BUSINESS PLAN PROPOSALS FOR INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS - A STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT FOR MBA STUDENTS AT LOYOLA-UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

Beginning in 1992, MBA students enrolled in a capstone Strategic Manag ement course at Loyola University Chicago have, as their major course assignment, researched and prepared an original business plan proposal to provide a needed good or service, as well as employment opportunit ies, to residents in one of Chicago's underserved inner-city neighborh oods. This paper describes the genesis of the project, how it works, a nd what the outcomes have been to date. The pedagogical model is argua bly appropriate for MBA programs in or near any area that is economica lly underdeveloped, be it urban or rural.