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Entr epr eneur ship in Capstone Design Using Inter disciplinar y Teams and a Business Plan Competition

Dr. Mark Archibald, Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Michelle Clauss, Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr. James Dupree, Department of Business Grove City College

Abstr act: Mechanical Engineering seniors at Grove City College participate in the college-wide business plan competition as one of their Capstone Design requirements. Capstone students work on teams focused on product development – including conception, design, market surveys, manufacturing, and production planning. Interdisciplinary teams include about six engineering students and one or two business students. They work together on the project during both the fall and spring semesters. A formal business plan is developed and submitted to the Annual Business Plan Competition near the middle of the spring semester. The plan is presented to judges from businesses near the end of the semester. Entrepreneurial topics are taught in required coursework, including the fall and spring semester Capstone Design courses and Engineering Economy. Topics specific to writing a business plan are included in the latter course. Many students also take a one-credit course on writing business plans which is offered by the Business Department. Results of the competition indicate the success of the program. In 2004, mechanical engineering teams placed second and third in the competition, although they comprise less than 5% of the student body.

Intr oduction: Grove City College’s Engineering Entrepreneurship Program is integrally tied with the senior Capstone Design Programs (in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments) and the college-wide Annual Business Plan Competition (sponsored by the Business department.) Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the three programs. Entrepreneurial topics, including cost estimation and financial performance prediction, were included in the senior design program for many years. The advent of the Business Plan Competition in 2003 provided a new opportunity for engineering students. A cooperative effort between the engineering departments and the Business department led to the creation of the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program. Business students and engineering students work together on cross functional teams to design a product, investigate market opportunities, plan for production, predict financial performance, and write a comprehensive business plan for the competition. Guidance and instruction for the business plan are taught in Engineering Economy (a required senior-level course) and the Business Planning course offered by the business department.

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Archibald, M., & Clauss, M., & Dupree, J. (2005, June), Entrepreneurship In Capstone Design Using Interdisciplinary Teams And A Business Plan Competition Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15567