Winter 2025 Business and Operational Planning Capstone (January - April)
Timeline
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January 7, 2025Experience start
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April 18, 2025Experience end
Experience scope
Categories
Communications Operations Competitive analysis Market expansion Product or service launchSkills
competitive analysis project planning business consulting business strategy marketing strategyStudents analyze a company’s environment and existing business plan and subsequently develop an evolved and relevant comprehensive business and operational plan for the organization, through the application of theoretical and applied learning gained throughout the program.
What are the benefits to the client?
- Fresh new ideas and perspectives
- Enthusiastic team of students working on your project, advised by experienced faculty
- Low-cost exploration of new business ideas
- Explore products or services that are outside of your organization's current business plan
- Connect with Sheridan College academic community
- Students will provide approximately 160 hours of work, without financial payment dedicated to solving your problem
During the fifteen-week semester, partners should be available for six class visits, lasting two hours each, in addition to 20hrs of assignment reading, review and student offline questions. It is estimated that for every partner hour invested, the return is x20 free student hrs.
Learners
The following assignments are prepared for partner review and feedback:
1) Statement of work (SOW) - project outline and plan
2) Current State Analysis - environmental scan, competitor analysis, company analysis, mission/vision
3) Strategic Plan - SWOT matrix, Strategic Recommendations, Business Objectives, Marketing Strategy, Revenue Model
4) Operations Plan - Marketing Plan, Supply Chain Plan, Human Resources Plan, IT Plan, CSR Plan, Financial Model Forecast, Funding Strategies, Risk Management
5) Executive Presentation
Project timeline
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January 7, 2025Experience start
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April 18, 2025Experience end
Project Examples
Requirements
Typical partners are small to medium size companies, across all commercial, non-profit and public industries. They tend to have had a few years in business, although we have entertained start-ups and new ventures.
Previous partners - Examples: City of Brampton, incubator, Clean Air, Atlas 365 Consulting, Rheem Canada, Vox International, Moonbeam Trading Co, Robot Start-up, Personal Banker, Nevvon Inc, IndiGrowth
Students use of a variety of analysis tools including SWOT, environmental scan (PEST analysis), Porter's Five Forces, Competitive Profile Matrix
Additional company criteria
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:
Are you able to dedicate 2 hours every other week to meet with student groups during assigned class time and an additional 20 hours time outside of meetings to review assignments and offline questions from students?
Is your project large enough in scope so students can review your existing business plan and develop a relevant comprehensive business and operational plan?
Timeline
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January 7, 2025Experience start
-
April 18, 2025Experience end