Optimize Retail Layout

We would like to re-scope our retail locations. In light of COVID-19 and consumers using digital banking tools over in-branch services, bank branches require far less space for client interactions. We believe that changing the layout of our retail locations could lead to more productivity and better interactions with clients. We would like Engineering students to develop a system, which utilizes statistical analysis and optimization techniques to generate the safest and most profitable layouts for our branches. We believe this project scope will include: Tracking current customer movement and purchase patterns. Identifying areas that could be altered for more ideal outcomes. Creating a program based on your gathered data, which will generate ideal layouts.

New Employee Training Development

Our company has complex and detailed training requirements due to the sensitive and highly technical nature of financial services. Manually executing onboarding tasks with each new employee is an inefficient use of resources. We need an online program that will introduce employees to their new roles, take employees through all start-up resources, and provide our HR personnel with standardized feedback and data about employee progress. This project should focus on: Gathering relevant course design and content information from interviews with key stakeholders. Onboarding plans for individuals in the branch delivery system Ensuring new employees complete specific onboarding tasks and the ability to track progress Reducing new employee’s adjustment period. Research and recommendation of potential Learning Management Systems. Automation of our onboarding process and reduction of redundancies Virtual onboarding Role of the mentor in virtual onboarding

Market Validation Study

We are looking to gain a better understanding of out target market to ensure we are positioning ourselves in the right segment, offering effective benefits, and creating the best marketing messages.  To accomplish this, you could focus on providing: A complete analysis of our current offerings, our target market, and the positioning of our brand. Conducting empirical interviews and/or questionnaires for feedback on our brand, product, service, etc. Executing further market research to develop a comprehensive report of our target market. We will provide you with access to organizational assets that support the project, including personnel, marketing strategies, marketing and sales collateral, etc. We hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of our target market and how we can better satisfy their needs. We would like recommendations on how to improve our positioning, brand, and products to better suit the market. 

Future of the Canadian Credit Union System

In 2012, Deloitte published a paper titled " 21st Century Co-operative: Rewrite the Rules of Collaboration " which provocatively stated that credit unions with less than $5 billion in assets were unlikely to survive the transformational changes in the financial services sector. In this project, we would like students to explore the notion of "size to survive," examining international examples of success in small financial and non-financial organizations. The research should include: Strategies and methods small organizations have applied to compete with large organizations; A critical reflection of the Deloitte paper, considering why a diverse credit union system might be beneficial to consumers; Consideration of different collaboration models (i.e. federation, integration, back office collaboration). The goal of the project is for students to submit a critical analysis between 2500 - 3000 words.