The GMU MIS 491 team provided Valencor with recommendations and a path forward on their business development system's development, specifically their customer relational management (CRM) system. The Client's Needs included a CRM platform that covers a variety of requirements, such as managing customer and partner relationship data, managing opportunities, approval workflows for opportunity management, bid management, and proposal material management. The GMU MIS 491 Solution / Recommendation Delivery included a path forward on developing a custom CRM system, which will allow Valencor LLC to track employees, customers, organizations, bid and proposal information, contract award, and relationships between entities within the system. The team’s final solution to the client included a variety of relational flow and bubble charts, as well as a mock user interface of the custom CRM.

"At Valencor we were fortunate to be assigned two separate teams from GMU which enabled us to approach the same problem set from different perspectives, providing an analysis of alternatives. One of the teams was challenged with developing the initial requirements, data model, workflows and user interface screens for a hybrid Customer Relations Management / Human Relations Management system that would eventually feed a Business Development / Opportunity Pipeline tracking tool. While much of the technical work for this effort was beyond the scope of material covered in their class, the students rose to the occasion and were able to provide solid requirements definition / decomposition, technical recommendations and related documentation that will serve as the basis for future software development of the hybrid CRM / HRM system. The students were professional, highly motivated, and eager to provide value throughout the process. Working with the students was a pleasure. They presented themselves well and are a credit to their class, instructor, and GMU. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your students!"

- Charles McLean | Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer | Valencor