DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE DATA STRATEGY FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) provides information technology (IT) support, plans and executes IT infrastructure projects, and delivers telecommunications services. Within the DoITT, the Financial Management and Administration (FMA) division oversees procurement, analysis of DoITT's operations, and budgeting-including managing DoITT's annual expenditure of $450 million. FMA is required to collect and analyze data effectively on the projects it manages; however, the DoITT collects project data through numerous separate tracking systems making the compilation and analysis of data difficult. The DoITT enlisted a Capstone team to provide a comprehensive data strategy that will allow FMA to assess a projects' performance against budgets and ensure fiscally responsible use of project resources. The team analyzed DoITT's project management policies and processes, recommended improvements to assist in the collection and analysis of data, and conducted a financial analysis of project performance to budget.
DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK FOR DATA ANALYSIS ACROSS FLORIDA STATE HOSPITALS
Grant Thornton LLP is the American member firm of Grant Thornton International, a global organization of member firms that provides audit, tax, and advisory services. Since its establishment in 2010, Grant Thornton's Health Care Advisory Practice has provided consulting services to the rapidly evolving healthcare industry. The Capstone team's primary goal was to develop the healthcare practice's data analytics capacity to help evaluate trends in the Florida hospital market. Based on Grant Thornton's pilot benchmarking study in Florida using Agency for Health Care Administration claims data, the team completed a comprehensive study encompassing all hospitals across Florida. The study utilized the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System all-payer claims database to explore a replication of the Florida study's approach and included an extensive literature review. The team's research culminated in the development of a framework for data analysis and a series of use cases that illustrate the applicability of each developed strategy in the healthcare market.
Designing a Process Evaluation System and Data Monitoring Framework
Empatico creates virtually connected classrooms to unite students across cultures and geographies, enabling individuals to exercise empathy, navigate adversity, and reconcile differences. Empatico has created a three-month curriculum that leverages the use of technology platforms in third- and fourth-grade classrooms to create opportunities for students to connect with peers around the world. Having launched its first pilot program in January 2017, Empatico engaged a Capstone team to implement a monitoring and evaluation system to inform and refine its approach. To do so, the Capstone team conducted a literature review and weekly classroom observations of Empatico's pilot program. The team's research culminated in the recommendation and design of an evaluation system and monitoring framework, which incorporated measures and mechanisms for collecting data.
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND DATA VISUALIZATION FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY PROGRAM
Services for the Underserved (SUS) is a nonprofit organization that provides $185 million in services to over 25,000 people annually. SUS has tripled in size in the past seven years and is currently consolidating its programs, clients, and staff to prepare for future changes. SUS enlisted a Capstone team to provide data management and visualization recommendations, and to analyze program costs and benefits for advocacy efforts. The team conducted a literature review on leading practices on data visualization, performed outreach to similar agencies, and administered a cost-benefit analysis of operating SUS's housing program. The team's research culminated in a set of recommendations for SUS and the development of an operational framework for its Developmental Disabilities program to support its data management.