Project Examples

ELI students add value to business projects
Past projects point to the value Experiential Learning and Innovation (ELI) students contribute to their sponsoring organizations.

• Business Process Analysis: With the assistance of two SBA ELI students, three local organizations – Oakland Family Services, Macomb Family Services, and Wayne County Family Services and Family Services of Detroit, consolidated resources to form the Family Service Alliance for Southeastern Michigan to better address the clients’ behavioral health challenges. Providing business process and analysis support, the ELI students helped the organizations reach an anticipated annual savings of $300,000, increasing the organizations abilities to serve more people per year. (LINK TO NEWS STORY: http://www4.oakland.edu/view_news.aspx?sid=34&nid=5015)
• Market Research for Expansion: In another project, an SBA ELI student conducted market research to help a local real estate development company make an informed decision about whether or not to expand into the health care/medical field. The project, which involved intensive market research and analysis, provided the necessary information for the sponsor to develop a solid expansion strategy and plan.
• Business Plan Development for Product Launch: In a project for an energy-conservation company, an SBA ELI student completed a market research project to determine market readiness of a new product and assisted in the development of its business plan which led the company to seek start-up capital.