Special Project (Capstone) Guidelines for MBA Students (Plan C)

Introduction

MBA Students are required to complete their degree under Plan C. When you are ready to complete the special project, please register for the following course:

BUS 580 – Applied Business Research

To Be Eligible for the Special Project, you must first…

  1. Have an approved planned program of study
  2. Attain an overall GPA of 3.00
  3. Complete a combined total of 18 credits from core and specialization courses

To Work Towards Completion of the Special Project, you must…

  1. Review the Special Project Capstone Handbook, which is located on the Graduate Studies website:
  2. Identify a team of MBA students to work on the project with you. In rare circumstances, a student may work alone, but the student needs permission from the project advisor and the MBA director.
  3. Identify a faculty advisor for the special project.
  4. Work with your project advisor and student team to identify a topic drawn from – or closely related to – the students’ field(s) of study.
  5. The project cannot be part of the normal course of employment of any team member. It must be above and beyond their normal duties of employment.
  6. You will likely need to have conducted a review of literature to help determine the scope of your special project.
  7. Discuss Human Studies Council guidelines with your project advisor:
  8. Complete the MBA Program’s Special Project Proposal Form (See Below)
  9. Complete the following forms, which are located here:
  10. Form 1 – Graduate Capstone Course Registration. Course Number: BUS 580. One per student. Obtain signatures from the project advisor, MBA Director, Dean of the School of Business, and Dean of Graduate Studies. Note the MBA Director’s signature is required in place of the Department Chairperson.
  11. Form 2B – Approval of Special Project Proposal. One per team. Obtain signatures from the project advisor, MBA Director, School of Business Dean, and Dean of Graduate Studies.
  12. Conduct the research after receiving the Graduate Dean’s approval
  13. Interpret the findings or outcomes and reach results-based conclusions
  14. Prepare and submit the final written special project document
  15. Please follow handbook guidelines for preparing and submitting your document.
  16. Complete Form 3B – Approval of Special Project ( Obtain signatures from the project advisor, MBA Director, and Dean of Graduate Studies.
  17. Apply for Graduation (Form 5 -
  18. This applicationmustbecompletedand returnedtotheGraduateSchool nolaterthan: September15for Decembercompletion, March1 for MaycompletionorMarch15 forAugustcompletionof theyearinwhichyou expect to graduate.

1

MBA Program Special Project Proposal Form

Project Title:

Student Members (max 4):

Name / CCSU ID / Specialization

Your MBA Program Special Project Proposal Should Include…

  • A completed proposal template
  • Letters from external participants in the project (e.g., if you are doing a project at a company, you must get a letter from that company indicating its support of the project. The company may also want a nondisclosure agreement [see below])
  • A letter from the employer if the project is being done at the current employer of any of the students. The letter must indicate that the employer understands that the project is not part of the student’s regularly assigned work duties, is being done without pay, and is an academic exercise. (Students are not required to work with one of the team member’s employers)

Please Attach the Proposal to this Form

Approvals:

Special Project Advisor: / Date:
MBA Director: / Date:
MBA Plan C Capstone Proposal Template
Students / Please list the names and email addresses of each student on the capstone team
Faculty Advisor / Name and contact information
Business Sponsor / Business name, address, website
Business Sponsor Contact / Name and contact information
Business Sponsor
Letter or NDA / Please attach either an approval letter from the business sponsor or the university-approved nondisclosure agreement (See Appendix A)
Problem Statement / Provide a description of the business problem that you will address, including background information and major research questions to be addressed.
Annotated Bibliography / Provide an annotated bibliography of at least 3 – 5 key publications in the area you plan to research. Please use APA reference style. (here is an example of an APA annotated bibliography
Data Collection Process / Please describe in as much detail as possible the data that you plan to collect and how you plan to collect it. If your research involves the collection of data from human subjects (e.g., surveys or interviews), then you must submit the appropriate Human Subjects Approval forms (
Project Timeline / Provide a timeline for how your team will get the project done.
Deliverables / A report with the following sections (Use APA format)
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Definition of the Project (scope)
  • Project Objective (rationale for conducting the project)
  • Literature Review
  • Research Methods
  • Results and/or Findings
  • Summary/Conclusion/Recommendations
  • References
  • Appendices (as appropriate)

Forms Checklist / Please include the following forms with your proposal:
Completed Template
MBA Special Project Proposal Form (see below; one per team)
Grad School Form 1 – Graduate Capstone Course Registration (one per student)
Grad School Form 2B – Approval of Special Project Proposal (one per team)
Business Sponsor Letter or NDA Agreement

Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement

This NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT is made and entered into by and between XXXXX, with its principal place of business at ADDRESS, on its own behalf, and on behalf of its subsidiaries, and Central Connecticut State University, who shall collectively be called the “Parties”.

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows;

1.PURPOSE The Parties wish to discuss potential business opportunities under which each may disclose its Confidential Information to the other.

2.DEFINITION “Confidential Information” means any information, technical data or know-how, including, but not limited to, that which relates to research, products, services, customers, markets, software, developments, inventions, processes, designs, drawings, engineering, marketing or finances, disclosed orally or in written or electronic form, and which is marked or identified by the disclosing party as “proprietary” or “confidential”. Confidential Information does not include information, technical data or know-how which

i.Is in possession of the receiving party at the time of disclosure as shown by the receiving party’s files and records immediately prior to the time of disclosure; or (ii) prior or after the time of disclosure becomes part of the public knowledge or literature, not as a result of any inaction or action of the receiving party, (iii) is approved for release by the disclosing party, or (iv) is independently developed by the receiving party without the use of any Confidential of the other party, (v) is received from any third party who is unrelated to it and who is not under any obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such information.

3.NON-DISCLOSURE of CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Parties each agree not to use the Confidential Information disclosed to it by the other party for its own use or for any purpose except to carry out discussions concerning and the undertaking of any business relationship between the two. The recipient of Confidential Information will not disclose such Confidential Information to anyone, including their employees; however, the recipient of Confidential Information may disclose such information to certain employees who are required to have such information to carry out the contemplated business. Each has had or will have employees to whom Confidential Information of the other is disclosed sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement in content substantially similar to this Agreement and will notify the other in writing of the names of the persons who have had access to Confidential Information of the other party. Each agrees that it will take all reasonable steps to protect the secrecy of and avoid disclosure or use of Confidential Information of the other in order to prevent it from falling into the public domain or the possession of unauthorized persons. Each agrees to notify the other in writing of any misuse or misappropriation of Confidential Information of the other that may come to its attention.

4.OWNERSHIP All Confidential Information shall remain the exclusive property of the Disclosing Party, and Recipient shall have no right to use Confidential Information except as provided herein. No patent, copyright, trademark or other proprietary right or license is conveyed by this Agreement with respect to Confidential Information.

5.RETURN OF MATERIALS Any materials or documents which have been furnished by one party to the other will be promptly returned, accompanied by all copies of such documentation, after the business possibility has been rejected or concluded.

6.INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Nothing in this Agreement is intended to grant any rights under any patent of copyright of either party, nor shall this Agreement grant either party any Confidential Information solely for the purposes of determining whether to enter into proposed business relationship between the parties and in carrying out such relationship. The disclosing party warrants that it has the right to disclose its Confidential Information to the receiving party. Otherwise, all information is provided “as is” and without any warranty, express, implied or otherwise regarding its accuracy or performance.

7.INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT Each disclosing party understands that the receiving party may currently or in the future be developing information internally, or receiving information from other parties that may be similar to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information. Accordingly, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a representation or inference that the receiving party will not develop products, or have products developed for it, that compete with the products or systems contemplated by the disclosing party’s Confidential Information.

8.TERM AND TERMINATION This Agreement become effective upon the last date of signatures of the parties and shall remain in effect for 5 years unless terminated by either party by providing 30 days written notice to the non-terminating party, provided however, that the confidentiality obligations herein shall terminate 5 years following the date of termination of this Agreement.

9.MISCELLANEOUS This Agreement shall be binding upon and for the benefit of the undersigned parties, their successors and assigns, provided that Confidential Information may not be assigned without consent of the disclosing party. Failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any term hereof.

10.NOTICES All notices hereunder shall be sent to either party at the address and to the contact person specified below, or such other address or contact person as the respective party may specify from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

11.APPLICABLE LAW This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. The Contractor shall at all times comply with and observe all federal and state laws, local laws, ordinances, and regulations which are in effect during the period of this contract and which in any manner affect the work or its conduct.

For purposes of Section 12 through15 the XXXXX shall be referred to as “Contractor”-

12.INDEMNIFICATION

(a) The Contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the State and its officers, representatives, agents, servants, employees, successors and assigns from and against any and all (1) claims arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with the Contract, including the acts of commission or omission (collectively, the "Acts") of the Contractor or its parties; and (2) liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including but not limited to, attorneys' and other professionals' fees, arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with claims, Acts or the Contract. The Contractor shall use counsel reasonably acceptable to the State in carrying out its obligations under this section. The Contractor’s obligations under this section to indemnify, defend and hold harmless against claims includes claims concerning confidentiality of any part of or all of the Contractor’s bid, proposal or any records, any intellectual property rights, other proprietary rights of any person or entity, copyrighted or uncopyrighted compositions, secret processes, patented or unpatented inventions, articles or appliances furnished or used in the performance.

(b)The Contractor shall not be responsible for indemnifying or holding the State harmless from any liability arising due to the negligence of the State or any third party acting under the direct control or supervision of the State.

(c)The Contractor shall reimburse the State for any and all damages to the real or personal property of the State caused by the Acts of the Contractor or any its parties. The State shall give the Contractor reasonable notice of any such claims.

(d)The Contractor’s duties under this section shall remain fully in effect and binding in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contract, without being lessened or compromised in any way, even where the Contractor is alleged or is found to have merely contributed in part to the Acts giving rise to the claims and/or where the State is alleged or is found to have contributed to the Acts giving rise to the claims.

(e)The Contractor shall carry and maintain at all times during the term of the Contract, and during the time that any provisions survive the term of the Contract, sufficient general liability insurance to satisfy its obligations under this Contract. The Contractor shall name the State as an additional insured on the policy and shall provide a copy of the policy to CCSU prior to the effective date of the Contract. The Contractor shall not begin performance until the delivery of the policy to CCSU. CCSU shall be entitled to recover under the insurance policy even if a body of competent jurisdiction determines that CCSU or the State is contributorily negligent.

(f)This section shall survive the termination of the Contract and shall not be limited by reason of any insurance coverage.

13.CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE The Contractor agrees that the sole and exclusive means for the presentation of any claim against the State of Connecticut arising from this agreement shall be in accordance with Chapter 53 of the Connecticut General Statutes (Claims Against the State) and the Contractor further agrees not to initiate legal proceedings in any state or federal court in addition to, or in lieu of, said Chapter 53 proceedings.

14.NON DISCRIMINATION

a)For purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:

  1. "Commission" means the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities;
  2. "Contract" and “contract” include any extension or modification of the Contract or contract;
  3. "Contractor" and “contractor” include any successors or assigns of the Contractor or contractor;
  4. "Gender identity or expression" means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose.
  5. “good faith" means that degree of diligence which a reasonable person would exercise in the performance of legal duties and obligations;
  6. "good faith efforts" shall include, but not be limited to, those reasonable initial efforts necessary to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements and additional or substituted efforts when it is determined that such initial efforts will not be sufficient to comply with such requirements;
  7. "marital status" means being single, married as recognized by the State of Connecticut, widowed, separated or divorced;
  8. "mental disability" means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", or a record of or regarding a person as having one or more such disorders;
  9. "minority business enterprise" means any small contractor or supplier of materials fifty-one percent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which is owned by a person or persons: (1)who are active in the daily affairs of the enterprise, (2)who have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (3)who are members of a minority, as such term is defined in subsection(a) of Connecticut General Statutes § 32-9n; and
  10. "public works contract" means any agreement between any individual, firm or corporation and the State or any political subdivision of the State other than a municipality for construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a public building, highway or other changes or improvements in real property, or which is financed in whole or in part by the State, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees.

For purposes of this Section, the terms "Contract" and “contract” do not include a contract where each contractor is (1) a political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, a municipality, (2) a quasi-public agency, as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 1-120, (3) any other state, including but not limited to any federally recognized Indian tribal governments, as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 1-267, (4) the federal government, (5) a foreign government, or (6) an agency of a subdivision, agency, state or government described in the immediately preceding enumerated items (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5).

(b) (1) The Contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the Contract such Contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, mental retardation, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such Contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the State of Connecticut; and the Contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to insure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, mental retardation, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by the Contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved; (2)the Contractor agrees, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the Contractor, to state that it is an "affirmative actionequal opportunity employer" in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission; (3)the Contractor agrees to provide each labor union or representative of workers with which the Contractor has a collective bargaining Agreement or other contract or understanding and each vendor with which the Contractor has a contract or understanding, a notice to be provided by the Commission, advising the labor union or workers’ representative of the Contractor's commitments under this section and to post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment; (4)the Contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this Section and Connecticut General Statutes §§46a-68e and 46a-68f and with each regulation or relevant order issued by said Commission pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §§46a-56, 46a-68e and 46a-68f; and (5)the Contractor agrees to provide the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities with such information requested by the Commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the Contractor as relate to the provisions of this Section and Connecticut General Statutes §46a-56. If the contract is a public works contract, the Contractor agrees and warrants that he will make good faith efforts to employ minority business enterprises as subcontractors and suppliers of materials on such public works projects.