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Small Business Growth and Development (BUSI 660 - Section 15)

BUSI 660
Open Closing on October 20, 2025 / 1 spot left
Main contact
University Canada West
University Canada West
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Iwalola BADEWA
She / Her
Instructor
(8)
7
Timeline
  • October 20, 2025
    Experience start
  • December 6, 2025
    Experience end
Experience
1 projects wanted
Dates set by experience
Preferred companies
Canada
Any company type
Any industries

Experience scope

Categories
Customer segmentation Digital marketing Search engine optimization Social media marketing Marketing strategy
Skills
digital marketing public relations marketing strategy communication research
Student goals and capabilities

Students will work with a small business (client) throughout the term and will do the following:

1. Project proposal

2. Revised proposal

3. Organizational diagnosis

4. Final project report and presentation

How companies will benefit:

This course (BUSI 660) is a capstone project/exit course for the UCW MBA students - meaning, the small business will get to work with the final term MBA students. Students already had diverse academic and professional experiences before joining the MBA program. Now, they are just one step (term) away from earning an MBA degree. It will be a great opportunity for the small business to work with the MBA students who will actively engage with and contribute to the small business from diagnosis of the problems/challenges to writing a proposal to executing a final project report and presentation. Similarly, students will also get valuable first-hand and real-world experiences by working with the small business.

Students

Students
Graduate
Intermediate, Advanced levels
34 students
Project
30 hours per student
Educators assign students to projects
Teams of 5
Expected outcomes and deliverables

Students will collaborate with the small business throughout the Fall 2025 term and will provide the following deliverables:

(1) Project proposal (2) Revised proposal, (3) Organizational diagnosis, and (4) final project report and presentation.


Instructions to the potential client (small business owner):

1. The business should be a legally registered and ongoing small business. A new business is fine.

2. The business should be based in Canada.

3. The business owner should be willing to work with the five student groups (around six or seven students per group) throughout the duration of the term. Communication could be done virtually.

4. The business owner should be willing to spend an hour per week speaking with students, responding to their queries, etc.

5. For the purpose of confidentiality and data privacy, it is expected that the business owner will provide a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) form that students and the business owner will sign.

6. If the business owner agrees to the points mentioned above, the business owner will have an initial virtual meeting through a video call with the course instructor. The course instructor will discuss the details of the course, expectations, etc., and will answer any questions or concerns of the business owner.


Project timeline
  • October 20, 2025
    Experience start
  • December 6, 2025
    Experience end

Project examples

1. Project proposal (group project): Student teams will have a Face-to-Face or Virtual meeting with the client and professor. The purpose of the meeting is to give a 10 minute presentation to the client outlining what the team understands about the project to date and receive feedback from the client and the professor. Key challenges should be identified, and final deliverables for the project are defined. Appropriate analyses and research are proposed that clearly relate to the challenges and goals. The meeting should be recorded for the team’s reference.

2. Revised proposal (group project): The team will submit a one page single-spaced document outlining what they have heard from the client and professor, identifying any adjustments that need to be made to their project. Since the information is on only one page, the writing needs to be clear, concise and to the point. It should also be professionally written and formatted without jargon.

3. Organizational diagnosis (individual project): Students will learn about the small business and will do a situation analysis in which students will critically evaluate the internal and external conditions that affect an organization -- a process that is done prior to a new initiative.Students will finalize the proposal by incorporating feedback from the small business owner and the course instructor.

4. Final project report and presentation (group project): Students will submit their final written report and will present that to the client as well as to the instructor.

Additional Perspectives: In addition to your proposed strategies, address the following:

 

  • AI and digital technology integration: Discuss how AI and other digital tools could support the business in achieving its goals or overcoming specific challenges, considering both the benefits and potential limitations of these technologies.

 

  • Indigenous perspectives: Reflect on how Indigenous principles, perspectives, and worldviews might shape or influence your strategies.

 

  • Sustainability principles: Include strategies to enhance sustainability, addressing environmental concerns (e.g., global warming, climate change, biodiversity) and social development (e.g., community well-being; human challenges; equity, diversity, and inclusion).

Additional company criteria

Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:

  • Q1 - Checkbox
    A representative of the company will be available to present the problem statement, and answer questions from students in a timely manner for the duration of the project.  *
  • Q2 - Checkbox
    Be available for a quick phone call with the instructor to initiate your relationship and confirm your scope is an appropriate fit for the course  *
  • Q3 - Checkbox
    A representative of the company will be available to answer questions from students in a timely manner for the duration of the project.  *
  • Q4 - Checkbox
    A dedicated representative available to attend the students’ marketing plan presentation during the final week of the course as well as to provide feedback to the instructor and students.  *