Students in the Small Business Leadership class practice the theory they learn by studying Arizona companies.
Teams research the companies, coached by business leaders who volunteer as mentors.
Research is an important component of doing a feasibility study for a business, writing a business plan or doing due diligence, says Dr. William A. Verdini, a College of Business associate professor and director of undergraduate small business academic programs. The case study project gives students a unique opportunity to practice the research methods learned in class, Dr. Verdini says. The collaborative project follows the 'hear, see, do models for higher learning that are fundamental to the ASU Minor in Small Business. At the end of the semester, students learn skills necessary to present their findings to judging panels of business owners, teachers and mystery shoppers who measure the teams against criteria. Forty Arizona companies participated as live case studies during the Spring semester alone.