Mint (budget tracking)

You will select a company with a disruptive technology and evaluate the technology for its financial viability and the effectiveness of the firm’s efforts in regards to sustainability. The central question that students should focus on is, “Can this technology be monetized?” To address this question, students will analyze data provided by the company and then conduct further investigation to determine whether the purported benefits are fairly stated and the technology is effective or simply a trend. Students should consider that the technology might be beyond its time. External research should be conducted to help assess the company and the technology. The successful project will compare the new technology to existing successful business models as evidentiary support using the following 3-level technique as guiding questions: Level 1: contextual and analytical questions How is the technology shaped by its time? Where did it originate and why? Who was the originator? Describe them. What are the basic features of the technology? What are the various parts of the technology? What is the monetization model? How is its business model organized and why is it organized this way? Report the financial projections. Level 2: comparative, causal and evaluative questions How is this technology similar or different than other technologies in its industry? What are the complements and substitutes? Describe. What industry and market factors will help it be successful? Explain. Are these factors sufficient? Are they contributors? Are they probabilistic? What other influential factors can you think of and which are irrelevant? Why? How strong is the company’s case that they will be successful? What are your criteria for judging the estimation of success? What is the strongest argument against this technology? Level 3: counterfactual and synthesis questions How would the market change if this technology was successful? How would the market be different if this technology was not successful? What would happen if the technology was successful to a greater or lesser degree? How could this technology be useful in other industries or other applications? If this technology is successful, what factors contribute to its success more or less than the company claims? If it is less successful, why? If it is more successful, why? How would you adjust the financial projections? Are they fair? What ideas would you add to the technology? Why? Although this analysis is largely qualitative, students should focus on finance concepts taught in this course. The analysis should be at least 2,000 words long and be written in proper APA style.