, what needs to change?
- Codes, Permits and Feed in Tariffs
- What are the key codes that need to be met?
- Who does the permitting? What is the process for permitting and the timing?
- What is the process for receiving the tariff?
Company Description:
Medical Technology Company
Short Project Name:
Hazardous drug exposure prevention
Project Description and Deliverables:
We are looking for a strong research team to analyze the market for products related to the prevention of hazardous drug exposure. Exposure to hazardous drugs is recognized as a significant safety issue that negatively impacts the quality-of-life for many healthcare workers. To address this risk, many healthcare facilities use specialty products which are designed to reduce healthcare worker exposure to hazardous drugs during preparation and administration. We have an interest to consider this market space as a growth opportunity. It is expected that the research team will utilize both primary and secondary research methods to gain an in-depth understanding of this area. The team will obtain guidance from a Sr. Marketing representative and present their findings to Sr. Management upon completion.
Company Description:
Sports equipment retailer
Short Project Name:
Develop and execute a PR and social networking strategy
Project Description and Deliverables:
I’ll give them the core TV, radio and blogs for soccer for both English and Spanish speaking. Ideally I’d get a couple of students with PR background, at least one fluent in Spanish (ideally native). Plus at least one social networking guru. I’ll want them to quickly define then go get things done. Get articles and interviews published. We’ve identified the top ballers and sneezers on soccer. I’ll want them to contact those sneezers/influencers and figure how to get them talking about our company to all their soccer friends. If they do a good job it’ll be great for their resumes—can make a huge impact.
Company Description:
Fitness equipment retailer
Short Project Name:
Develop marketing strategy for a new machine
Project Description and Deliverables:
We have a vision to capitalize on the growth of the flexibility improvement space within the healthcare market. However, there are many variables and constants that must be identified and researched in order to determine the ideal parameters for the company to launch its products. As such, we have identified the following research elements for this field study:
- Identify the target market(s) (physical therapists, chiropractors, rehabilitation facilities, etc.)
- Identify available and appropriate medical insurance reimbursement codes and dollar amounts
- Evaluate locations and options for the production and order fulfillment of all products in the current product line
- Identify a marketing strategy for the initial company launch
- Identify a marketing strategy for the first few years of operation
- Identify advertising venues and media that offer the best cost to potential benefit ratio
- Identify any products and pricing that may compete with the current product line
- Determine the best price point for each product in the current product line
- Review possible companies and products that may operate within the flexibility improvement space and design a tactic for formally creating and marketing this space
- Review existing patents to determine if they are still valid and if not, what would be required to filenew patent(s)
At the conclusion of this study we desire the following deliverables:
- A written business plan that includes any information pertinent to potential financial investors
- A documented marketing strategy that covers the initial company product launch and first few years ofoperation
- A product launch plan that centers around the flagship product
- A documented analysis along with recommendations of potential product fabrication facilities andlocations along with estimated costs, if possible
- A documented strategy for formally creating the flexibility improvement space within the healthcare marketand how to best market the validity of the space to outside companies
- Documentation of all research elements listed above, as well as findings and recommendations, if any
Company Description:
Private equity firm
Short Project Name:
Accelerated beta testing of new online investment portal
Project Description and Deliverables:
- Our firm is launching in Q4 of 2010 a new website portal that will allow limited partners to have online access to their investments in Portfolio Advisors’ funds and will provide limited partners with the analytical tools to review their portfolio performance. Currently, the limited partner portal is under beta testing with select clients. We are looking to partner with BYU-MBA Program on a field study to accelerate beta testing and ultimately launch the portal.
- Our firm prefers to work with students that have a working knowledge and interest in finance and private equity—ability to use Microsoft Excel is important. Students working on this project will gain familiarity on how private equity products work. They will see first-hand how a major private equity funds-of-funds firm invests and reports to its clients. They will gain exposure to multi-geography and product investment strategies and performance measurements. Students will also receive insight as to the importance of the client service relationship between the firm and its limited partners.
Deliverables
- Students will work with the Marketing, IT, and Accounting teams at our firm to thoroughly test existing data in the system for accuracy (IRRs, diversification, and other key performance calculations, tables, and graphs), to assess website functionality, and to evaluate the user interface of the portal.
- The field study will consist of a series of various beta testing objectives from the Marketing, IT and Accounting teams that will involve individual and group efforts to identify errors and potential weaknesses of the system as well as to provideour firm with constructive feedback and ideas to improve the product.