For Students
Why Consider The Corporate Engagement Project (CEP) As An Elective?
What you choose as an elective should be selected with the concept of what provides you the most value. So with multiple electives related to your concentration, why should you consider the Corporate Engagement Project? Your undergraduate and graduate courses were designed to provide you with the knowledge that will be needed when you enter the workforce. Right?
The Corporate Engagement Project is a different approach. Yes, it is a chance to demonstrate your acquired technical knowledge. But, it also provides value in that you are simultaneously developing and refining your organizational skills. All of this while interacting with a team of your peers and a corporate enterprise. You will be developing your teamwork proficiency, establishing networks, and adding a valuable work experience to your personal resume.
CEP projects are designed to require research and analysis by student teams of three to five over the course of a semester. The project finale consists of a presentation to the appropriate levels of executives from the participating business enterprise. Previous presentation audiences have included Fortune 300 General Managers, Directors of Marketing, Business Unit Managers, and Directors of Recruiting. The entire project activity enhances students’ small group skills and learning how to interact with and within a professional organization. Feedback from CEP alumni has shown this experience to be very helpful at both a personal and professional level. CEP participation has helped them develop marketable skills as well as fill in some shallow areas on personal resumes.
The type of projects vary. Content in previous engagements has included developing business and financial plans for troubled enterprises. Other projects involved analysis of market spending and effectiveness in support of new product launches. Another required strategic study and recommendation of operational footprint options. These types of experiences look good on a resume. But the exposure and networking opportunities with the business enterprise personnel is just as important. They have the opportunity to evaluate you as a potential employee. At the same time you have the opportunity to evaluate them or the industry as a potential future employer. It’s a win-win proposition.
If you are interested in the class for the fall semester, the spring semester, or just want to know more, please contact me.
William J. Conwell
Director, Corporate Engagement Project
The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso
Woody L. Hunt College of Business
Room 520J Graduate Business Center
Tel: 915 747-7719
Email: wjconwell@utep.edu
Available and Future Corporate Engagement Projects
| Semester | Topic | Industry | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2018 | Feasibility Analysis | Education | Business case analysis of the small satellite market use of additive manufacturing in proposed spaceport center |
| Spring 2018 | Business Systems | Education | Business process & procedures analysis in support of transition to new business center concept |
| Spring 2018 | Market Analysis | Professional Sports | How best to identify & tap into new fans in the regional market for current & future professional sports products |
| Spring 2018 | Business Analysis | Non-profit | Create business & marketing plan & fee schedule for event hall business venture |
| Spring 2018 | Account/Product Opening Process Analysis | Financial Institutions | Identify gaps in processes regarding the member experience and/or staff work flows |
| Fall 2017 | Site Selection | Commercial Real Estate | Comparison of El Paso and Cd. Juarez as potential sites for manufacturing plant looking to relocate to region |
| Spring 2017 | Evaluation of Emergency Services | Healthcare | Evaluation of how hospital emergency departments can compete with free-standing ER's |
| Fall 2016 | Market Demographic | Healthcare | Analysis of market demographics and market share drivers |
| Fall 2016 | Gasoline Retailing | Petroleum | Gasoline franchise analysis tied to opening of gasoline marker in Mexico |
| Spring 2016 | Organizational Effectiveness | Business Services | Root cause analysis and recommendations to address two consistently challenging responses from corporate level annual associate engagement surveys. |
| Spring 2016 | Organizational Design | Business Services | Evaluation and recommendation in regards to roles, responsibilities, and relationships pertaining to the consolidation of three current job classifications into one new one. |
Project History
| Topic | Industry | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Business Case Analysis | Healthcare | Research, analysis, and recommendation regarding proposed in-sourcing of inmate medical services |
| Market Analysis | Investment Banking | Evaluate market and identify key opportunities for expansion |
| Marketing | Manufacturing | Focus group analysis to determine effectiveness of proposed marketing campaign |
| Feasibility Study | Environmental | Identify value proposition for integrated waste management and quality assurance |
| Process Improvement | Information Technology | Identification of best practices for risk management and quality assurance |
| Market Analysis | Consumer Electronics | Analysis of Hispanic market segment and recommend marketing approach to reach it |
| Marketing | Manufacturing | Evaluate new product launch strategy alternatives in order to maximize budget effectiveness |
| Market Study | Beverage | Work with client in developing response to Request for Proposal from potential new customer |
| Business Plan | Publishing | Develop financial business plan to determine feasibility and sustainability for new magazine |
| Site Analysis | Manufacturing | Evaluate options and recommend, based on KPI's, recommend potential manufacturing site |
| Marketing | Consumer Electronics | Develop marketing campaign in support of new business launch |
| Market Analysis | Fast Food Retailers | Analysis of multi-cultural shoppers and development of a marketing mix to connect with those shoppers |
| Planning | Entrepreneurial | Development of plan and budgeting to support an entrepreneurial start-up event |
| Feasibility Study | Non-profit | Determine short and long term financial and marketing strategies to sustain entity |
| Competitive Analysis | Consumer Products | Comprehensive competitive analysis of product and market in support of plan to increase market share |
| Market Study | Manufacturing | Develop brand message and point of purchase communication for targeted consumer audience |
| Market Research | Manufacturing | Provided profile and purchasing decision drivers for targeted market segment |