Example Projects

Company Description:
CPA firm performing accounting services, bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation and planning.

Short Project Name:
Bookkeeping services for dance choreographer.

Project Description and Deliverables:
Performing bookkeeping services for a dance choreographer for multiple years using QuickBooks accounting software. Bank and credit card statements will be used for multiple checking, savings, and credit card accounts to capture data into QuickBooks. If categories are unknown or unspecified, then transaction should be posted to “Ask My Accountant” expense category for further follow up and clarification with client. Familiarity with dancing and choreography industry is a plus.

Key Deliverables:
Bookkeeping for multiple full calendar years.

Company Description:
Full-service CPA firm headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area. Nationally recognized as one of the top accounting firms in the country. Sought after for complicated domestic and international tax work for individuals, closely held companies, family offices, and clients expecting a liquidity event. Services provided include:

• Personal, business and corporate tax return preparation
• IRS audit consulting, preparation and representation
• International tax structure and compliance
• Wealth preservation

Short Project Name:
Accounting business development, high value targets

Project Description and Deliverables:
There is a lack of a readily available data base of high net worth individuals residing within the San Francisco Bay Area that is both current and inexpensive to access. Build a team representing IT, Marketing, Accounting and legal disciplines, working together to research and create a data base of high net-worth individuals located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The hope is that this project will also benefit the students involved because every professional service firm, be it IT, Accounting, Law, etc. suffers from a poverty of talented practitioners that also have the ability to market themselves and their firms. Entering the job market with experience developing such a high value data base could prove invaluable to the students involved as they attempt to garner highly sought after internships, positions with elite firms and begin to build their own personal practices and careers.

Key Deliverables:
Build a data base of individuals residing in the San Francisco Bay Area that are of high net worth or expecting a liquidity event, such as IPO, merger, etc. Contain contact information that is current, accurate and obtained, stored and accessed in an appropriate manner.

Company Description:
We are looking for a team of smart finance and accounting oriented students to develop and implement a Quickbooks based accounting, finance and tax systems.

Short Project Name:
Finance, Tax, Accounting, and HR

Project Description and Deliverables:
Specifically we are looking for the project team to establish a Quickbooks based a chart of accounts, annual budgeting process, tax filing process, and a five year financial plan. In addition, the team will develop a paper-based and electronic filing system for all of the company financial and legal records and establish retention policies for the company’s tax, accounting and legal records. Establish job description and HR polices and Employee Handbook.

Key Deliverables:

1. Implement Quickbooks based accounting system
2. Establish tax filing forms, schedules, process
3. Develop annual budgeting process and budget for the next 12 months
4. Develop a five year financial projection
5. Develop policies and processes for records retention both electronic and paper-based records
6. Develop HR policies, employee job descriptions and Employee Handbook
7. Document all policies and processes

Company Description:
Global consulting company, with operations throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, our consulting company is a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to Global 2000 companies across many industries.

Short Project Name:
Employee Engagement

Project Description and Deliverables:
The team will research and define best practices in employee engagement. Specifically, the team will discover how to best increase employee engagement in a highly mobile, traveling work force (consulting). The team will research how other companies create a positive inviting culture when the majority of their employees travel. Key considerations will include office environments, employee offerings/’perks’ of the to 25 companies, incentives, local activities, employee resource groups, etc. The team will also discover how to implement best practices both financially and logistically.

Key Deliverables:
The team will create a plan that outlines how we can improve the engagement of its workforce.

Company Description:
We are a small business consulting firm. Our mission is to help small businesses reach their full potential. We work with top executives to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions to actions, and deliver the sustainable success they desire. We are passionate about achieving better results for our clients—results that go beyond financial and are uniquely tailored, pragmatic, holistic, and enduring. We advise business leaders on their most critical issues and opportunities: strategy, marketing, organization, operations, technology and mergers & acquisitions, across many industries and geographies.

Short Project Name:
Business Lessons Learned from Sports

Project Description and Deliverables:
The project team will have the opportunity to research 30 different sports and determine what lessons can be learned from each Sport that can help business owners be more successful. This is an exciting creative project where the student team will work together to assist in research 30 different sports and analyzing how each of these sports can teach principles that can be used by business owners to be more successful.

Key Deliverables:
The key deliverables include: reviewing and analyzing 30 different sports, documenting what can be learned from each sport, learning how to apply these concepts to business, effectively documenting the information to be able to be understood and used by entrepreneurs and other business owners.

Company Description:
A global services company, providing access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.

Short Project Name:
Reward & Recognition Best Practices and Impacts

Project Description and Deliverables:
Our Company encourages employees to recognize accomplishments. Our Reward program launched in September 2010. To drive system usage and to ultimately drive a culture of recognition, campaigns and contests are held. We’d like to know are if we’re effective.

Through this project, we would like to understand:

Internal:

• What other recognition events, activities etc. are happening at our company?
• Which are the most impactful events, activities etc.?
• Can the “best practices” be transferred to other locations/business units within our company?
• What do employees need to be energized/enabled to recognize great work?

External:

• What are other companies doing to drive a culture of recognition?
• What are the engagement levels of other companies?
• What can our company implement in our own environment to increase recognition?
• What companies are showing positive business results as a result of reward and recognition? How are they measuring, tracking and reporting?

Key Deliverables:
What’s working well at our company? Are we effective at driving a culture of recognition? What opportunities do we have? How does our company compare to other Companies? We’d like to show the impact of recognition to bottom line business results. What strategy should we implement in order to do this?

Deliverables
Report card - What’s working well here? Are we effective at driving a culture of recognition? What opportunities do we have? -How does our company compare to other Companies?

Measurement - We’d like to show the impact of recognition to bottom line business results. What strategy should we implement in order to do this? -Any suggestion on other measurements?

Company Description:
One of the top 5 largest commercial banks in the United States. The company operates 3,000+ banking offices in 25 states and 5,000+ ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions.

Short Project Name:
Best Practices in New Employee On Boarding – Employee Community

Project Description and Deliverables:
Analyze the affect of a new employee onboarding community using internal social media by conducting surveys and focus groups with new employees; research how other companies leverage social media for new employee onboarding.

The OCI team will complete both a Benchmark analysis and a best practices research process to identify alternative approaches for us to use in the future. Some of the key steps that will be used in this process include:

• Secondary research to identify the current best practices being utilized in the industry to improve employee onboarding through social media communities established among new employees.
• In-depth interview with benchmark partners from the banking industry and other large companies to determine how they work and how they handle issues that arise concerning improving employee onboarding through social media communities established among new employees.
• In-depth interviews will also be held with a variety of internal experts with in our company to see how employee onboarding communities through social media established among new employees is handled currently at our company.
• If appropriate the team can hold focus groups either by teleconference or in person with people at our company to see how they perceive the issues associated with improving employee onboarding through social media communities established among new employees.
• Surveys could be conducted both inside our company and also with benchmark partners to obtain quantitative results associated with the issues identified from the interviews and focus groups pertaining to internal collaboration. Following the completion of the Secondary research, interviews, focus groups and surveys the team will enumerate the best practices identified within the banking industry and other large companies. The team will use the identified best practices to make recommendations on how we can make modifications to their current programs to bring themselves in alignment with the best practices available in the industry.

Key Deliverables:
Facebook will play a key role in this project. The project team will provide the following deliverables at the end of the project:

• A list of best practices as identified by the secondary research in the banking industry and other large companies.
• A list of best practices as identified through the interviews, focus groups and surveys as conducted both inside our firm and with the benchmark partners.
• A series of recommendations that we should use going forward to bring their internal practices within alignment of the best practices in the industry.

Company Description:
One of the five largest bank corps in the US. The company operates over 3,000 banking offices in 25 states and over 5,000 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions.

Short Project Name:
Create social media data measurements and analyze data

Project Description and Deliverables:
Create measurements to respond to key research questions and then analyze and report on existing and newly-gathered data. Various metrics are captured today that require analysis to answer key research questions. Additional data needs to be obtained to supplement the existing data. This project would entail creating data collection measurements and then analyzing and reporting on the data.

Key Deliverables:

1. Analyze existing data to answer key research questions
2. Create new data collection measurements (i.e. surveys, focus group questions, individual interviews, etc.) to answer key research questions
3. Analyze and report on newly created data using correlation and other statistical analysis
4. Provide a written report of key findings and conclusions

Company Description:
a service company that has evolved to a retail business that mainly services students and employees and to some extent classes. We now have to be self sustaining but would also like to become the main provider of services and equipment to all student and all related classes.

Short Project Name:
Company Assessment and Evaluation

Project Description and Deliverables:
Analyze our business, financial and marketing processes and make recommendations on how to improve our services to our customers and employees and how to capture this market. We want to determine if we are following the appropriate business, financial, accounting, and marketing models to ensure we can provide viable services and products to our customers and employees. We need expertise from all backgrounds, specifically accounting, finance, HR, supply chain and marketing; basically all facets of business. We want to maintain or increase our off-campus customers without directly marketing to them. We need to understand how we capture the student and employee market so that they think of us first before buying, renting, or seeking repair services. We would like ideas on how to expand our services to meet the needs of our customers without having to rely so heavily on ski rentals and sales to be self-sustaining and profitable. If we don’t have a good snow season, our bottom line tanks! We want our company to continue to exist in an improved way.

Key Deliverables:
We would like team members to provide analysis and recommendations regarding the following: Are we using a viable retail business model? What needs to be changed? Do we buy and sell wisely? Is our inventory appropriate? Do we have the right number of employees? Are our prices competitive? How do we market to students and employees so they think of us first? How do we capture some of the off-campus community without directly marketing to them. How can we better utilize Facebook and Twitter or other tools? How can we negotiate more competitive pricing with our suppliers. Project will be prioritized and narrowed based on the recommendations of the team.

Company Description:
Major banking firm

Short Project Name:
Improve and automate Collaboration Tools Monthly Scorecard

Project Description and Deliverables:
Identify additional metrics to be captured as well as highlight trends and areas of tool or usage concern. We produce a monthly scorecard with a variety of metrics that shows some trending as well as some qualitative data. A large part of producing this scorecard is a manual process. There are many additional metrics that we could be reporting, but would like to see recommendations on what metrics we should add, how they should be conveyed, and the value that they would add. We are also interested in enhancing our data analysis in order to explain certain trends or activity as well as identify areas of concern. And finally, we are in need of a way to automate the compilation of the metrics that we report on.

Key Deliverables:

• Scorecard revision proposal
• Analysis of existing data
• Recommendations on where we should focus our efforts
• System to help automate or simplify the monthly scorecard-generation process

Company Description:
The company is not yet formed, although I have been purchasing and manufacturing under my personal name to-date. The concept of the device I patented was developed by my grandfather in the early 1930’s.

Short Project Name:
Market introduction of a new tool, the ZZZZZZZZ

Project Description and Deliverables:
New tool development and introduction to market. Target market, marketing plan, web development, manufacturing plan to allow for maximum profit margin while maintaining quality, and then a plan for effective distribution. The ZZZZZZZ is a tool I modified from an original tool hand-made by my grandfather in the early 1930’s. I successfully applied for a patent on the modified design, so under this premise I wish to introduce the tool to market. In a non-scientific manner, I have determined at least a cursory interest in the device, as I have sold all that I manufactured (12 units), and continue to receive inquiries as to when I will have more available. We need to identify markets for the tool, and a plan for marketing to each segment. We currently have a web site which is effectively no more than an electronic brochure, but in the process, have secured the domain name and are in the process of trademarking the name. Pricing, cost-efficient manufacturing, efficient and timely distribution are also areas where we need to make a specific and effective plan. I manufactured the first few devices by hand as would an artisan. The next few I made an assembly line where I still did the manufacturing, but made a large number of components in stockpile, then assembled using jigs and templates. This method provides for the manufacturing of 100 devices per week per work station, and can be increased simply by the establishment of additional work stations. Raw materials purchasing and subsequent manufacturing need to be done such that costs and pricing can allow for maximum profit margin, according to the market. Distribution of the finished devices needs to be determined, including packaging for shipping, transportation and timing. As well as all the above, I want to have a mechanism in-place to gather purchaser demographics and to provide for customer feedback and ideas, and then customer satisfaction. This data will be critical in further product development, marketing improvements and long-term sustainability of the entire enterprise.

Key Deliverables:
Business plan to include the following:

• Target markets
• Marketing plan (including web development)
• Brand development
• Manufacturing plan to allow for maximum profit margin
• Pricing strategy
• Distribution to market
• Purchase demographics and post-sale data

Company Description:
A medical device company which is poised to launch, beginning with three new, innovative surgical and home use foot and ankle products into the market. We will be expanding this base of products over time.

Short Project Name:
Turn a new company from Ready and Set – to Go

Project Description and Deliverables:
Final marketing material preparation, Distribution channel exploration, Medical networking / Physician awareness, Analysis of distribution / marketing strategy, Web presence work, New Product analyses Interns will research various product distribution channels for effectiveness / cost, including the use of sales reps, distribution companies, online distribution, retail, medical conventions etc. They will learn and participate in marketing strategy and some of the final material preparation – video / brochure work etc., as skills allow. Students will see the results of doing SEO and direct contact efforts. Projects and desired outcomes will be specifically outlined with time goals. Students will work with a point person and four entrepreneurially minded individuals each of which brings a particular dimension of business expertise. The intern would be invited into an energized and well-coordinated team. We work synergistically with a web site – ZZZZZ.com to enhance outcomes.

Key Deliverables:

• Define in writing a marketing strategy, articulating key assumptions
• Research and analyze various distribution channels for cost/benefit
• Create some of the final marketing materials for distribution as skills dovetail
• Direct and online marketing contact and analysis of results
• Research and report on cost of creating new products – foreign/domestic

Company Description:
New OB/GYN office opened. By doctor who has been with another practice for 16 years but recently opened up his own practice. He offers women the option of seeing only a single provider during the course of her pregnancy and delivery. He has a very low c-section rate and 20 years of experience. In addition he offers a full range of women’s health care needs including premarital exams, gym exams, in office endometrial ablations, high quality level 3 ultrasound exams, NST testing, i.v. hydration, and a host of other services.

Short Project Name:
Business plan for new OB/GYN office.

Project Description and Deliverables:
Looking for fresh, new ideas in Office Organization, Marketing, Acct/Finance and Info Systems. Help with marketing and managing an OB/GYN practice from all perspectives. Not only to attract new clients, but in being innovative in how the office is run and in growing the practice. The project will include 4 major areas of emphasis:

• OB/HR Analysis of the office organization, people responsibilities and the work flow in the office.
• Marketing plan development to growth the practice through a referral network and developing business to consumer advertising including social networks and web presence.
• Financial analysis of cash flow, billing procedures and a review of the accounting practices and reports.
• I/S analysis of office records optimization moving from a paper records system to an electronic system.

The team will review the available software systems and recommend and potentially implementation of an electronic records transition.

Key Deliverables:
Office Organization recommendations Marketing Plan for growth Financial and Accounting recommendations Information Systems recommendations for transitioning from paper to electronic record keeping.

Company Description:
Private Equity Company from Palo Alto, Ca.

Short Project Name:
Identify Successful Private Equity Investments

Project Description and Deliverables:
Phase I – in-depth industry analysis

Phase II – Identify key acquisitions within that industry, and provide quantitative and qualitative evidence to support your recommendation

The first half of the semester will be spent on a broad analysis of a given industry (industry TBA). This analysis will require the team to identify the industry’s size, growth drivers, growth constraints, trends, and best-in-class business models. Data sources available for this analysis include industry reports, company websites, analyst reports, industry interviews, and analogous industry analysis. This phase of the project will conclude with a 10-15 slide powerpoint presentation that highlights industry dynamics and a clear and unique investment thesis.

The second half of the semester will be spent on a competitive landscape and potential investment analysis. The team will perform a company-by-company analysis of industry participants (qualitative and quantitative), and build rough financial models for potential acquisition targets. These financial models will be constructed using either company data or bottom-up analysis. Also included in the financial model will be a life-time value of customer, customer acquisition costs, and margin level analysis.

The semester will conclude with a powerpoint presentation that highlights the industry’s competitive landscape and each company that the team believes to be a lucrative acquisition. This presentation will be presented via webex to our management.

Key Deliverables:
10-15 slide powerpoint presentation that highlights industry dynamics and a clear and unique investment thesis a final powerpoint presentation that highlights the industry’s competitive landscape and each company that the team believes to be a lucrative acquisition

Company Description:
Our company’s purpose today continues to focus on helping individuals and families financially realize their hopes and dreams and render assistance when it is needed most.

Short Project Name:
Corporate Bond Intern

Project Description and Deliverables:
“It was a great experience to get familiar with the debt capital markets.” – Trevor Neff

“I thought it was a great experience to introduce me to Bloomberg as well as the debt markets. Prior to this internship I knew little about how to evaluate a company. I feel that this experience has given me a greater understanding of how the debt markets, credit ratings, agencies, and financial statements work. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.” – Taylor Wilkins

“Anyone interested in the financial markets will like this internship and find it beneficial/helpful.” – Robert Matthews

Here are some basic competencies from our company’s documents:

• Analyzes and reports on corporate bonds, private placements, sector concentrations and industry exposures.
• Analyzes and presents financial and economic variables associated with fixed income issuers.
• Using standard industry tools research and analytic tools, create cash flow and valuation models of current and prospective investment holdings.
• Actively seeks to improve and enhance investment selection and monitoring processes.
• Provides accurate and timely deal/sector/macro research to support the decision-making process of risk and investment teams.
• Performs other assignments as requested and proactively identifies value adding projects and initiatives.
• Professional attitude, behavior, and interaction with colleagues.
• Intellectual curiosity about and enthusiasm for investment markets.
• Demonstrated ability to think accurately and critically in analytical setting.
• Effective communication skills, flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail, and accuracy are critical.

Key Deliverables:
Completes 3 or 4 credit reports and presents them to credit committee.

Company Description:
Investment advisory firm and money manager

Short Project Name:
Analyze structure, strategy, and tax implications for all commodity and currency ETFs and ETNs as well as many other ROI projects

Project Description and Deliverables:
We would use the team of interns to work on the following projects:

• Analysis of structure, strategy, and tax implications for all commodity and currency ETFs and ETNs.
• Create Excel template that calculates portfolio attribution and risk statistics.
• Analyze and categorize long/short and absolute return mutual funds.
• Matrix for performance, volatility, and correlation for country and sector ETFs.
• Analysis of reasons and sustainability of premiums in fixed income ETFs.
• Creation of a client satisfaction survey.
• Setup checklist for Simple IRA plans.
• Perform analysis of requirements and due diligence process for UMA and SMA platforms.

While many of these projects have an investment emphasis, other areas of concentration could also be useful.

Company Description:
A large insurance company with financial portfolio

Short Project Name:
Provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of fixed income securities and portfolio positions. Completes special projects in support of the investment and risk management teams.

Project Description and Deliverables:

• Analyzes and assesses credit quality of asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities
• Analyze remittance reports, prospectuses, loan performance, and present findings to the credit committee
• Using industry standard tools for research and analytical tools to create cash flow and valuation models of current investment holdings
• Actively seeks to improve and enhance investment selection and monitoring processes
• Provides accurate and timely deal/sector/macro research to support the decision-making process of risk and investment teams
• Performs other assignments as requested and proactively identifies value adding projects and initiatives
• Professional attitude, behavior, and interaction with colleagues
• Intellectual curiosity about and enthusiasm for investment markets
• Demonstrated ability to think accurately and critically in analytical setting
• Effective communication skills, flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail, and accuracy are critical

Company Description:
Our company specializes in baseball equipment, but also manufactures softball, basketball, training equipment and American footballs. We have also recently started making fan gear such as chairs, tents, and bags with team logos on them.

Short Project Name:
Competitive Analysis

Project Description and Deliverables:
The on-campus internship team will conduct an in-depth analysis of our direct competitors. This analysis will require the team to discover the competitor’s financial information, strategies, geographic concentration, product line strength, and brand strength. The team will identify areas to target for growth and ways to protect company strengths.

Key Deliverables:
Competitive analysis

Company Description:
A privately owned environmentally conscious global specialty chemical company providing the household and industrial detergent, personal care, lubricant, oilfield, emulsion polymerization, textile, and agriculture industries with high-quality specialty chemicals. We are customer focused and market driven. Our core proprietary technologies involve alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, custom blends and a number of other specialty operations. We are an industry leader in chemical innovation, product quality and safety.

Short Project Name:
Green Chemical Movement and Chemical Production In India

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are looking to gain detailed information on the recent advances in chemical production from green/environmentally friendly resources. Conduct research and analyze information concerning emerging green chemical manufacturing technologies, raw materials and companies. The team will develop a database of information and create dossiers’ which will be used by the company leadership team. The BYU-H students will work closely with our Marketing Manager in utilizing a variety of research tools and methodologies to complete the information gathering and analysis of the emerging green chemical movement.

Key Deliverables:
Students to help company gain an in-depth understanding of the Bio-based companies and their technologies that are geared for replacing petro-based raw materials. Dossiers would be created for each of these companies and would feature the following sections: Financial backing, technology, JV’s and partnerships, products/chemistries, commercialization efforts and progress, target markets and industries, sales and revenue.

Company Description:
A leading HRIS provider and we’re growing fast! Our goal is to build the best HR software in the world for small and medium businesses. The purpose of our web-based application is to streamline and automate human resource administration so HR can take care of the people.

Short Project Name:
Competitive Analysis of HR Software Providers

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are seeking assistance in conducting an industry competitive analysis of leading HR Information System providers including pricing, product features, and market segment comparisons. The objective of this analysis is to provide us with benchmarking comparisons that will assist us in identifying competitive strengths and weaknesses of our offering. This analysis will include the following objectives and responsibilities:

• Research general trends in the HR software industry.
• Research and ascertain the top HRIS providers in the United States that focus on the Small to Medium Business (SMB) market.
• Conduct surveys with the HRIS providers via telephone and/or email to determine key metrics including, but not limited to, pricing, product features, key differentiators (according to them), business model (SaaS/web-based subscription, on-premise/desktop download, freemium), and current number of customers.
• Conduct SWOT analysis on the key metrics from the surveys and secondary research. Also seek to identify best practice commonalities.

Key Deliverables:

• Deliver written report outlining the key findings including best practice commonalities and recommendations for change. The report should include an appendix with the survey data, secondary reports/research, and any other relevant information gathered during the project.
• Deliver a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings and recommendations for change. The presentation should also include a competitive matrix comparing us to the other competitors.

Company Description:
Entrepreneur seeking to set up company to manufacture new ATV/Snowmobile crossover category

Short Project Name:
Research & analysis of new category in the powersports industry

Project Description and Deliverables:
Assist in developing a business plan, identifying an optimum entry point for a new product, and creating a venture capital funding presentation for a three-track-drive snowmobile/ATV. A BYU OCI Team will conduct market research (via database, polls, focus groups, industry expert interviews, etc.) to 1) identify an optimum initial entry point for a new product, 2) acquire data on the powersports industry (i.e., snowmobiles, ATVs, rock crawlers) needed for business plan (recent sales, market size, etc.) They will also identify investment bankers, venture capitalists, and angel investor groups that have funded products for the powersports industry. This research will be used to create a business plan to assist in obtaining company funding to manufacture and sell our product (or to obtain a license agreement with an industry leader). The team will also help to identify key management team members that may be brought on. Entrepreneurship skills and interests are key traits desired in these OCI team members.

Key Deliverables:
Business plan, market research data, powersports industry investment community contact list, PowerPoint slides for venture capital funding presentation, key management team member recommendations.

Company Description:
A consulting firm and business accelerator involved in the startup and acquisition of early stage companies. Founded by two physicians, We have a specialized focus in healthcare & technology, but invests in projects across a wide range of industries.

Short Project Name:
Evaluate viability/feasibility of potential business startups

Project Description and Deliverables:
Evaluate the viability and feasibility of potential business startups and acquisitions within a business incubator/accelerator model. Students will be assigned to and/or choose from a variety of our current projects. For example, we are currently evaluating the acquisition of a drug rehab facility near ZZZZZ, Utah. Students would help with due diligence, market research, pro forma financial statements (including cash flow projections).

Another example is a small biotech startup where students would conduct basic/preliminary patent searches, determine cost of obtaining patents, and map out drug development life cycle strategy.

Additionally, we have a number of ongoing projects and investments such as:

• A methadone clinic that is fully licensed but seeking investment funding before opening doors. Students would assist with preparation/revision of slide deck, circulation to potential investors, and meeting with early stage investors. Interested students also could develop marketing plan and or organizational structure recommendations.
• Strategic development of a CRO focused on clinical research overseas (i.e. India and China).

Students to assist with web content creation, capes presentation creation, market research. This placement would be for highly motivated, driven, organized students who are good team players but also able to function independently in their respective roles.

Key Deliverables:
Deliverables will depend on the specific project, and the student’s role, but will be predetermined at the beginning of the project. Possible deliverables may include:

• Executive summary write-up and/or business model creation
• Pro forma financial statements
• Market research report
• Proposed term sheet for potential investments

Company Description:
A clinical research organization founded and headquartered in Utah. Our company conducts pharmaceutical trials in the neurosciences, particularly in neuropsychiatric disorders. Founder graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Neuroscience and then attended the University of Utah for medical school and residency training, as well as business school.

Short Project Name:
Geotargeted Marketing for Clinical Trials

Project Description and Deliverables:
Create and implement an innovative marketing strategy for clinical trial patient recruitment, including social media, geotargeted online advertising, innovative data-driven approaches, along with traditional radio/print/TV advertising. Our company is a clinical research service and consulting firm located in Utah. We are currently conducting over 6 clinical trials of investigational medications for neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar, adolescent bipolar, adolescent schizophrenia, and Tourette disorder. A team of students is requested to design & implement innovative marketing techniques, such as geotargeted pay per click advertising on Google and Facebook, along with other creative advertising strategies. The company is amenable to complete re-branding if needed in order to accomplish patient recruitment goals. Take existing advertising budget (approximately $5,000-10,000 per study across 6 studies) and implement radio, TV, print advertising, along with Google AdWords, Facebook ads, Microsoft adCenter, google TV and other innovative methods. Carefully track results and analyze effectiveness of each method. Also work on branding of the company and other methods of establishing a presence in Utah in clinical research.

Key Deliverables:
– Marketing plan designed – Marketing plan implemented – Metrics: Measure results, cost per acquisition – Adjust model based on data

Company Description:
The ZZZZZ Office works with start-ups and established businesses to commercially develop the technologies invented by ZZZZZZ faculty.

Short Project Name:
Evaluate the marketability of new technologies

Project Description and Deliverables:
Students will research the marketability of new technologies and report to management regarding the potential for commercial development (including market size, potential licensees, and strategy). Students will be assigned technologies from a list in fields such as biology, computer science, and engineering. Technical background could be helpful, but it is not required. Due to the confidential nature of the technologies to be researched, students must sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Key Deliverables:
1. Non-disclosure agreement
2. Marketability study for each technology researched

Company Description:
A global leader of plastic solutions for fluid handling in building, sanitary, industrial and utilities applications. Privately-Owned company. Has been at the forefront of our industry’s consolidation for the last 15 years. Turnover 2009 of EUR 1.9 Bn, mainly in Europe and North America, equally spread between pressure systems and gravity systems…realized with more than 15,000 employees.

Short Project Name:
Migrate small waste treatment system from Latin America to the US

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are a global provider of water solutions. Part of our activity is dedicated to water management and water treatment. The group wants to position itself on the north American market and therefore is looking at getting a better idea of the real attractiveness and risks related to that market. The Market we are looking at: Small treatment systems for individual houses which are built in areas where there is no sewer drain line. In order to covert black waters (sewage water) into irrigation water for gardens or in water that can go back by infiltration to the soil avoiding contamination to the mantle water table or their back yards or lakes and rivers close to their homes. They are other market niches where this product can be install and these are small log cabins in camping areas, gas stations, rest areas, rural housing, as Indian reservations, and colonies in Texas. What we expect from this market research is:

• Market attractiveness; regulations and standards that the product need to comply in all four states. (Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.
• Existing Competition: a. Actual septic tank types of treatment, frequently of maintenance required b. Competitor recognition on the market.
• Value proposition: a. Who are the decision makers (government, constructing companies, architects, house Owners) b. Water are the decision takers key drivers (long term investment or not, protect the environment, cheap but necessary, etc.) c. What is the right psychological price for the system?

What is the Market potential in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, in units and value, including the colonies in Texas, Indian reservations, private homes, including ranch houses, week end homes, camping and hunting log cabins, etc.

Risks related to these markets:

1. Related to competition, what long and short term threat could we expect from the competition.
2. What could be possible contingencies if the product fails on the process of water treatment?
3. Is there a government inspection on this type of products? What could be a penalty? And all other things that haven to be taken in to account in order to make this business successful. Company Backup: we have a project leader in chihuahua Mexico, a water treatment specialist in Mexico, a water treatment market specialist in Europe and business manager in Latin America. They will be the main contacts for this project. We will have to detail more when the project takes off with the students in order to be more precise on the expectations of the project.

Company Description:
An internationally recognized, nonprofit, system of 20+ hospitals, a Medical Group with more than 150 physician clinics, and an affiliated health insurance company.

Short Project Name:
Healthcare Transformation and Finance

Project Description and Deliverables:
Working directly with Intermountain Healthcare’s Director of Healthcare Transformation, the intern team would be assigned various projects related to financial viability analysis, market/due diligence analysis, and developing new strategic frameworks. Examples include conducting external and internal fact finding assignments to support new company strategies, financial analyses related to hospital/clinic budgets, operating margin impact forecasts, developing new pricing paradigms, etc. Ideal intern candidates will be those who plan to work on the business side of heath care post-graduation, and who have extremely strong technical, financial, and communication skills. This internship will prepare students extremely well for financial analyst/strategic planning roles within the health care industry. Interns must be Juniors and Seniors only; with a preference for Seniors. This project will tackle real problems in a real time environment, and will require significant ingenuity and autonomy on behalf of the students. There will also be several on-site visits to the Intermountain Corporate Office to work with key project sponsors/executives, so students will need to be polished/professional in their appearance and demeanor. If you really want to be in healthcare finance, and are not afraid of a lot of hard work, this is the internship for you.

Key Deliverables:
Due diligence reports, financial analyses, strategic opinion white papers, etc.

Company Description:
We are a rapidly growing, subscription-based, finance and technology company in the health care industry. Our web-based platform allows lenders to seamlessly present payment options to patients at the point of sale (in the doctor’s office). Patients utilize our payment options to pay for elective procedures not covered by insurance in a variety of industries.

Short Project Name:
Develop & Launch New Risk Analysis Program

Project Description and Deliverables:
Students will work with Senior Management to develop a new process for evaluating and analyzing the relative risk of new client opportunities. This methodology will be implemented by the team as they analyze 400 existing clients and make recommendations. We are a part of a value-chain involving medical and dental providers, patients, and lenders. As such, we incur financial and business risks during the course of our operations. Much of this risk depends on who we decide to partner with in a financing relationship. As a result of certain negative relationships with medical/dental providers, We are looking to develop a more robust risk analysis process whereby we can screen out potential hazardous client relationships before we start working together. Once developed, the analysis process will use available online and other resources to determine whether a healthcare provider should be allowed to utilize our platform. Students will operate throughout the internship with the following overarching goals:

• The analysis needs to be data-based
• The analysis needs to be simple and easily implemented by existing staff
• The process needs to allow the sales / new account setup process to continue without major interruption
• The recommendations will be utilized by management to decide which relationships to cancel and which relationships to refuse

The project will be broken into four key sections:

• Team members will analyze and audit the sales and new account setup process to get an in-depth understanding of all of the points of risk and the key drivers of business growth
• Team members will research available processes and resources that could assist our team in evaluating potential client opportunities and use these to build a new risk analysis program
• Team members will use the new program methodology to analyze 400 current client accounts and make recommendations to senior management regarding which accounts should be cancelled
• Team members will propose a method for ongoing use of the new risk analysis program to review existing relationships on a regular basis

Key Deliverables:
-Brief overview of existing processes -New risk analysis program research and outline -New analysis program guide for employees -Final report with recommendations on existing clients – Financial impact of recommendations -Proposed ongoing method for evaluating risk of existing clients regularly

Company Description:
We are a rapidly growing, subscription-based, finance and technology company in the health care industry. Our web-based platform allows lenders to seamlessly present payment options to patients at the point of sale (in the doctor’s office). Patients utilize our payment options to pay for elective procedures not covered by insurance in a variety of industries.

Short Project Name:
Financial & Comparative Analysis of SaaS Revenue Model

Project Description and Deliverables:
The student team will be an integral part of our 2013 pricing & revenue strategy–analyzing our current revenue model, contract structure, & pricing promotions & comparing us with other SaaS companies, making crucial recommendations to the executive team. We have spent the past 3 years developing our current SaaS (software as a service) revenue model. We have experimented with a number of different variations of this plan and have settled on a version that allowed us to grow 150% in 2012.

As we look to 2013, our product and industry reputation has positioned us well for an even bigger growth opportunity. We want to make sure that we are maximizing our revenue opportunities, using industry best practices, and implementing the best possible pricing strategy in 2013 to benefit us and our clients. Our senior management has extensive experience with our current model, but we do not have the bandwidth or the ability to fully research, analyze, and compare our revenue model with other SaaS companies. We are excited to employ a team of talented interns to help us accomplish this important project that could literally impact the bottom line of our business by the millions over the next 3-5 years.

The project will be divided into 3 main components:

1. Internal Analysis: part or all of the team will take 3 years of our financial data and analyze the following points of data, looking for trends and insights: -Contract term length -Retention rates – Renewal rates -Monthly fee amounts -Cancellation fees -Contract format -Revenue growth – Correlation between contract terms/rates and retention -Total revenue numbers -etc.
2. Comparative Analysis: part or all of the team will contact and receive information from 10-20 other SaaS companies that charge monthly or annual fees. The purpose of this phase of the project will be to learn and compare our approach to these other companies in the following key areas: -Price points -Contract terms -Retention rates -Revenue growth -Cancellation policies – Cancellation fees -Signup process -Discount/promotional pricing strategies -Contract format -etc.
3. Recommendations: the entire team will compile the results from the analysis and comparative research phases and use these as a basis for coming up with potential pricing/revenue strategies the company can implement in 2013. This phase will focus on applying industry best practices learned from comparative analysis in the unique setting, while leaving open the possibility of coming up with creative alternatives to challenges faced in the past. The final result of this phase will be a report and presentation to senior management on the top 3 recommendations that will impact our future success.

Key Deliverables:

• Internal analysis financial model, including dashboard overview (excel workbook)
• Comparative analysis survey results and report, including sample contracts, materials, etc. from companies analyzed
• Final presentation, including an analysis of all recommendations considered and the top 3 recommendations for senior management to implement immediately

Company Description:
One of the world’s leading companies in the field of health and nutrition. Develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, healthy weight-management products, and self-preserving personal-care products.

Short Project Name:
Talent Shortage

Project Description and Deliverables:
With the aging workforce, companies across the nation are facing talent shortages, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math. What are the most effective practices for getting access to the qualified talent pool? Many companies are finding it hard to recruit for positions in science, technology, engineering, and math, Furthermore, managers are finding that the rising generation is sometimes ill-equipped with the skills necessary to function in a traditional working environment. Some research has gone into the generational differences between the older baby boomer generation and the “millennials,” however we are in need of practices that we can implement to not only bridge the talent gap, but foster a culture and environment so the millennial generation can succeed.

Key Deliverables:

1. Analyze and propose some best practices for recruiting (or training in house) and retaining talent in the more technical fields. a. Take a look at what other companies are doing with regards to creative benefits or other ways they are attracting top talent. b. We are currently building an internship program aimed at advertising employment at USANA. We realize we have a branding issue with how our company is structured when it comes to employment. Propose some ideas to overcome this.
2. Analyze and propose a method to either adapt our current culture to fit the needs of the new generation of the workforce, or a way to implement training to help younger workers integrate better into our current culture.
3. In addition, find out if there is anything we as employer can do to narrow the talent gap that currently exists
   a. Encouraging people to study in more technical fields
   b. Groom talent from within by providing in-house training opportunities (Cost/benefit analysis)

Company Description:
ZZZZZ, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry worldwide. It offers routers that interconnects public and private IP networks for mobile, data, voice, and video applications; switching products, which provide connectivity to end users, workstations, IP phones, access points, and servers; application networking services; and home networking products, such as adapters, gateways, modems, and home network management software. The company also offers security products, storage area networking products for data center environments, collaboration products to integrate voice, video, data, and mobile applications, video connected home products. Further, the company offers technical support services; and responsive, preventive, and consultative support services for its technologies.

Short Project Name:
Enhancing knowledge management for our company

Project Description and Deliverables:
Development of Global Staffing documentation within our company’s knowledge management tool, to enable our employees worldwide to leverage the Staffing organizations best practice collateral.

Our Staffing organization is excited to be rolling out a new operating model in September. This is the result of a year-long effort to:

• Further align our Staffing Services with business needs beyond Staffing, whilst advancing our competitive advantage
• Promote excellence by continuing to streamline operations, systems and tools As part of this effort, the Staffing organization has created process documentation, templates, and other supporting best-practice collateral, to enable Staffing’s execution of the new model. Going forth, we’d like to transform this content, and create new Staffing content, so this important developmental work can be leveraged by the wider business, via our knowledge management tool.

We’d like the support of a project team to:

• Partner with the Human Resources Support Center team to understand trends in historical cases; to identify priority areas for content development.
• Understand gaps in existing content, and create and publish new content.
• Tailor the Staffing-specific training and materials to non-Staffing audiences, such as broader Human Resources, Human Resources Support Center, and Hiring Managers directly.
• Prepare short tutorial videos for Hiring Managers, to help them to understand their role in the Staffing process (e.g. tips on requisition creation, how to partner with Recruiters on job profiles, the role of the Hiring Manager in sourcing, etc.)

Key Deliverables: The project team would be charted with improving the knowledge management assets within our knowledge management tool:

• Identify highest priority focus areas for knowledge management within the HR and Hiring Manager communities
• Determine Staffing content that can be utilized beyond the Staffing organization
• Update, create and publish content for Hiring Manager and HR audiences, using video, where possible

Company Description:
Our company specializes in baseball equipment, but also manufactures softball, basketball, training equipment and American footballs. We have also recently started making fan gear such as chairs, tents, and bags with team logos on them.

Short Project Name:
Global market analysis

Project Description and Deliverables:
The on-campus internship team will perform a global market analysis. This will require the team to segment country sales by product category. Also, the team will discover participation levels by age. Finally, the team will research geographic market share by brand/company. The final deliverable will be a prioritized list of targeted geographic expansion. The team my also be asked to develop a pro league expansion plan (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL).

Key Deliverables:
Prioritized list of targeted geographic expansion

Company Description:
A leading health care company, serving more than 75 million people worldwide. Our family of companies touches nearly every aspect of health care, helping people live healthier lives. As a leader in the health benefits and services industry, our businesses offer exceptional service, broad capabilities and enduring value in creating a modern health care system. Our products and services empower individuals, expand consumer choice and strengthen patient-provider relationships across the health care spectrum.

Short Project Name:
Patients are overwhelmed with medical bills

Project Description and Deliverables:
What unique ways do customers pay for things in other industries that might be useful to the industry? What resonates with customers?

Consider the number of medical bills a person may receive from multiple doctors, multiple hospitals or clinics, and an insurance company as a result of a medical episode. The result may be confusion from a flood of medical bills and benefit statements. In this project, students will assist in improving the patient experience as it relates to managing their medical bills from doctors and benefit statements from insurance companies. Students will explore billing & payment best-practices of other industries and consider which components might be applied to the healthcare industry. What unique ways do customers pay for things in other industries that might be useful to the industry? What resonates with customers?

Key Deliverables:

• Analysis of different billing & payment solutions
• Recommended solution(s)
• Address key questions, such as: – Does the solution get to the core of the issue and address the right thing? – Are there social media components to the offering? Are there social media components to the marketing approach? – What are the positive or negative impacts to other people/groups (doctors, health insurance companies, brokers, legal, regulatory, customer service)?

Company Description:
Small law firm (10 attorneys) Established in 2000. Primary focus is management side labor and employment law with additional emphasis on general business civil litigation. Client base is primarily regional to Northern California with some multi-state clients.

Short Project Name:
Expand Practice and Strengthen Client Relations

Project Description and Deliverables:

• Receive meaningful feedback from clients about improving service. This will include the development of a strategy for contacting clients during and following the provision of legal services and obtaining their candid feedback regarding our services in a manner that allows the firm to modify its communication and other methods of service delivery.
• Expand current legal practice. Our primary area of practice is management side labor and employment representation. We have recently been interested in expanding into the employment benefit (pension and health care) area in which we have previously only dabbled periodically with current clients. This would require market and competitor research and the development of a strategic plan to successfully enter this new market. It would include the development with current clients and prospective clients.
• Developing a human resource consulting component. Our legal rates sometime require that we turn away work that a human resource consultant can perform adequately at a more reasonable rate. We are interested in hiring human resource consultants to perform this work or starting a separate company with an appropriate referral relationship with our firm. There are some professional and ethical considerations that must be taken into consideration here. Also cost analysis of starting a new company or hiring additional staff would need to be considered.

Key Deliverables:

• A workable plan to receive feedback from clients regarding our legal services.
• A market analysis and plan for expanding into a new legal practice area.
• A business plan for the development of a human resource consulting component of our firm.

Company Description:
We are a successful small business that provides insurance claims processing, billing, and remittance for auto repair and maintenance facilities around the country.

Short Project Name:
Database/Web Development

Project Description and Deliverables:
Start to finish creation of a database and a database driven website for easier data entry and client access to sales information. We have many clients around the country, each with multiple retail store locations. Our current data entry process is tedious, confusing for new employees, and inefficient. We need to improve our information systems in order to be able to grow effectively and provide our clients with a better service to compete in the market. We are in need of an original database to be created specific to our needs in order to simplify our data entry process and reporting. We also would like to have a database driven website created so that up-to-date information can be available to our clients. The database needs to have an easy-to-use interface in order to eliminate errors in data entry process. This database will need to be integrated with our electronic billing software.

Key Deliverables:
Effective database with friendly user interface, website with login for clients to view sales information derived from database.

Company Description:
We have been in business since January, 1970. Family owned and operated in California residential and commercial flooring: furnished and installed. Hardwoods, Sheet Vinyls, Carpets & Area Rugs, Laminates, Vinyl Tiles.

Short Project Name:
Computer programming: MS Access

Project Description and Deliverables:
Continue upgrade programming for an existing, (proprietary) MS Access program that we use for estimates, Job tags and invoice detail sheets, as well as the several facets of job tracking. Series of small program upgrade/fix projects to our proprietary MS Access program that we had built over the past 2 years. Correspondence by call and e-mail weekly or bi-weekly. We would beta test the upgrades and send back results (de-bug, etc.)

Key Deliverables:
A series of upgrades/fixes to our MS Access program. This will allow us to use the program more smoothly, etc.

Company Description:
Enable customers to increase revenue, manage customer relationships and deliver world-class customer service. Our mission and vision includes the objective of delighting customers in world class, best practices Service Desk & CRM/SFA software. Our goal is to consistently deliver high-performance support services, support materials and products that exceed customers’ expectations and leverage existing IT investments.

Short Project Name:
Real Estate CRM

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are now starting a small, separate startup company focused on real estate CRM solutions. GroupLink has teamed with its partners to develop a software solution that allows “selling agents” to receive feedback after potential buyers view the property being sold. The application also stores client, property, feedback, and agent/agency data, from which valuable pipeline and performance statistics can be reported. All of this information is accessible by the users from a simple web based application.

Company Description:
Technology company developing web-based graphical applications

Short Project Name:
Perform research and analysis for an online collaborative diagramming tool

Project Description and Deliverables:
A variety of projects are possible, and specific assignments will be made based on consultation with the team leader and team mentor.

Possible projects include:

• Analysis of different market segments and opportunities for LucidChart, and prioritization and entry plan for these market segments
• Detailed competitive analysis and recommended product development plan
• Development of detailed product requirements, e.g. for a mobile offering
• Development of a social media marketing plan
• Analysis of international opportunities and product internationalization.

1. PROBLEM THIS BUSINESS IDEA IS ADDRESSING IN THE MARKETPLACE Currently no CRM/SFA software is available for the real estate market that is up to industry standards. Likewise, no such solution is available that tracks potential buyer feedback.
2. OTHER SOLUTIONS IN THE MARKET CURRENTLY No other software is known to accomplish the above objective.
3. THE SOLUTION: WHY IT IS BETTER AND SOLVES THE PROBLEM This is a focused market and business that only develops real estate related software and solutions using state of the art technology.
4. SIZE OF THE MARKET United States and Canada: Residential Real Estate: $150 Million per year Commercial Real Estate: Undetermined 4 million real estate agents in the US > average of 150$ per year subscription each > 25% market share

Company Description:
World leader in the development, manufacture, application and supply of specialty chemicals and services to the oil and gas industry.

Short Project Name:
Acquisition Development and Evaluation

Project Description and Deliverables:
Evaluate potential acquisition targets for financial return and portfolio fit. It will include company identification, origination, company strategy evaluation, financial evaluation, deal structure. We would be looking to acquire companies that are in the west of the USA, including Alaska, that service chemical to the Oil and Gas industry. Target business would have $5 to $65 million in annual revenue

Key Deliverables:
Multiple company options that fit acquisition criteria.

Company Description:
Private Equity Company from Palo Alto, Ca.

Short Project Name:
Identify Successful Private Equity Investments

Project Description and Deliverables:
The first half of the semester will be spent on a broad analysis of a given industry (industry TBA). This analysis will require the team to identify the industry’s size, growth drivers, growth constraints, trends, and best-in-class business models. Data sources available for this analysis include industry reports, company websites, analyst reports, industry interviews, and analogous industry analysis. This phase of the project will conclude with a 10-15 slide PowerPoint presentation that highlights industry dynamics and a clear and unique investment thesis.

The second half of the semester will be spent on a competitive landscape and potential investment analysis. The team will perform a company-by-company analysis of industry participants (qualitative and quantitative), and build rough financial models for potential acquisition targets. These financial models will be constructed using either company data or bottom-up analysis. Also included in the financial model will be a life-time value of customer, customer acquisition costs, and margin level analysis.

The semester will conclude with a PowerPoint presentation that highlights the industry’s competitive landscape and each company that the team believes to be a lucrative acquisition. This presentation will be presented via WebEx to our management.

Key Deliverables:
10-15 slide PowerPoint presentation that highlights industry dynamics and a clear and unique investment thesis a final PowerPoint presentation that highlights the industry’s competitive landscape and each company that the team believes to be a lucrative acquisition

Company Description:
ZZZZZ looks to acquire, improve, & professionalize higher-end salons & spa’s in the New York metro area. The company uses a roll-up private equity investment strategy. The Salon K Group purchased XXXXX Salon in Hartsdale, New York in 2010. In 2012 the company acquired YYYYYY Salon in Hartsdale, NY. In 2012 a company affiliate acquired QQQQQQ Salon & Spa in CT.

Short Project Name:
Multi-faceted project for PE salon roll-up

Project Description and Deliverables:
This project will encompass many smaller projects depending on the skill-set & interests of the participating students. Some projects are on an ad-hoc basis based on current business needs. The business is at an inflection point of growth. Students will work with company to determine the highest priority projects and executable projects based on the skills and interests of the team. All team members will have exposure to the various mini projects resulting in the broad exposure to numerous business challenges. A few of the projects are below:

• develop marketing strategy & estimate annual costs
• identify acquisition targets & prepare financing materials
• develop content for multiple web sites
• research international expansion opportunities in Latin America & China (native Chinese- & Spanish speakers a plus)
• identify “hot lists” of prior customers to target for marketing efforts -identify potential stylists, massage therapists, & estheticians -execute cost-cutting initiatives

Company Description:
A company focused on developing web-based graphical applications in the cloud that are as robust and respectable as any product running from your computer.

Short Project Name:
Market and User Experience analysis and development

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are offering a team the chance to perform research and analysis of the competitive landscape for current and future products and then develop the necessary strategies and collateral to stay on the bleeding edge of web-based solutions. Our business team wants driven and creative students to help us become more widely adopted by enterprises and educational institutions, and build a solid foundation for our next products to launch from. As more users work inside our current and future products, the user experience is key to ensure quick adoption and long-term value. Our product is used by some of the largest companies and schools in the world and we are looking for students from BYU to help with the next steps to expand our customer base. Some of the tasks include:

• User experience analysis and development
• Marketing collateral and strategy
• Competitive Analysis and forecasting competitor initiatives Students will work alongside veterans and rookies a in the industry to observe and contribute to the process of building a company groomed for continued growth and a potential acquisition.

Key Deliverables:

• Marketing collateral (templates, messaging, design, and campaigns)
• Go to market strategies for products currently under development
• Market research for enterprise and education adoption
• Plan and execute a company-wide ping-pong tournament (or other group activity)

Company Description:
We are a rapidly growing, subscription-based, finance and technology company in the health care industry. Our web-based platform allows lenders to seamlessly present payment options to patients at the point of sale (in the doctor’s office). Patients utilize our payment options to pay for elective procedures not covered by insurance in a variety of industries.

Short Project Name:
New Target Market Research, Analysis, & Proposal

Project Description and Deliverables:
The student team members will be an integral part of our 2013 strategy. They will analyze potential market opportunities, compile their research, and prepare an in-depth recommendations report identifying the top new markets that we should pursue.

The student team will take a deep look at potential market opportunities, analyze these markets, and prepare an in-depth recommendations report identifying the top new markets that we should pursue. As we looks toward our 2013 strategy, we have our eye on expanding our current offering into potential new markets. The analysis and report prepared by the student team will be a key part of our decision making process as we determine when and where to allocate resources in the coming year. Students will interface weekly with owners and the senior management team, as well as limited interaction with the CEO and President, to compile their project recommendations.

The project will include:

• Establishing market size estimates for different market segments
• Estimating profit margins and price points for new market segments
• Understanding business models and cost limitations in new market segments
• Projecting potential metrics into a financial model to predict future growth in market segments The internship will require the following skills:
• Ability to quickly learn about and understand the financial products offered in the industry, including loans, payment plans, and promotional credit cards
• Excellent research and analysis skills, including internet and other research methods
• Experience compiling a competitive landscape or analysis
• Understanding of Excel and other software necessary to perform analysis
• Excellent communication skills
• Potential phone skills necessary to obtain information not available online The internship will help students develop:
• Market research skills
• Financial analysis skills
• Marketing and segmentation skills
• Business modeling and projection skills

We’re looking for motivated, enthusiastic, and excited team members looking to make an impact. This project is vital to the success of our company.

Key Deliverables:

• Market reports for each potential target segment
• Market size
• Potential opportunity
• Analysis on product fit
• Competitive analysis
• Final report with recommendations for which target segment(s) to focus on in 2013

Company Description:
A Platform-as-a-Service (“PaaS”) that gives you a virtual workplace. It is designed to securely manage content and minimize competitive intelligence losses, facilitate scalable IT costs, improve the efficient exchange of critical business information and facilitate collaboration within and among organizations. Our cloud-based solutions enable entities to control, track, search and exchange sensitive information, all within a secure and easy-to-use environment. We offer cost-effective solutions to manage large amounts of electronic information, accelerate information-intensive business processes, reduce time to market, optimize critical information workflow, meet regulatory and risk management requirements, and collaborate with business counterparties in a secure, auditable and compliant manner. We eliminate the inherent risks and inefficiencies of email, fax, courier services and other existing solutions for information exchange.

Short Project Name:
Establish Global Access through Partnerships for Launch

Project Description and Deliverables:
We will drive an unprecedented change for the life sciences (pharma, biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and medical instruments) area. The reason is that the industry has been slow to adopt change and now has its back to the wall. It must become more efficient, scalable, conscientious of competitive intelligence and reduce costs and we can do that. The key to this industry is conversion. To ensure good conversion rates, we have decided to identify IT providers that service the life science industry and then to approach them with licensing agreements. These providers often have established a relationship of trust with their clients and can ensure better conversion rates. Setting up global partnerships in key markets is also essential to ensure that no potential competitor has the opportunity to enter the market with a follow-on product. Step One First, the team will perform market research to acquire lists of companies of the following four main sectors: pharma/biotech, medtech, diagnostics and medical instruments.

Companies should also be identified in the following markets: North America, Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia, India and Singapore. Some of the larger companies in these sectors will have defined preferred IT providers for each country where they have a presence. In addition to companies, the team will work to identify large trade associations (BIO, EuropaBio, EFPIA, PhRMA, etc.) or regional promotional and networking associations (BioValley, BayBio, SwissBiotech, etc.) and large news websites (BioSpace, FierceBiotech, Sermo, ResearchGate, etc.)

Step Two Contact the top 50 companies in each sector to determine their preferred IT providers. From the results, extract at least 3 for each market region. In Europe, the result may be more fragmented, which might allow for the region to be broken down by country. Step Three We will work to establish revenue sharing partnerships with the trade, promotional and networking associations. Success with this project will definitely lead to job opportunities.

Key Deliverables:

• Top 50 companies in the following sectors: pharma/biotech, medtech
• List of trade, promotional and networking associations in key global markets
• List of news and information websites for pharma/biotech, medtech, diagnostics and medical instruments
• Revenue sharing partnerships
• Licensing agreements with IT providers

Company Description:
Consumer company that provides a product to helps boost productivity without the jitters/crash of normal energy drinks and shots.

Short Project Name:
Internet Marketing Swat Team

Project Description and Deliverables:
The team will Identify the best online vehicles to increase awareness and sales for GungHo. The team’s research will focus around the profitability of promotions from YouTube celebs, co-marketing with related businesses, affiliate marketing, cross marketing, and on-campus marketing. After the research is complete, the team will use their findings to implement a marketing campaign for GungHo. The main goal is to build awareness and sales.

Key Deliverables:

• Publish online marketing plan – executable recommendations
• 5 key blogger / YouTuber co-marketing relationships in place (ideally convince management groups of bloggers/youtubers to work with us)
• Our product offered as an option in at least one affiliate marketplace In addition, the team will answer the following questions: Is there a faster / smarter way to get our offer out to top YouTubers vs find them one by one? What businesses would be ideal partners for a co-marketing effort (can you get those relationships in place)? What affiliate groups would generate the most profit? How can we cross-market/up-sell to our email database and 20K Facebook fans? What is the best way to “take over” a college campus? (test at UVU and BYU and publish the model)

Company Description:
We are a rapidly growing, subscription-based, finance and technology company in the health care industry. Our web-based platform allows lenders to seamlessly present payment options to patients at the point of sale (in the doctor’s office). Patients utilize our payment options to pay for elective procedures not covered by insurance in a variety of industries.

Short Project Name:
Innovative Product Marketing Strategy and Launch

Project Description and Deliverables:
The team will develop a marketing strategy around an innovative new payment option we are preparing to release in new verticals. Extensive market research will help the team prepare the overall strategy, positioning, pricing, and successful launch.

In tandem with a $200 million partner company, we are preparing to launch a new and innovative payment option in the healthcare industry. We are looking for a team of students to help position, price, and launch this product in new verticals. We have run a successful beta test of the new product in the dental category and we see great potential in other healthcare verticals.

The project will begin with an in-depth market research component to explore the following:

• What messaging should we launch with?
• What type of provider should we target?
• What type of patient should we target?
• Which other healthcare verticals would be well-suited for this product? What is their size?
• What price are patients willing to bear?
• What price are providers willing to bear? Subscription fee vs. transaction fee?
• Should we launch the product as a standalone product or a brand extension?
• What does the competitive landscape look like?

Once the initial market research has been conducted, the team will begin to prepare the marketing strategy. This report will be developed in tandem with the executive team, EVP of Sales and Marketing, and company owners. It will include the following:

• Target market(s)
• Product strategy
• Brand strategy and messaging
• Competitive differentiation
• Pricing strategy Depending on the remaining time left with the internship, students may participate in:
• Overseeing and preparing marketing collateral for the launch
• Planning marketing channels for the launch
• Meeting with executive team to finalize the launch details

Key Deliverables:

• Market research report containing the following:
• competitive landscape
• pricing analysis
• branding and messaging examples
• Marketing strategy report containing the following:
• Target market(s)
• Product strategy
• Brand strategy and messaging
• Competitive differentiation of Pricing strategy

Company Description:
A new and revolutionary sunglass store committed to carrying the world’s best assortment of sport performance optics. Designed specifically for the athlete and outdoor enthusiast, our innovative retail technology and highly trained associates will forever change the way performance eyewear is discovered, ensuring that you will always find the right frame and lens to enhance your active lifestyle. Our stores are located in Phoenix and Tucson Ariz.; Mission Viejo and San Mateo, Calif.; Broomfield and Denver, Colo.; Orlando, Fla.; Dallas and El Paso, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Short Project Name:
Brand Awareness Marketing Project

Project Description and Deliverables:
A new and revolutionary sunglass store committed to carrying the world’s best assortment of sport performance optics. Opened our first store in Utah in Salt Lake City. In order to succeed in this new market, we are in need of a strong local marketing plan that will generate brand awareness and drive store traffic. Students will leverage their knowledge of the Salt Lake City market and recommend marketing activities that will reach their target customer. The local marketing plan will include, but not limited to, recommendations in the following areas: brand awareness strategy, advertising, sponsorships, local business partnerships, community involvement, consumer engagement, social media and vendor partnerships. Keep in mind, with a very limited budget, it is essential to recommend only the marketing activities that will deliver the greatest results and reach our business objectives.

Key Deliverables:
The local marketing plan will include, but not limited to, recommendations in the following areas: brand awareness strategy, advertising, sponsorships, local business partnerships, community involvement, consumer engagement, social media and vendor partnerships. Keep in mind, with a very limited budget, it is essential to recommend only the marketing activities that will deliver the greatest results and reach our business objectives.

Company Description:
One of the five largest bank corps in the US. The company operates over 3,000 banking offices in 25 states and over 5,000 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions.

Short Project Name:
New Prepaid Product Launch Analytics

Project Description and Deliverables:
We introduced “ZZZZZ”, a re-loadable prepaid card where customers can load funds in the branch, via direct deposit, or from their checking accounts. It was rolled out to all branches. The product has been wildly successful, far better than anticipated. We plan on upgrading the product to one with more flexibility and customer features. We do have concerns how to make these upgrades without disturbing the momentum we currently have. (Information on this project will need to be handled confidentially).

Project will address two issues:

1. Banker feedback, looking at effectiveness of training, understanding of product, ability to explain to customer, and sales experience.
2. Customer feedback, looking at ease of understanding and use, whether new functionality is understood and utilized.

Project will entail the following:

1. Creating short surveys (5-10) questions targeting bankers and new customers.
2. Our firm providing weekly list of bankers who sold new product and weekly list of new customers.
3. Manage contact of bankers by phone within week of sale. Manage contact of customers 2 weeks after sale.
4. Survey data collection, reporting, analysis. One question to resolve is who performs the actual calling, and if this is an additional expense, and if BYU has the call center capacity to perform these. Anticipated volume is only 20-30 calls per week.

Key Deliverables:
1) With our assistance, compilation of two separate survey questionnaires 2) Weekly call feedback 3) Mid project summary (March 1) 4) Final call results 5) Final project report and analysis

Company Description:
A billion dollar, middle market private equity firm. We just closed on a new fund and are anxious to put our fresh capital to work. We focus our investment on a wide spectrum of industries and sectors ranging from consumer products to healthcare, light manufacturing, and distribution and has consistently achieved top-quartile returns for its investors.

Short Project Name:
Investment Diligence Team

Project Description and Deliverables:
We envision the BYU team working closely with our investment professionals to conduct research to contribute to our investment theses. This project will be at the heart of the private equity industry: analyzing new investment opportunities. We recently closed its ### buyout fund with a total of $$$$ million in equity capital. With this fresh capital, we are excited to find great investment opportunities and are scouring the universe for the best opportunities. We are continually reviewing and analyzing new opportunities, industries, and sectors and are in need of extra research and diligence. We view the BYU opportunity as a great way to fill this need while providing the students with a firsthand experience in private equity.

The BYU team will report directly to ZZZZZZZ associate. He graduated from BYU with a B.S. in Finance. He will be in close contact with the team as he gives them instructions and follows up with them on their work. General work description: Conduct primary research: including phone interviews, surveys, and store visits Conduct secondary research: including web searches, database and industry report analysis, etc. Perform valuation comparisons: pull trading and transaction comps from relevant databases. Assist in valuing new deals and marking to market current portfolio.

Key Deliverables:
Each week will likely have different, small research projects as new deals come across our desks every day.

Company Description:
A national engineering and sales organization of radiant heating systems. We work with a wide variety of home owners and building professionals and sell professionally designed radiant heating systems throughout North America.

Short Project Name:
New Product Roll-Out

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are looking to further expand our business by offering a new line of products, LED lighting, either under our brand or another brand.

We are interested in the student team analyzing this opportunity and providing recommendations relative to this initiative, including providing the following services.

• Analysis of the market potential of LED lighting in the US
• Analysis of the current industry status as well as future trends of the LED industry
• Analysis of government programs related to LED lighting
• Analysis of the current competitors and their LED offering (main channels of distribution, unique selling propositions, products offered, etc.)
• Identify at least 10 target markets within the LED lighting industry (examples, municipalities, governments, educational institutions) as well as the key selling proposition to each of these target markets (cost savings, LEED points, energy efficiencies, etc.)
• Suggestions for marketing plan and materials needed to effectively compete in this industry.
• Develop a marketing plan and materials needed to effectively compete in this industry.

Company Description:
The largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, serving millions of consumers through its powerful global network of stores in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

Short Project Name:
Competitive Analysis – Real Estate Positions

Project Description and Deliverables:
The goal of the project is to identify the key strengths and competitive advantage/disadvantage of our company. Students will complete several analysis projects designed to assist them in making recommendations for how our company should develop its real estate strategy in order to leverage its competitive advantage and position itself vs. the competition in the real estate market.

Key Deliverables:

1. Industry Analysis – Research the footwear industry to determine the overall size and competitiveness of the industry. Students will break the industry down into segments, identifying both the competitors and target market of each segment.
2. Competitive Analysis – Identify our company’s main competitors and conduct a detailed analysis of each, including financial performance, brand positioning, marketing spend, and the competitor’s strategy for pursuing their target market. The group should be prepared to explain why they chose their group of competitors.
3. Merchandise & Pricing Strategy – The group will research our company and its competitors’ merchandise strategy, including product mix, promotional activity, promotional cadence, and pricing strategy. The group will conduct a market basket analysis to determine Payless’s pricing relative to its competition.
4. Real Estate Portfolio Analysis – Summarize the composition of the Domestic real estate portfolio for our company and its competitors on a regional and store format basis. The group will also research and summarize publicly announced expansion or contraction plans such as openings, closings, remodels, acquisitions, etc.
5. Real Estate Strategy Recommendation – Identify the key strengths of our company and determine the competitive advantage of the company. The group will recommend a real estate strategy that will help the company leverage its competitive advantage and position itself vs. the competition in the real estate market.

Company Description:
Land owning affiliate of a large organization

Short Project Name:
PHOENIX, AZ property evaluation and development

Project Description and Deliverables:
We desire independent overall market evaluation to better understand our significant land holdings in relation to the market. After completion of Phase I market assessment, project Phase II will address the specific property holdings and their relative position in their respective markets. We will assist in educating students how to do market research including accessing CoStar and other real estate database products, and modeling valuation methods. This project will require 3-5 students for a period of 9 hours each per week to effectively do the work.

Key Deliverables:
Written local land market study and recommendations for use, management, development options, time frames and/or disposition of individual land assets. In-person presentation to key employees at our headquarters.

Company Description:
Real Estate Investment and Development Fund

Short Project Name:
Redondo Beach Real Estate Development

Project Description and Deliverables:
Assess highest and best use of freeway frontage development project in Redondo Beach, CA We are currently developing 2 hotels in Redondo Beach, CA. Adjacent to current development is a third development parcel that we intend to develop as either a third hotel or a multi-family project. Project would include the assessment of the proposed developments including development costs, operating pro-formas, financing packages, and equity investment scenarios.

Key Deliverables:
Determine the highest and best use for the project by comparing development costs, financing options, and cost of equity for each project. Develop investment model to help secure project debt and equity financing for the project. Debt package will include key debt ratios and financing package for lenders to review. Equity package will include projected returns to both existing partners and new investors focusing on investor returns (IRR, Multiple on Invested Cash, and NPV).

Company Description:
Researches disasters and discovers tools and technologies that can save the lives of more victims and rescuers and delivers them to the first responders in major disasters.

Short Project Name:
Organizational Leadership and Strategy Team

Project Description and Deliverables:
The Organizational Leadership Team will work with management and multiple teams leaders to:

• Design team building strategies and conduct programs for inter-team development
• Administer weekly team performance reporting systems.
• Analyze team progress and provide substantive feedback and support for leaders.
• Train leaders in effective performance management, motivation and conflict resolution.
• Develop plans and conduct programs to promote inter-organizational synergy.
• Prepare/present compelling training and enculturation of mission and core values.
• Provide programs for rapid on boarding of new interns.
• Devise long-term strategies for corporate succession planning.

Company Description:
A charitable effort organized with the goal to assist full time missionaries learn English. First, we provide English language learning curriculum and study materials for missionaries to use every day. These materials are localized into the missionary’s native language and tailored to work with the content found in Preach My Gospel. Secondly, we provide a website (www.clsweb.org) that mission offices around the world use to track the study progress of each missionary. Third, we provide an English competency test intended to be given at the end of the missionary’s course of study. If the missionary passes the test, he/she receives an English Competency Certificate from BYU. This certificate can be used to help the missionary secure a higher paying job once his/her mission is completed. Companionship Language Study curriculum has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Tagalog, and Japanese. We currently have over 90% placement coverage to the non-English speaking missionaries worldwide.

Short Project Name:
Website Improvement 1

Project Description and Deliverables:
Our goal is to increase the number of missionaries studying English and taking the ECT. In order to achieve those goals, we have a number of linguistic items to address.

We have website content that needs to be translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog and Japanese.

We desire to translate the curriculum and study materials into more languages, including Chinese Traditional, Korean, Tongan, Cebuano, Samoan, Russian, Mongolian, and Italian. We would need translation expertise for all these languages. We are looking for interns for each of these languages to assist with translations.

We will need English Competency Test (ECT) raters to score the tests as they are completed by the missionaries in the field. Raters should be competent in teaching English as a Second Language and evaluating English language acquisition tests. At a minimum, we would require two interns to function as raters. More inters will be required as tests increase. We estimate that the current work effort to score the tests would require forty man-hours per week. With two interns, that would be a twenty hour work week for each. We can adjust the number of required interns as necessary, per university requirements and the growing need for scoring of tests. We anticipate the test scoring effort will be long term, lasting more than a single semester.

Key Deliverables:

• Web site translated and localized into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog and Japanese.
• Curriculum and study materials translated into Chinese Traditional, Korean, Tongan, Cebuano, Samoan, Russian, Mongolian, and Italian.
• ECT test raters in place and scoring tests as they come in from the mission field.

Company Description:
Leading peer-to-peer micro-lending organization

Short Project Name:
Identify micro-financing opportunities in third-world countries

Project Description and Deliverables:
Million dollars has moved through our organization to provide microfinance to the poorest people in the world—helping them to lift themselves out of poverty. Students will be helping our organization to research emerging new markets in developing countries throughout South America, Africa, Asia, and other locations.

Company Description:
We are one of the nation’s largest multiple employer 401(k) retirement plans for small businesses.

Short Project Name:
Strategic Analysis of Business Model and Key Partnerships

Project Description and Deliverables:
Our company has positioned itself as a key wholesale provider of 401(k) plans to small businesses across the country. However, it is apparent that the current distribution channel and ultimately, business model, necessitate specific pivots in order to continue to provide a low-cost product to our key customers while still maximizing growth. Movement in the industry, legislation, and new competitive entrants require strategic adjustments. The project will entail industry analysis of current trends and new methods of finding clients. Furthermore, it will be necessary to understand and interpret sales models of key competitors and provide a strategic growth model for the year 2013.

Key Deliverables:
Industry Analysis of Trends and Distribution. Strategic Growth Model for 2013.

Company Description:
A privately-held manufacturer of clever problem-solving products. The company markets and sells its products to retailers and resellers worldwide. The one of our patented products has been hailed by Good Morning America, Reader’s Digest, The Nibble and others as one of the “hottest new products” on the market. Our products are available in over 13,000 retail locations including Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, GNC, Rite Aid, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, Vitamin World, Amazon and many others.

Short Project Name:
ZZZZZZZ Product Launch Plan

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are preparing to launch a new line of mixing products for the kitchen called ZZZZZZ. This project is to develop a launch plan that identifies key target markets, and outlines the strategic and tactical approach for launching the products.

The ZZZZZZZ Product Launch Plan project can be divided into two main sections– research/strategy and the tactical plan. Following is a general outline of what the plan would include:

• SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
• MARKET SITUATION: • Size and growth • Potential • Environment
• CUSTOMER ANALYSIS • End users/consumers (demographics, psychographics, profiles) • Intermediaries (retailers, brokers, etc.)
• PRODUCT SITUATION:
  a. Competitor analysis
  b. Structure o Gap Analysis o Substitutes
  c. Competitive Position o Market Share o Price/Quality o Cost/Value
• DISTRIBUTION SITUATION
• ISSUES ANALYSIS (SWOT)
• ASSUMPTIONS
• OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
• GOALS/OBJECTIVES/MEASURES
• SALES & MARKETING OBJECTIVES
• FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES • Forecast (3 years) • Revenue (3 years)
• MEASURES
• STRATEGY
• TARGET MARKET
• POSITIONING STRATEGY
• PRICING STRATEGY
• VALUE PROPOSITION
• DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
• COMMUNICATION/PROMOTIONAL STRATEGY
• RISKS/CONTINGENCIES
• ECONOMIC
• REGULATORY/GOVERNMENTAL
• MARKET
• TACTICAL PLAN
  1. Marketing Plan a. Launch Strategy/Tactics b. Post Launch Strategy/Tactics
  2. Sales/Channel Plan a. Sales/channel Strategy b. Communication Plan c. Samples/Demos d. Incentives/Promotions e. Pricing Plan f. Sales Tools
  3. Marketing/Communications Plan a. Public Relations b. Trade Shows c. Advertising/Media Schedule d. Literature e. Online/social media f. Website

Key Deliverables:
1. Completed product launch plan based on the outline provided2. Creative/design ideas for the product launch, which could include: a. Packaging concepts b. Website concepts c. Ad concepts d. Literature concepts e. In-store display concepts

Company Description:
A privately held developer, provider and operator of materials management systems, transportation systems, facilities and related services primarily in the U.S. and Canada. We are a leader in providing tailored materials management and transportation solutions to meet the needs of its customers engaged in the electric power generation, coal production, oil refining, railroad, chemical, and other industries. Our operations include over 100 locations and some 2,000 employees in over 30 states in the U.S. and 5 provinces in Canada.

Short Project Name:
Growth Strategy – Future Industry Segments

Project Description and Deliverables:
We are a growth oriented company. As such, we are interested in adding additional service platforms and adding new customers from industries we do not currently service under the umbrella of materials management and transportation systems. To help us do this, we would like to engage a BYU-OCI team to help us identify service areas / industries where our operating / business philosophy could add value and we could be distinctive. We would expect to give the BYU team a detailed overview of us, what industries we currently serve and what services we currently provide to those industries.

Key Deliverables:
We would request the following as deliverables:

• A list of each industry / capability the group is recommending
• A description / overview of each area
• A build vs. acquire recommendation for each area
• A list of the current players / competitors in each area
• A list of the potential customers for each area
• The potential size of each area
• The reason why the group is recommending each area

At the end of the project we would ask the team to present their findings to us in person. We would ask the presentation to include their findings as described above, the methods they used and allow some Q&A time.

Company Description:
Fortune 500 office material producer

Short Project Name:
Logistics analysis to optimize Fleet and Cross Dock for Western Canada and Western US regions.

Project Description and Deliverables:
We have fourteen manufacturing sites in the domestic US that ship products all over North America. We also operate a Cross Dock facility and a company Fleet that help consolidate and distribute products. I want to increase the utilization of our Fleet and Cross Dock as well as increase the number of pool points we have in order to:

1. Decrease transportation costs
2. Increase delivery reliability
3. Decrease LTL damage
4. Decrease network inventory

Our target areas will be Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB) and the Western US. This project will require analyzing customers that ship from all of our locations. Which ones should be consolidated at our cross dock? Where should we establish new pool locations? How should we set up our line hauls? We are also working on implementing a “pull planning process” in which we are trying to consolidate our C and D stock items back to our manufacturing sites. This will provide many benefits to our operations and supply chain but with a service challenge. How can we meet service expectations by increasing the distance to our customers? The same line hauls that we use to establish pool points may also allow us to consolidate the C and D items back to our plants and still meet service.

Key Project Deliverables:

1. List of pool distribution locations and customers
2. Carrier partners
3. Line haul details: number, frequency, route, cut time
4. Route density
5. Distribution cost change: Transportation and Inventory
6. Quality impact (reduction in damage complaints)
7. Service impact summary

Company Description:
A specialty chocolate company

Short Project Name:
Product Costing, Margin Analysis and Supply Chain Management

Project Description and Deliverables:
Phase 1-create product costing spreadsheet based on activity-based costing for each SKU. Phase 2-allocate overhead to show profitability per SKU. Phase 3-research supply chain to understand volumes needed to reach desired margins and efficiencies.

Key Deliverables:

• Spreadsheet with activity-based costing of each SKU
• Spreadsheet with forecasted margins based on supply chain analysis
• What volumes do we need to achieve to reach our desired margins?
• Any possible findings of how to be more profitable through our supply chain

Company Description:
A vintage toy & candy store

Short Project Name:
Supply Chain Inventory/Buying Analysis

Project Description and Deliverables:
With over 5,000 unique items in our stores we need help understanding the inventory turns and establishing the best procedures for buying/receiving. We have been in business for over 3 years and have struggled to establish a profitable buying/inventory management system for our concept. We have an overwhelming number of items in the store and it has been difficult to establish trends and turns. We need help understanding the supply chain side of our business.

Key Deliverables:
Detailed analysis and recommendations for our inventory management

Company Description:
Working closely with industry partners and raw material suppliers, we can provide capsules, tablets, soft-gels, powder, liquid, cosmetics, and many other cutting edge delivery systems. Simply bring us your idea and we will provide a turn-key solution! Manufacturing a quality product is only half the battle. We have partnered with a world-class graphic designer and team of labeling experts that can create your own unique private label that will truly stand out on the shelves. We also carry a trusted line of premium nutraceutical, vitamin, and sports nutritional supplements to meet your retail and distribution needs.

Short Project Name:
Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Cost Reduction

Project Description and Deliverables:
Develop improved sourcing strategies and a cost reduction plan for procurement. Assist in developing an improved sourcing strategy. Work closely with operations and supply management to develop real solutions. Will involve identifying new potential suppliers as well as making suggestions for adjusting current supplier relationships to better fit the needs of our customers. In addition, this project will include identifying ways to save costs and increase efficiency in procurement. This project will involve a significant amount of hands-on experience in the field of supply chain and operations management and will require a full nine hours each week for each student intern involved.

Key Deliverables:
A detailed written report and brief presentation which includes: 2-3 new detailed sourcing strategies, suggestions for improvement of current supplier relationships, and suggestions for cost reduction and increased efficiency in procurement and warehouse operations.

Company Description:
Service Provider web site

Short Project Name:
Research analyze and improve website to increase revenue.

Project Description and Deliverables:
We need to have students with experience/education in retail, marketing, web design, e-commerce, and SEO. We would like the students on our team to: 1. Write a business plan to monetize the website 2. Develop a plan and strategy for an upgraded website which increases website traffic. 3. Analyze website and suggest any changes that would make it more user-friendly and useful to visitors. 4. Create website offerings in these four areas: Consulting for the Walmart Supplier process; Inventor Services, Training, Database for vendor networking.

Key Deliverables:
1. Improved website navigation and content quality. 2. Improved SEO 3. Identify income producing opportunities create process to implement them. 4. Create opportunities for vendor support and networking.

Company Description:
Website Building Company. This company drives traffic to websites through search engines, and optimizes websites over time.

Short Project Name:
Site Build Project Manager

Project Description and Deliverables:
We builds 20-30 websites at a time. Students could learn how to plan websites, research keywords, work with clients, and understand how Google and other search engines work to impact businesses and their profits. Our clients need websites built. Some websites are lead generation websites, and those sites are built inside of WordPress, the #1 website building platform in the world by far. Over 20% of all websites that are built are created inside of WordPress. Students would become extremely familiar with WordPress Other clients need e-Commerce websites built. We build those websites inside of Magento, a very powerful open-source e-Commerce platform. Students would become very familiar with Magento. Once websites are launched, there are a number of critical steps to take to ensure that search engines find, crawl, and index the entire site. All of these skills are critical in the world of business, regardless of the industry or chosen field.

Company Description:
Providing an on-line news aggregation site for a specialty community since 1998.

Short Project Name:
Major revamp of web site

Project Description and Deliverables:
Update / innovate our website by creating a new design, linking it with blogs and social media sites, and enhancing the overall user experience. Key enhancements include making the site more dynamic from a graphical standpoint, enhancing the search capability, determining better ways to provide advertising on the site, incorporating social media into the site, and better link the site with all major specialty community related content that a user may want to access.

Key Deliverables:
Design template for a new website. Determine social media / blogs integration. Determine best ways to monetize the site. Prototype the new site. Go live with new site.