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.
