Small Business Systems

Wayfinders Business Cooperative is seeking to develop a small business support system to aid in understanding and managing the complexities of modern business environments. The system will serve as an educational tool, allowing users to apply systems science and systems thinking principles to real-world business scenarios. This system includes a web platform of small business resources, a small business simulator, and a Systems Worldview Institute. This project aims to simplify the management of complex systems by providing a hands-on learning experience that reflects the challenges faced by small businesses today. The ultimate project goal is to foster a paradigm shift towards systems thinking, equipping future business leaders with the skills needed to navigate and manage complexity effectively. Overall Project management plan is needed in order to acquire the resources to complete the mission.

Canadian Economic Trends Analysis for Small Businesses

The Wayfinders Business Cooperative seeks to empower small businesses in Canada by providing insights into emerging economic opportunities and threats. This project involves collecting, cleaning, and organizing data from public open-source sites related to business, industry, and economic conditions. The goal is to analyze this data to identify trends that could impact small businesses. By understanding these trends, small businesses can make informed decisions and strategic plans. The project will focus on key economic indicators, industry growth patterns, and potential market shifts. This analysis will help small businesses anticipate changes and adapt their strategies accordingly, ensuring they remain competitive and resilient in a dynamic economic landscape. - Collect data from public open-source sites on Canadian economic conditions. - Clean and organize the data for analysis. - Analyze the data to identify emerging opportunities and threats. - Provide insights that small businesses can use for strategic planning. - Create a way to regularly update the process to stay current

Systems Worldview Institute Proposal Development

The objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive proposal for establishing a Systems Worldview Institute at MacEwan University, in collaboration with Wayfinders Business Cooperative. The institute aims to serve as a pivotal resource for guiding public policy development across various public issues, with a focus on corporate social responsibility. The project will require learners to apply their research, analytical, and organizational skills to gather relevant data, analyze existing frameworks, and propose a structured plan for the institute. The proposal should address the institute's potential impact on policy development, its alignment with university goals, and its collaborative opportunities with Wayfinders. The project will involve tasks such as conducting literature reviews, stakeholder analysis, and drafting a detailed proposal document.

Social Impact Policy Development

Prepare a comprehensive social impact/benefits policy document for implementation by Wayfinders Business Co-operative and its Members. As our world gets more complex more people are struggling to understand their impacts on each other, society and the natural environment. Small businesses don't have the same level of resources as large businesses to engage in development of policies and practices of any kind, let alone those policies that are seen as not directly related to viability. However, if we were able to generate awareness and desire to learn then we can create a learning path and reduce the cost of adopting socially and environmentally responsible policies and practices.

Industry Forecast Modelling

This project will result in a predictive model for a technology industry based on open data available from Statistics Canada, Alberta or other government and non-government sources. It will enable companies within the specific industry to be aware of industry and economic trends and enable them to plan company strategic priorities accordingly.

Accounting as a Service Cloud Platform

Build a multi-user platform accounting system that incorporates a barter accounting system to facilitate barter transactions among our B2B co-operative members. This may or may not use blockchain technology. The system must be scalable to accommodate different sizes and kinds of business from services and retail to small manufacturing. This program will enable small businesses to conduct local business transactions using barter credits to promote local and regional supply chains and economic re-investment.