Learning Project Information

You will complete two projects during the semester.  You will work as part of a 2-3 member team for both projects.  The purpose of using teams is not to make your life miserable.  Rather I hope to help prepare you for the world of work where cross-functional teamwork is commonplace.  Briefly, the two learning projects are as follows:

Your team will select an actual farm business and describe the role that credit and financial services play in farm profitability and growth.  Your team will prepare a written report.  Selected teams will present their findings to the class.

Your team will select a community bank in Iowa and develop a financial profile of the institution and its peers.  I will also ask you to describe the key elements in the bank’s competitive strategy.  In addition you will select and analyze a specific management problem faced by the bank.  You will use publicly-available information from the FDIC’s web site along with personal interviews of bank officers.  Your team will prepare a written report and present your findings to the class.