Live Case – Project
Make Research-based Recommendations for Financial Empowerment Center to Increase Client Outcomes
A Collaboration Between
The Aurora Financial Empowerment Center will expand to become the Offices of Financial Empowerment. This needs to be carefully strategized, implemented and be sustainable over the long term. As part of our strategy to improve and expand the Aurora FEC, we are looking to you to make research-driven recommendations for best and proven strategies, frameworks, and practices for increasing client banking outcomes by connecting unbanked and underbanked clients with equitable and accessible banking options.
Research
Data Synthesis & Analysis
Recommendations
Business Process Design
Build a better foundation to launch and sustain the Offices of Financial Empowerment. Results to be measured are a increase in banking outcomes using salesforce (FECBOT).
Project Topics
Customer Service
Operations
Company Information
| Company | Aurora Illinois |
| HQ | Aurora, IL |
| Revenue | N/A |
| Employees | Unlisted |
| Stage | Large Enterprise |
| Hiring Potential | Follow-on Projects, Formal Internship, Entry Level Full-Time, Upper Level Full-Time |
| Website | https://www.aurora-il.org/ |
Company Overview
N/A
Experiential Learning Program Details
| School | Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
| Engagement Format | Live Case - Think "Hackathon" or Case Competition with a whole class of students! This learning format allows educators to deliver experiential learning to students at scale. Students are often split into groups to work on a live case (or a series of cases) from a real host company that directly relates to key learning objectives. |
| Course | Business in Action, Spring 2022 (Collum) – Aurora |
| Level |
|
| Students Enrolled | 40 |
| Meeting Day & Time | Mon & Wed 6:00-8:40 p.m. |
| Student Time Commitment | 4-7 Hours Per Week |
| Company Time Commitment | 1 Hour |
| Duration | 10.57 Weeks |
Program Timeline
Key Project Milestones
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February 7, 2022 - Deep-dive into the Organization
- What is the organization’s history, mission, vision and goals?
- What is the organization’s relationship to the community? What geographic area, subpopulations, etc. are served by the organization? Who is the target population?
- What community, group, and individual needs does the organization meet, and how? How are their programs and services defined and organized?
- Students will also research the following questions:
- What are nonprofit impact measurements?
- Why are nonprofit impact measurements important?
- What is the difference between an output and an outcome?
- What is the difference between a KPI and an impact measurement? What is the value of each to an organization?
- What does a successful project look like?
Suggested Deliverable:
Infographic overview of the organization and current challenge (internal); questions for industry mentor
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February 21, 2022 - Research & Ideate Possible Solutions
- Gather existing information (data, documentation, input from stakeholders) that are to be the subject of your analysis.
- What information do you need?
- How would you describe the goals, objectives, target audience, program theory, delivery method, and desired outcomes of each program that is the focus of your research?
- Who delivers programming? What are their qualifications? How are they trained to serve clients’ needs?
- How are programs delivered? How do participants become involved? What is the frequency, duration, and terms of participation? What tools and resources are used to deliver programs?
- How are programs currently being evaluated? What measures and data are used?
- What strategies and tools will you use to organize and analyze the information you gather, and why? Are there other organizations whose strategies you can model?
- Brainstorm/ideate
- What sources of information will you consult to learn best practices for evaluating similar programs?
- Secondary research (e.g. online, databases, etc.)?
- Primary research (program directors/coordinators/administrators of successful programs)?
- What concepts, frameworks, and models from the field are applicable and useful for informing program design, implementation, and evaluation?
- How do similar organizations meet their program goals?What are some real-world examples you can show as potential models?
- Considering the range of ideas that emerge as opportunities to increase client outcomes? What are some realistic, possible solutions for programming that rise to the top and are relevant to this case?
- What sources of information will you consult to learn best practices for evaluating similar programs?
Suggested Deliverable:
Annotated, curated resources, program/strategy matrix with citations. Presentation to obtain feedback from industry mentor.
- Gather existing information (data, documentation, input from stakeholders) that are to be the subject of your analysis.
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March 7, 2022 - Present curated resources, prototypes, recommendations
- What are your recommendations for improving clients outcomes for the program(s) under analysis?
- Work to showcase recommended strategies, and highlight examples of how you integrate the content you curated and annotated in the previous step into the subject program. For instance:
- If you suggest using a particular learning strategy, are there sample worksheets, checklists, templates, or experiential learning tools you’ve gathered from your research that exemplify this strategy? How should these be integrated?
- Can you point to other organizations or programs that can serve as models? What approach, strategy, or method are you suggesting be modeled?
- How will you structure the information you want to share? What is the best strategy for organizing, visualizing, and sharing your ideas?
- Why would your suggestions likely be effective for producing the desired outcome? How do you come to these conclusions?
- Are there any flaws or constraints that need to be addressed?
Suggested Deliverable:
Prototypes; Annotated resources with index/directory; Presentation
Academic Mentors
Assigned Students
There are currently no students assigned.