MBA PROPOSAL.4

BUS 895: PRELIMINARY PROJECT PROPOSAL

HYDRIVE: A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR A SUSTAINABLE AUTOMAKER.


• Macro problem: transportation technologies based on the internal combustion engine are not sustainable

• Research problem: how to start a “sustainable” automaker (or organization?)

• Business problem: conduct a feasibility analysis to study the challenges of starting-up a sustainable automaker that will manufacturer hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV)

• Problem importance: unsustainable automaking is an important management problem because the transition to the “hydrogen economy” will affect managers in any organization that consumes energy and/or relies on transportation

• Research: the research methods to be used consist of interviews, literature review and different business organizations' web sites. Sources include government/industry statistics, secondary data and publicly available data. The search will also include interviewing five experts in the field whose identities will not be revealed. The outcome of the project will be a feasibility analysis and report.

• Chapter outline:

Chapter 1: Introduction
Problem, background/macro-factors, purpose
Chapter 2: Feasibility Analysis
Industry analysis, market analysis, product/service analysis, team analysis, financial analysis, value chain analysis
Chapter 3: Feasibility Report
Executive summary, industry/forecasts/trends, market/entry strategies/tactics, team building plan, product/service development plan, financial plan, timeline to launch
$8-10B Optional Chapter: Grant Proposal/ Incentives (depending on new legislation)
Face page, budget, project description, bibliography, need help???
Conclusion
Summary and discussion, conclusion and recommendations.
Appendices
Resumes, Tax returns, Copies of lease, purchase agreement for RE, Copies of licenses and other legal documents, Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc., Pro-forma financial statements, Forms (critical tasks etc), Interviews, Survey, Human Subjects, Grant Application/s, Tax Incentives (optional)
Bibliography


50 assorted articles including a couple journal studies and many data/webbased articles
Allen, K. R. (2003). Launching new ventures. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Appenzeller, T. (2004, June). The end of cheap oil. National Geographic Magazine. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0406/feature5/
Brant, B. (1994). Build your own electric vehicle. New York: TAB Books.
China’s auto production concentrated in 10 plants (2004, January 24). Xinhua General News Service. Retrieved Augsust 6, 2004, from http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.opac.sfsu.edu/unvierse/printdoc
Clean machine (2004, September 4). Economist, Vol. 372, Issue 8391. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from EBSCOhost database, Accession No. 14350564.
Driving change (2004, September 2). Economist. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_id=3127206
Electrifying times (2004, Spring-Summer). Vol 9 No 2
Ford’ first hybrid SUV delivered (2004, September 16). The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from Motor Trend, http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_news60/index.html
Friedman, D. (2003). Renewable hydrogen forum: a summary of expert opinion and policy recommendations. American Solar Energy Society. Washington DC, National Press Club. Retrieved September 30, 2004, from http://www.ases.org/hydrogen_forum03/Forum_report_c_9_24_03.pdf
Future/concept: allessandro volta (2004). Toyota. September 27, 2004, from
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/future/volta.html
Gilinsky A. and McCline R. L. (?). Entrepreneurial strategy: an empirical investigation of the effects of the socially responsible value set on the people resources of the firm.
GMability (2004). Fuel cells & energy, cool car clean future: reinventing the automobile. General Motors Corporation. Retrieved September 30, 2004, from http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/5- 8/fc_energy/autonomy_hywire_011303.html
Hagerbaumer, C. (2003). Survey of Oregon hybrid gas-electric car owners. Oregon Environmental Council and Oregon Department of Energy. Retrieved September 28, 2004, from http://www.orcouncil.org/reports/HybridSurvey%202003.pdf
Hakim, D. (2004). Hybrid Vehicles Hit the Heartland...Barely. The New York Times June 19, 2004. Retrieved September 17, 2004, from http://0-web.lexisnexis.com.opac.sfsu.edu/universe/document?_m=c450fb7234187d3952d93a7dbd7d1e80&_docnum=8&wchp=dGLbVlzzSkVA&_md5=1850351add749fd3ce4e2a34461c9fb0
Hayden, R and Sadjak, S, (2004). California Fuel Cell Partnership's Road Rally Places Record Number of People on the Road in Zero Emission Hydrogen Cars. California Fuel Cell Partnership. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from http://www.cafcp.org/news_releases-04/2004_09_28_RRIII.htm
Hubbard, G. (2004). Business leaders building a better world: the 12th annual net impact conference. Columbia Entrepreneurship Update. Summer 2004: pg. 2.
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Anticipated Higher Costs for Hybrid Electric Vehicles Are Lowering Sales Expectations (2003, October 27). J.D. Power and Associates. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from http://www.jdpa.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2003135
McCline R. L. (2003). Lectures.
Motavalli, J. (2001). Forward drive. New York: Sierra Club Books.
Poll tally (2004). National Geographic Magazine Poll @ nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2004, from http://ngmpoll.melia.com/ngm/poll/0406/poll.html
Okuda, H. (2003). Speeches. North American Press Room. Remarks. Washington, D.C. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved September 14, 2004, from
http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=sp20030910
Rae, J. B. (1965). The American automobile: a brief history. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Research protocol. Office of Protection for Human and Animal Subjects: Documents Samples. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from http://www.sfsu.edu/~protocol/human/sample_doc/exempt/protocol/E-4-protocol.doc
Rooney, D. J. (2004). Interview.
Simanaitis, D. (2004). Fill’er up… but whatever with? And wherever from? Road & Track, Volume 56, Number 2: pg 144.
Strattan, R. D. (2004). The electrifying future of the hybrid automobile. IEEE Potentials, August/September, 2004: pgs 4-7.
The White House: President George Bush (2004). Fact sheet: key bush environmental accomplishments. Retrieved September 24, 2004, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040714-2.html.
Traister, R. J. (1982). All about electric & hybrid cars. Blue Ridge Summit: TAB Books.
Writing the plan (2004). SBA: starting your business: business planning. Retrieved September 27, 2004, from http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/writingplan.html
Yan, L. Y. (2004, March 26). China's new auto recall regulation may be a lemon. Asia Time Online. Retrieved September 28, 2004, from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FC26Ad01.html