PROJECT O.N.E.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
A. Mission Statement
B. Goals
C. Approach to Establish Modules
D. Metrics
E. Benefits
2. / Application Process to Join Project ONE
3. / Waiting List
4. / Reporting Metrics
5. / Attendance
6. / Meetings & Expectations
1. Project ONE Overview
A. Mission Statement
Project ONE is an initiative of the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) to enhance successful business relationships between Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Corporate Members through the implementation of “Business Modules.” The purpose is to grow minority business enterprises which have the capacity to compete for corporate contracts.
B. Goals
To increase purchases from MBE’s by both Corporate and MBE companies, primarily within the Module. To assist each other (Corporate and MBE’s) in improving operations (i.e., mentoring, cost reduction actions, etc.).
To increase participation in all “key” MMBDC programs.
C. Approach
MMBDC establishes small working groups (modules) which consist of 5-6 Corporate Members and 10-12 Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). This will be kept on a 2-1 ratio (MBEs to Corporate) per module.
Corporate Members can volunteer to be module leaders and their company name would be designated as the module name, i.e. “Ford” Project ONE Module, “Wayne State” Project ONE Module.
Current Corporate Members may serve on more than one module. Current MBE’s can only serve on one module.
Module Leaders will schedule regular meetings (monthly if possible) to review progress of module, discuss issues, and promote spend opportunities and referrals within modules.
Module Leaders are to report metrics within module to MMBDC on a quarterly basis.
Corporate/MBEs must complete a Project ONE Application requesting participation as a member of a module. (See MMBDC website, Project ONE tab). MBEs must also put together a maximum of 6 PowerPoint slides explaining their business.
- Applications, Corporate/MBEs (with slides) will be emailed to MMBDC
- MMBDC will review and notify via email all Module Leaders that there has been an application (with slides) to join a Project ONE Module
- Module Leaders will invite MBES to make a presentation to their module if there is an interest
Once a potential MBE has made a presentation to the module, the Module Leader will ask for a vote of acceptance into the module. MBEs will be notified as to results of the vote within 2 weeks of their presentation.
The Project ONE program expands by either Corporate Members being recruited by MMBDC to lead a module or Corporate Members volunteering to form their own modules.
Each module is expected to meet regularly with the following primary objectives:
1. To report the amount of MBE sales to Corporate companies and sales from MBEs to MBEs within the module.
2. To assist each other (Corporate and MBE) in improving their operations (mentoring).
3. To increase participation in all aspects of MMBDC programs, i.e. Trade Fair, Membership Drive, Professional Development, etc.
In the event a Module Leader cannot continue in that role:
MMBDC will contact that company or other Corporate Members within the module about leading the Project ONE module.
Active participation for module members is expected for a minimum of 2 years. MBEs are required to participate in a module for 24 months, at the end of that period, the module may grant them an additional 6 months as members of the module.
D. Metrics
1. Number of operational Business Modules (i.e., comprised of Corporate and MBE membership).
2. Number of Corporate and MBE members’ participation.
3. Attendance by module participants (70% minimum).
New Dollars purchased from MBEs by Corporate and MBE members within the Module and between Modules.
4. Referral activity within Module or between Modules
5. Any activity regarding Strategic Alliances and/or Joint Ventures
E. Benefits
● Provides increased business opportunities for both Corporate and MBE members through learning from each other’s competitive strengths.
● Has a greater impact on improving the economic environment of the community by reinforcing the concept of buying among and between Corporate and MBE companies.
● Enhances public image/corporate citizenship through additional advertising (i.e. newspapers, magazines) in the community.
● Closer aligns minority organizations and corporate business objectives regarding increased opportunities for and development of MBEs.
● Improves competitive market position by capturing additional share of increasing diverse customer base.
F. Application Process to Join Project ONE
● All applications will be reviewed by MMBDC before any applicant may be accepted into any Project ONE Module.
● Complete electronic application whether they are Corporate or MBE and return to MMBDC along with a PowerPoint presentation on the company (6 slide maximum) profile. (MBEs only).
● MBE applications will be sent to all module leaders for review as soon as MMBDC receives them with the PowerPoint slides.
● If a module leader is interested in an MBE company, the MBE applicant will be asked to present at the modules next monthly meeting
● Once presentation is complete, module participants will cast a vote on admittance into module. Module leader will contact company within 2 weeks of the presentation as to the outcome.
G. Waiting List
● A list of MBEs looking to have access to join a Project ONE Module will be maintained by MMBDC.
● All module leaders will refer to this list first before filling any voids that may exist through termination of module participants or filling module to appropriate participants; 2-1 ratio (6 Corporate, 12 MBEs).
● No module leader has the liberty to add or subtract module participants without prior discussion with MMBDC.
H. Reporting Metrics
● All metrics are to be reported on a quarterly basis. (See Section 1-D)
I. Attendance
● All participants must be in attendance at least 70% of the time to continue membership with a module.
● Module leaders may raise the bar on attendance for each module as per a majority vote to do so. Module attendance must not go below 70% attendance.
● The Module Leader may terminate the membership of any participant who does not meet the expectations of the Project ONE process. This will be accomplished via a formal dismissal letter. The MMBDC must be notified as well with the reason for dismissal. A participant may request to join another module at a later date. However, MMBDC must discuss the reason for dismissal from a previous module with the new Module Leader
● All attendance correspondence should be copied to MMBDC in all cases.
● If module participant wishes to be part of Project ONE at a later date, they must re-apply.
J. Meetings and Expectations
● Module leaders hold regular meetings to review progress of module.
● Each module meets on a formal monthly basis or bimonthly basis at a minimum (or appropriate as agreed upon by MMBDC).
● All meetings should have the following primary objectives:
1. To increase and report the amount of MBE sales from Corporate companies and increase sales of MBEs within the module.
2. To assist each other (Corporate and MBE) in improving their operations (mentoring).
3. To promote participation in all aspects of MMBDC programs.
4. To show “value added” to all MBE companies where possible.
5. To have at least two (2) cross module meetings with other modules.
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