MBA Program Experiential Learning - Wake Forest Business Solutions

Today’s ever-changing business climate creates unique problems and opportunities for management—challenges that often require in-depth study. Wake Forest Business Solutions allows teams of second-year MBA students to serve as consultants to local, regional, or national business or nonprofit organizations on a variety of key business issues.

Wake Forest Business Solutions enables Schools of Business graduate students to gain additional exposure to current business challenges and management practices. Our students also acquire practical experience applying concepts and skills from the classroom in a business environment. Students design, develop and execute the project they agree upon with the sponsoring organization and faculty adviser. Wake Forest Business Solutions is an important component of the curriculum of the Schools of Business graduate program, and each team is required to complete a comprehensive written report and formal presentation to the client and faculty adviser before receiving academic credit.

Possible Wake Forest Business Solutions projects have included:

• Formulate strategic plan for growth and expansion
• Develop comprehensive marketing plan for a new or existing product
• Analyze international expansion or sourcing opportunities
• Revise supply chain management strategy
• Reformulate dividend policy
• Assess alternative financing options
• Evaluate information system plans
• Assess the feasibility of a new product or market entry
• Evaluate possible mergers or acquisitions
• Develop a full business plan

Master of Arts in Management (MA) Program Experiential Learning - Graduate Business Consulting

In the business world, there is no substitute for hands-on experience. Given this, graduate business consulting
projects are an integral part of the MA program. The purpose of these consulting projects is to apply and
reinforce course concepts by working within an actual organization to help create business solutions. This is truly a “win-win” scenario as you develop important professional capabilities while creating value for the sponsoring organization. In conjunction with your classroom studies, MA students will be assigned to a consulting team of approximately five students to work with a business client throughout the academic year. This résumé-building process provides you worthwhile exposure to the opportunities, challenges and practical realities while working within real business operations. At the same time, it allows you to strengthen the skills and confidence necessary to contribute to your future organization.

One recent consulting team revamped its client’s procurement process, inventory management, repackaging
operations and vendor relations, which resulted in an estimated $500,000 in savings. Another consulting team of MA students worked with officials at a major consumer goods company to produce the design features and cost estimates for a new customer billing and accounts payable services website. This same project team developed a detailed financial model showing their client why an investment in an upgraded system would improve financial performance and provide world-class customer service.

Graduate Business Consulting projects have included:

• A demand estimation project for a new or existing product or service.
• A talent management project to help their sponsoring company more effectively recruit and retain employees.
• A analyst report providing a critical and objective assessment of the organization’s current strategy and its current competitive position.
• A consulting project where the sponsoring organization identifies an opportunity or challenge related to its competitiveness that the students analyze and offer recommendations on.

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