Example Assignments

Below are some examples of real, actual assignments used by some of your Seattle University colleagues:

Maureen Feit Example from Maureen Feit

FINAL PROJECT FOR NPLR 5910: GRANTWRITING

Overview

For your final project, you will select a nonprofit organization and assist that organization to develop their grant strategy for a specific program or project.  By the end of the project, you will provide a (1) review the organization’s current grant strategy; (2) list of qualified public or private grant prospects; and (3) case statement or narrative for a specific grant opportunity. Throughout the quarter, you will work in small groups to review each others' progress and provide peer support.  This week, you will learn more about the assignment, review the available projects, and rank your interests.

Description of the Final Assignment

For this assignment:

  1. Start by reviewing the statements of interest listed below, and complete the survey to rank your preferences.
  2. The instructor will assign you to an organization. You will coordinate with your contact to get access to any additional information you need during the project.
  3. The instuctor will also assign you to a peer review group, and will open a discussion page for you to begin work with your group.
  4. During the project you will turn in:
    • Analyze Funding Mix: Assess the organization's current funding strategy, and any current case materials provided;
    • Jargon Seek & Replace: Assess the organization's use of jargon, and suggest alternatives;
    • List of Grant Prospects: Identify and qualify a list of public and private grant prospects;
    • Draft 1, Draft 2 and Final Grant Proposal: Develop a new case statement or grant narrative for a specific grant opportunity;
    • Sum It Up: Strategy Memo: Write a memo to your organization that offers advice and recommendations for future grant strategies, in relationship to the organization's overall fundraising plan.

Available Programs

The instructor has identified organizations that wish to have students develop case statements for specific programs or projects.  The organizations reflect a diverse range of mission areas.  Please review the Statements of Interest below before ranking your preferences.

  • Seattle Tilth
  • El Centro de la Raza
  • Horn of Africa
  • YMCA
  • Interim CDA

Indicate Your Preferences

Please consider the projects above.  Use the survey on the next page to rank your preferences by April 7.  The instructor will try to match you with one of your top choices.

 

 

Carlos De Mello e Souza Carlos De Mello e Souza

Below are the assessments that Carlos de Mello e Souza came up with for this exercise. He created an assessment for every learning objective in his Financial Accounting Workshop - above and beyond what was required - but they were a hit with the group.

Learning Objectives

Assessment
LO 1. Interpret a real world transaction in terms of the accounting model (i.e.,, map from the business to its financial statements). Substitute teacher: You have volunteered to visit your daughter's 7th grade class to explain the fundamentals of financial accounting. Prepare a brief slide show to describe the key financial statements, and how transactions of a lemonade stand business would be reflected on them.
LO 2. Speak and understand the accounting language, and be able, for example, to explain to your 15 year old son the meaning of: revenue, receipt, expense, disbursement, accrual, deferral, asset, liability, shareholder, equity, liquidity, solvency, return on assets, profit, account, and auditing. Dictionary: Build a small illustrated dictionary of accounting terminology for your new 7th grade students, with terms defined in plain English, your own words, and translated (just the terms, not the definitions) into one other language of your choice. Add an illustration to each definition.
LO 3. Trace the path followed by a transaction throughout the accounting information system, and determine its impact on the financial statements. Accounting App: Design, build and test an Excel model that replicates an accounting information system for a simple retail firm, like a lemonade stand. Your model should be capable of recording entries into accounts, doing trial balances, and producing the three basic financial statements.
LO 4. Assess the evolution of a business' performance and financial position through time, and compare that with other businesses. Advisor: Given a set of financial statements for two firms, write a one page report to explain to your clients which firm is performing better, and which firm is riskier, and why. Prepare a slide presentation with an audio recording of your explanation.
LO 5. Understand the institutional framework within which accountants operate.
Weight of Responsibility: You were just offered the position of CFO of a publicly traded company. You know the company has not been doing very well, and the reasons why the previous CFO left are not clear to you. Should you accept?
 
In short order you have two events scheduled: (i) a call with your personal lawyer, who is also a good friend; and (ii) a meeting with those who would constitute the core of your new team, including the treasurer, the controller, and the internal auditor.

Prepare two lists of questions, one for the lawyer, and one for the financial team. The answers to these questions should be sufficient for you to make your decision.

 

Enyu Zhang Example from Enyu Zhang

Reviewing the current U.S. policy and strategy towards Asia

POLICY REVIEW PROJECT FOR UCOR 3630: U.S. - CHINA RELATIONS

It is 2017. A new President has just been sworn in.

I.

You've worked as a staffer at the National Security Council for the President of the United States.  Your area of expertise is East Asian Affairs. Your supervisor, the National Security Adviser, has asked that you write up a policy review of the U.S. strategy to re-balance Asia (the so-called President Obama's "Pivot to Asia"). Your policy review should include the following components although not necessarily in the same order:

1) provide historical, political, and economic contexts for the "Pivot to Asia;"

2) develop a coherent and compelling rationale to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the "Pivot to Asia" and discuss the implications for U.S.-China relations;

3) propose a list of changes to the U.S. policy and strategy towards Asia, particularly China (note that the changes could range from small and incremental changes to sweeping and drastic changes, depending on the personal beliefs of the President and his/her party affiliation);

The policy review paper is due here by 11:59 PM PDT, Wednesday, August 12.

 

II.

Based on the policy review paper you've completed, record a video your presentation of your policy review to share with the committee on East Asian Affairs of the NSC (i.e., the class).

Your video presentation of 8-10 minutes is due by 11:59 PM PDT, Thursday, August 13.

 

III.

Finally, you're invited to watch two of the video presentations by your colleagues who have been working on the same issue. The National Security Adviser has also asked you to write up a one-page memo in which you'll summarize and evaluate each of the two presentations, along with your own, and make a recommendation of the best work.

Your peer-review memo is due by 11:59 PM PDT, Saturday, August 15.

 

 

Greg Magnan Ajay Abraham Example from Greg Magnan & Ajay Abraham

Individual Assignment: Assessment of the Marketing/Operations Dynamic

A core goal of this class is to build familiarity with the issues and opportunities likely to arise between Marketing and Operations and how they may be leveraged to advantage for a business. This assignment is to assess a company using Business Model Generation tools, identify likely tensions/vulnerabilities as well as possible collaboration areas between Marketing and Operations (i.e. the left side and right side of the business model canvas).

As background, you’ll recall the exercise from the first week of class where we discussed the viewpoints of a typical Marketing and Operations manager. We identified likely objectives for each of these functions, discussed typical overlap areas, possible tensions and opportunities for collaboration between the groups. We then brainstormed possible solutions to ensure efficient and effective management.

This assignment is to develop a similar ‘real life’ analysis on either Starbucks, Amazon Go or a company of your choice, followed by recommendations for the CEO to resolve tensions or maximize collaboration between Marketing and Operations. Whichever company you choose, you should do some type of field visit to assess the marketing/operations dynamic. You may select from the cases we analyzed and discussed this quarter (i.e., Amazon Go or Starbucks) or analyze the marketing-operations dynamic of a different organization. All are strongly encouraged to physically visit a retail location of your selected company.

Your assignment is to LEAD.

L listen and learn

Listen to the differing perspectives of the stakeholders. What are they saying to you?

In your visit, what have you observed? What have secondary sources (e.g., cases and readings from class, other articles, etc.) reported on the organizations and/or functional areas?

E empathize and examine

What is at stake for the key constituents you identified? What is behind their perspectives and motivations? Are some perspectives more important than others? Why? Which perspectives can you relate to, and which do you have difficulty understanding?

A assess and analyze

Identify the major problems in this leadership challenge and explain how they impact the organization. You will need to consider both behavioral and analytical factors.

  1. Develop a thoughtful, in-depth 9-Box Canvas for your company
  2. Assess what type of Business Model Pattern(s) they are likely pursuing (i.e. multi-sided, long tail, etc.)
  3. Identify and describe three possible tension/concern points, critical interaction or collaboration areas between Marketing and Operations for this company

Next, weigh several possible courses of action that are logical extrapolations from the information you have. What are possible consequences for each solution?

  1. Create recommendations for the CEO on how to resolve those tension points or fully take advantage of the identified opportunities for collaboration. Specifically, what could management do to address the concerns and/or fully capitalize on possible areas of collaboration?

D design and deliver

Your assignment is to consider what you have discovered in the L-E-A phases above and design and deliver a response. Specifically, based on your research and experience at the location, what business pattern is in play and what is the value proposition of the organization? After completing the 9-box business model canvas, what particular areas of concern or possible conflict points are evident? What recommendations do you have for the CEO to address those concerns or opportunities? How might they be implemented?

  1. Handing in the assignments: Post your 9-box model and paper to Canvas. Neither hard copies nor email copies will be accepted.

  2. Format/Length: In addition to the Business Model 9-Box Canvas, it is envisioned this is a 3-page paper (750-1000 words), double-spaced. Note that this paper is an individual assignment.

  3. Keys to Strong Assessment: Clear and concise recommendations, Quality of written communication, In-depth and thoughtful analysis, Evident use of course materials. See rubric for weighting.