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College of Business

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College of Business Capstone

Audience at a College of Business Capstone presentation

Fall 2023 Business Capstone Festival

December 14, 2023

Congratulations to the Capstone Teams on their hard work and successfully completing their projects!

And thank you to all who attended to support our Business Otters!

What Is Capstone?

For students:

  • A culminating experience that integrates and applies the knowledge and skills students learn in their courses
  • An opportunity to work as a team to bring value to the client
  • A bridge to prepare students for professional life or graduate school

For businesses & organizations:

  • Business consulting provided at no- or low-cost
  • A review of an organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)
  • Actionable recommendations to help achieve goals

Interested in becoming a Capstone Client? Email the College of Business Department office at business@csumb.edu.

  • The College of Business surveyed alumni who graduated from 2005 to 2012. Here is what they said:

    • Their beliefs about their own capabilities, particularly those required to function as professionals in business, were significantly improved in capstone.
    • They strengthened skills in writing, speaking, leadership, and analytical thinking.
    • They learned valuable skills required to function effectively on teams.
    • They considered the improvement in their applied skills so significant that they viewed this outcome as “transformative.”
    • Work on a team for a real client, and being supported by faculty who had extremely high expectations of them, make the Capstone a very meaningful experience.

  • Team project

    • Teams of approximately four students analyze a local firm (for-profit company or nonprofit organization) from a strategic management perspective.
    • They make recommendations based on their strategic analysis.
    • The team presents at the campus-wide Capstone Festival.
    • The team submits a comprehensive written report.

    Individual project

    • Each student applies the tools of strategic management to his/her own career planning and submits a final personal life strategy paper.

  • Before you start

    • Students in the BUS 300S course are required to attend at least one capstone festival presentation to help them understand what the deliverable is in capstone and the level of excellence expected.
    • Before classes start, students enrolled in BUS 499 receive an Advance Information Memorandum outlining how to form a successful team and select a client firm, and the requirements of the final report.

    Weeks 1-4

    • Form the team
    • Select the client firm
    • Study the text to gain a complete picture of the components of a strategic analysis
    • Develop and submit client interview questions from chapter readings
    • Write the first draft of the history, external analysis, internal analysis and strategic recommendations sections of the personal life strategy assignment.

    Weeks 4-5

    • Research and write the history and overview section of the client report
    • Develop and present PowerPoint presentation

    Weeks 6-8

    • Research and write the external analysis section of the client report
    • Develop and present PowerPoint presentation

    Weeks 9-12

    • Research and write the internal analysis section of the client report
    • Develop and present section PowerPoint presentation

    Weeks 13-14

    • Analyze findings and write the opportunities and recommendations section of the client report and the executive summary
    • Develop and present section PowerPoint presentation

    Week 15

    • Make final revisions to all sections of the client report

    Week 16

    • Make final revisions to all sections of the final presentation
    • Present complete findings to class.

    Week 17

    • Rehearse and present final presentation at Capstone Festival
Capstone Students - Downtown Dining Team 2017

Downtown Dining Capstone Team - Spring 2018

 

Home Away From Home Client and Capstone Team 2018

Home Away From Home Capstone Team - Spring 2018