Proposal for Applied Project
Choose one of four
Project #1 – For those students that have a web-design background or coding/low-coding skills (Java, etc.). A consulting firm is looking to revamp their website for 2021 (main page and sub-pages). Content will be given to you and you will need to work with the client to re-design the website and its portals. You will be introduced to a variety of design working sessions with the client and develop web page prototypes, QA, and launch of the new website for its branding. You will be introduced to online applications like Squarespace and some online web design tools.
Project #2 – I have a specialized Asian supermarket chain that is looking to develop a “drop-ship”, online sales supply chain order using a list of their international grocery products. You will need to 1) data and market research the most highly sought after grocery products to be listed 2) set up and configure either a Shopify or Aliexpress (or both) to be completed within 3 months timeframe. Scope of project includes – product and research selection, order processing, online store design, checkout/payments integration, and launch.
Project #3 – An Artificial Intelligence firm is looking to source various data to develop future models to be added into their pipeline as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). The goal of this project is to mine the various structured/un-structured data sets that are available (free or paid). You will then come up with a few prototype proof of concept models based on your research and hypothesis and turn these PoCs into product design and implementation.
Project #4 – An events management organization is looking to develop a: 1) mobile application for their app store and 2) create a marketing plan / outreach for their members/prospects. This project will expand on revenue sources and also compile a CRM-like (Customer relationship management) like product for both internal and external usage. You will need experience in Application design, mobile design, etc.
Spring 2021 Applied Project Proposal Outline – Guidelines
Your proposal outline will detail the applied project that you propose to conduct, the methodology to be used, and the framework for the approach. The purpose of the topic outline is to allow you to describe your proposed project in sufficient detail to enable the course professor to approve your project for the Applied Project course. This initial vetting serves to raise the probability of your successful completion of this capstone course by enabling you to begin the course with a firm foundation for your project. You will achieve this by thinking about your project and describing it in writing.
In addition to serving as a description of your project to allow the professor to admit you to the course, the outline may also be useful as a means of “selling” your idea to a potential project sponsor or as the “kick-off” for your actual project. Therefore, your topic outline must demonstrate clarity of thought on your part and an ability to engage in a meaningful project. But it should also interest and excite the reader so that s/he is motivated to be your sponsor on the project.
Your outline must contain the elements shown below. There are no specific requirements as to the length of your topic outline submission. Include enough detail to clearly elucidate your project concept. Remember that this is your preliminary project outline. So do not be overly concerned about providing the Nth degree of detail. You will have ample opportunity to expand upon the various items during the course itself. However, you need to provide sufficient information so that your project idea can be considered by the course professor for your admission to the course.
Due date: January 11, 2020
Delivery: Posted to your section of NYU Classes (do not email
Applied Project Proposal (please use this as the template, make sure your name and date are on it)
1. A Working Title and your Name (cover page). Title should be descriptive and interesting.
2. Your NetID (for example zx1234),
3. Your NYU ID Number, begins with “N” followed by 8 or more digits (for example N12345678)
4. A Table of Contents for the sections of your proposal.
5. The company name “the client” may be a for-profit company or a not-for-profit organization.
Note: no remuneration is involved.
6. Company location including country, city and state.
NOTE: US-based organizations are preferred.
7. Name and role of your proposed project sponsor.
o This is the person serving in a managerial role in the “client’s” area benefitting from the
project. Once the course begins, the sponsor will sign a document (to be provided later) giving their approval for you to conduct the project and indicating that they will be available to mentor you. S/he also will approve the monthly status reports that you will prepare as well as the statement of project completion. The course professor is not your sponsor.
o NOTE: SPONSOR SHOULD PREFERABLY BE U.S.-BASED AND MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE ORALLY AND IN WRITING IN ENGLISH. You are required to state whether your sponsor has these English language capabilities.
8. Sponsor’s location: country, city and state where your organization’s sponsor is located.
9. Description of the client’s business -can be a for-profit business, a not-for-profit, or charity.
10. Goal of the project
Describe the business problem or opportunity you will address and why.
11. Projected business benefit of the project. How will the “client” benefit from the
completed project?
12. Brief description of your project. What will you be doing? What will be the result of your
project in terms of a product or service, or process, etc.
13. Your relationship to the client. If you are employed by the client, you should name and
describe your business unit and the business unit benefitting from your project. They cannot be the same unit.
14. Project objectives and Metrics for measuring project success (3-5 objectives/
metrics). Objectives are what you intend to accomplish by the end of the project. Not what the project is supposed to do for the client (that’s the goal above). You need at least 4 concreate measurable things you will accomplish by the end the project. They can’t be: ”submit reports, meet deadlines, follow procedures”. They must be: ”I will do this, and this and this and this by the end of the project, and you will know I did them because you can see and measure this and this and this and this was completed.”
Metrics are the means of measuring achievement of each of the objectives, and, hence, project success. The objectives together with the related metrics, give us a means of determining how we will measure the success of your project. But do not confuse objectives with the tools for ascertaining the metrics, such as reports, meetings, analysis, etc. Describe in as much detail as you can at this time. You will add more detail later, during the course. Be sure to include quantity and time measures. Objectives should meet the “SMART” criteria. That is, each one should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Related. If necessary, review these definitions from your Project Management course.
Your grade at the end will depend on whether you have completed the project and each objective measured and be graded as a way to ascertain you completed the project.
15. Your role in the project. Explain in detail. It is not sufficient to state “Subject Matter
Expert,” for example. Remember that in the applied project you have a dual role. You are both: (a) the person conducting the project and (b) the project manager of your project. Explain what you plan to be doing relative to both aspects of your role.
16. Proposed duration Show both of the following:
a) Expected start and end dates. The dates need to align with the dates of your Spring 2020 Applied Project course section.
b) Forecast for total number of hours you will devote to the project.
17. Resources required E.g., human resources, funding, data, access to systems, equipment,
etc. Describe in as much detail as you can at this time. You will add to this later, during the course.
18. Areas of study in the MS program that would be covered by the project:
o Which areas of study in the MS Program will help you plan and conduct the
project?
19. Anticipated Learning outcomes: Each applied project must also afford you the opportunity to learn something new. Describe what you expect to learn by conducting this project. Do the best you can at this point. Much more of this will emerge once you are actively conducting the project.
20. Anticipated Project Findings :
o Potential solutions that you will explore.
o Discuss any limitations you expect to find once the project is concluded.