MBA Corporate Consulting Project

Currently we are not accepting proposals for the MBA Corporate Consulting Projects.  Watch for announcements regarding our Corporate Consulting Projects in January each year.  Project proposals are due each year in mid-February and are completed during a five-week period during May and June.

MBA Program Background

The Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics’ accelerated one year, full-time MBA program comprises an intensive agenda that begins in July and ends the last week in June of the following year.  The program’s success, in large part, can be attributed to the integration of classroom and real-world experiences ensuring students master the skills, tools and concepts necessary to succeed in a corporate environment.

This competitive program includes a series of external components, which ready graduates for the challenges of business, government and society.  Notable among them are the New York City and International residencies, Corporate Internship Program, and Corporate Consulting Project. 

Partnerships with businesses, non-profits, municipalities and other organizations are critical pieces of the program, and benefit both the students and client organizations.  Students gain valuable insight and experience in applying their skills and developing business solutions, while organizations get practical solutions to meet their needs.

Corporate Consulting Project Overview

As a capstone to the program, MBA candidates participate in a 160+ hour corporate consulting project in late May and June.  Teams of 2 or 3 students work as consultants on real-world problems, applying field and research concepts learned in the classroom and through earlier internships.  The student teams are responsible for planning, managing, and executing their projects, in cooperation with their respective companies.  A faculty advisor provides additional guidance and checks in with teams frequently to ensure preset goals are achieved.

Each project is required to improve the client organization in a significant way, and must have a $50,000 minimum impact on the sponsoring company, either by generating new revenue streams or by reducing expenses.

Last year, PAUL MBA consulting teams completed 16 projects for the 15 corporate and non-profit sponsors that were selected.  Each project team was responsible for:

• Negotiating a signed Letter of Understanding with their corporate client;
• Delineating specific project deliverables;
• Developing a timeline and estimating resources (sample attached);
• Facilitating at least one review meeting per week with their company team, complete with agenda and meeting minutes;
• Signing non-disclosure agreements, if applicable, to ensure the company’s interest is considered at all times;
• Negotiating an on-site schedule. (Some projects necessitate teams work on-site 5 days a week for the project duration, others require only a few on-site days each week; in all cases, MBA consultants are required to work full-time on projects during the month of June.)

 Upon each project’s completion, each student team is responsible for submitting a written report and making a detailed presentation to key stakeholders at the client company’s location. These presentations often run two or more hours and can include several dozen slides and supporting material.  Finally, each student team makes another summary presentation on the UNH campus, to which most companies send a representative.

Partnership Responsibilities

In inviting you to partner with us, UNH recognizes the responsibilities for students, your organization (as their corporate sponsor), and the Paul College of Business and Economics.  We have outlined these below.

The students’ responsibility to you:

• Serve as an external consultant to the client organization;
• Provide project planning, execution and success;
• Act and dress professionally at all times;
• Schedule and document regular project status meetings with the client and their project advisor;
• Attempt to resolve any problems on their own before seeking help from the client or faculty advisor;
• Follow company regulations and policies as requested;
• Manage their own time, being punctual for meetings and promptly notifying their client contact in case of rescheduling; and
• Provide final written and oral reports.

Your responsibility to the student project team(s):

• Provide a consulting project which will have a $50,000+ impact on your company;
• Assign one person as the primary contact for the student consulting team(s) and their faculty advisor;
• Assist the students in accessing the resources and scheduling the meetings required;
• Complete a written evaluation of the students at the end of the project (form provided);
• Consider a suggested donation of $500 to $1,000 for out-of-pocket expenses; and
• Commit senior level management to attend a 2+/- hour detailed final project presentation by each team at your site.

 The Paul College’s responsibility to you:

• Provide a faculty advisor to act as a channel of communication between you and the student, as needed, and as a “consultant to the consultants,” a resource for the students to draw upon for additional information and guidance.  The faculty advisor is also a resource for the client should there be any issues or concerns;
• Prepare students to work in a professional environment;
• Be available for feedback on student performance.

 Final Thoughts

We sincerely appreciate your consideration in partnering with us in the Corporate Consulting Project program.  It is only by accessing the active support of the business community that we are able to provide students with the highest quality and most meaningful MBA education. 

Building on the success of the last several years, we understand the importance of involving the students with the highest quality projects possible.  To this end, and while we cannot guarantee you will be selected as a sponsoring organization, we encourage your thoughtful consideration of submitting a proposed consulting project which will make a substantial impact on your organization.

Questions and inquiries should be sent to:

Charlene Zerbinopoulos, MBA, Director of Career Services, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics,
10 Garrison Avenue, Durham, NH 03824, (603) 862-3020 Office

If your company is interested in participating in the Corporate Consulting Project, please complete the the form @ http://paulcollege.unh.edu/corporate-consulting-project-ccp-proposal