Business Analytics Capstone

Utilizing Elite Students To Make Valuable Analytics-Driven Business Decisions

The University of Delaware Business Analytics program prepares students for careers that apply and manage modern data science to solve critical business challenges. The Business Analytics Capstone is a core component of this program, giving students real-world experience solving data challenges from all types of organizations.

How Does The Capstone Work?

As a capstone experience, this course places senior level students in the role of ‘Business Data Analyst.’ The students are then placed into teams to work with organizations from every industry and sector for the 4-month (spring semester) project course. Dedicated teams of students use analytical tools to solve the organizations key challenges and present applicable solutions at the completion of the capstone period. The teams perform their work under confidentiality agreements and the results are the sole property of the respective sponsors. The teams are mentored and monitored by experienced faculty to ensure the quality of the solutions.

Interested In Becoming A Client?

Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics welcomes proposals from organizations from every industry and sector to work with student groups for the spring semester. We are looking for any industry, government, nonprofit, and academic partners for our capstone projects. If you have questions on how to better your organization using data that exists either self-generated or publicly available, then allow our students to help! The major benefit is you get access to top-notch UD business students FREE of charge.

Apply Now

Past Projects

We work across industry verticals and functional areas to solve big problems for organizations that are shaping how we use data to understand profitability, operations, risk, and cost-savings. Past project areas have included:

Sales & Marketing
- How do I know my marketing is working?
- How do I understand my customers better?
- How do I use my sales data to better predict demand?
Supply Chain
- What are the most significant causes of delay?
- Which inspection errors occur most frequently?
- How can we streamline production and efficiency?
Organizational Strategy
- How can we reduce expenses?
- What are our biggest areas for improvement?
- How efficient is a particular department/program?
Human Resources
- How do I maximize employee productivity?
- What factors are affecting my students/employees?
- Can we identify predictors of an employee being “at risk” for departure?

Past Clients

We have worked with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits to address their business challenges and we’re proud of what our students have accomplished.

E-commerce Businesses
Servicing Companies
Board of Education
JP Morgan Chase
Sport Complexes
Highway Safety
Foundations

What is The Time Commitment?

The amount of time spent with the students is really under the sponsors control but averages under two hours per month. The majority of the time is spent up front with the faculty mentor assigned to your project scoping the project and collecting the necessary data for the students to use. During the spring semester the students will meet with you about 3 times to discuss any questions they have on the data, make sure they are answering the correct questions, then presenting their findings and solution.

How Much Data Do I Need?

The amount of data needed for a successful project is dependent on the question you want answered and the availability of public data to answer that question if your organization is not generating the data. The more data the students have the better the solution will be. However, It is not always the amount of data you collect that will make a successful project but rather do you collect or have access to the RIGHT data to answer your questions.

Questions Before Applying?

Please contact Jacob Blacksten with any questions. He is available to meet with members of your organization to discuss this opportunity in detail. You can email him directly at jacobb@udel.edu

To Apply:

Please fill out the form below by December 31st 2022 to apply for Spring 2023:

Organization Name(Required)

Please indicate the name of your company/organization as well the division/team name if applicable.

Name(Required)

First Last

Please enter the name of the direct person of contact for your organization.

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Phone(Required)

I have participated in the program as a client in the past?(Required)

Project Description(Required)

Please state what the proposed project is expected to accomplish in terms of the business analytics context. Detail the particular issue or problem to be addressed, including the areas of business strategy or operations, challenges encountered in previous efforts to resolve (if any).

Access to Data(Required)

Do you have access to the data for the students to use, whether it be publicly available data, self generated data, etc.

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Please keep in mind that we receive multiple project proposals. Given a limited number of students, not all projects can be accepted.