Saving companies time, money and talent

What causes employees to leave or stay at a company? How can fundraisers better communicate with donors? Are there any proactive steps businesses can take to reduce delays in construction projects?

These are all real-world problems that cost businesses time, money and relationships. 

At VIU, three Master of Business Administration students are searching for tangible solutions.

Dr. Evan Hoffman, a Management Professor who is supervising their research, says all three projects have the same goal. To find useful answers that can make a real difference for companies.

“We hope students will continue applying their research skills after graduation as they move into leadership roles within their organizations, enabling them to make ongoing positive contributions well into the future,” he says.

Here’s more about each project:

Understanding construction delays 

Mohammed Khan is very familiar with construction delays. Before coming to VIU, he worked in project controls and management. He saw how delays can affect entire projects and his interest in this research comes from real experience.

“I’m on projects that began in 2023 with an expected duration of one year but are still ongoing,” he says. “It highlights how common delays are. This motivated me to examine the underlying causes and contributing factors.”

Mohammed’s research looks at what causes delays to construction projects in Canada.

He is asking experienced professionals to share their insights through a short survey. He hopes his findings will lead to better planning and decision-making.

“I want to better understand the root causes behind project delays and how to better navigate issues,” he says.

The goal of his research is to help teams deliver better, reduce delays and make project execution easier for everyone involved.

“I’m hoping the research will help identify practical ways to improve planning, coordination and decision-making so projects can move more smoothly,” he says. 

The stories behind the donations

Yuvrinder Kaur is exploring how non-profits interact with donors and why difficulties can arise.

“Every donation tells a story, but communicating that story to donors isn’t always easy,” she says.

Yuvrinder has a background is in finance and has worked with a non-profit organization in India. That experience shaped her interest in transparency.

“I’m looking at the challenges Canadian non-profit groups face when communicating how donor funds are used,” she says. 

“This topic resonates with me because transparency is essential for building trust, ensuring sustainable funding and strengthening credibility.”

She is speaking with non-profit professionals across Canada to learn more.

She hopes to provide practical insights that help non-profits improve how they communicate financial information and outcomes to donors.

Her goal “is to highlight best practices and real solutions that can lead to stronger relationships, greater trust and long-term sustainability.”

Why employees stay at or leave their jobs 

Why does an employee stay at a job, and what makes them leave for something else?

That’s the question Momodou Jallow is tackling for his project. His research focuses on small and medium-sized businesses in Canada’s service sector.

“Employee retention remains a major challenge for many organizations, particularly small and medium-sized ones that operate with limited resources,” he says. 

“I aim to contribute to building more sustainable businesses where employees feel valued and motivated to stay.”

Using a short survey and targeting HR personnel, business managers and owners for his data, Momodou is studying how workplace factors such as leadership, growth opportunities and work-life balance affect employee decisions to stay or leave.

He hopes his research will provide practical insights that can help businesses improve employee retention strategies.