MBA Capstone Projects for Spring 2008

During the fourth and final semester, students in the day program complete consulting projects as the culminating experience of the Bryan MBA. For this academic year, Bryan MBA students will have a great list of opportunities from which to select their capstone experiences and four of the organizations (Tyco, VF Corporation, Red Hat, and Randolph County Small Business Center) have hosted Bryan MBA consulting teams in the past. The following are the organizations where the Bryan MBA will have consulting projects in the Spring semester.

Natural Science Center

The Natural Science Center (NSC) would like a team of Bryan MBAs to analyze the feasibility of its 10-year master plan – Science City, USA (SCU). The SCU master plan is designed to combine an accredited science museum, a zoological park and aquatics conservation center into one ‘kid-cool’ campus of fun and discovery. Among other things, students will be required to: (1) perform an industry and competitive analysis of ‘family-focused’ destinations in the Triad and beyond, (2) identify local and regional obstacles, (3) design a comprehensive marketing strategy, as well as (4) evaluate the SCU’s long-term financial viability. Beyond these ‘business’ considerations, there is also a need to assess how education and quality-of-life attractions impact the community’s appeal as a place to live and do business.

Randolph County Small Business Center

In the Spring and summer of 2005, two teams of Bryan MBAs did a feasibility study for the Small Business Center to assess the need for an incubator in Randolph County (the Center is part of Randolph County Community College). The study highlighted the need for an incubator as a means of nurturing entrepreneurs in the county. But, bricks-and-mortar incubators require significant financial backing to implement, and as of yet, these resources have not emerged. However, Randolph County has given the ‘green light’ for the design and implementation of a virtual (on-line) incubator that will be housed at the Archdale campus of Randolph Community College. The Small Business Center has asked the Bryan MBA program to design and implement this incubator. This will require two teams; a group of Bryan MBAs to develop the blueprint for the web site, and a team of Bryan MSITM students to perform the technical work of web site construction. Students with a serious interest in entrepreurship could not ask for a better project.

Red Hat

Red Hat is a software company that has an operating system that competes with MS-DOS. In the Spring of 2005, Bryan MBAs designed an entry strategy for expanding operations to Taiwan. This past, Spring, Red Hat asked Bryan MBAs to do a similar project focusing on expansion into Central Europe and Russia. While the specifics of the 2008 assignment have not yet been pinned down, the project is likely to be interdisciplinary in nature. Students interested in a technology-based firm operating in a global environment should give serious consideration to this project.

VF Corporation

VF is the largest apparel firm in the world with brands such as Wrangler, Lee, North Face and Nautica. All production and assembly has moved offshore. The Bryan MBA performed a comprehensive strategic and market analysis for their Imagewear (Uniform) division. As part of their experience, students visited Nashville where VF Imagewear is located. The team’s recommendations included recommendations regarding strategic positioning, management of the supply chain, as well as the need to enhance the division’s web site as a marketing tool. The project was extremely well received and as a result, the Bryan MBA program has been invited back. While the specifics of the 2008 assignment have not been finalized, it is likely to deal with the strategic positioning of one or more of VF’s products or entire product lines in a global environment.

Tyco Electronics

This is the Bryan MBA’s third project with Tyco Electronics. In the Spring of 2006, students did a comprehensive supply chain study for the firm. 2007’s assignment involved the development of a pricing strategy for the automotive unit. While project particulars have not been finalized, past assignments have been both challenging and rewarding for students. Tyco is a great environment for Bryan MBAs since there are a number of Bryan MBA alumni in the organization.

Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation

In August 2002, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation began an ambitious project; to begin buying back a portion of their ancestral land and use it for the economic development of the tribal community. The Occaneechi Homeland Preservation Project involves a reconstructed 1701 Occaneechi village, an 1880’s era farm, educational nature trails, and a tribal museum. The complex is intended to serve as an educational tool for both Tribal members and the community as a whole. Moreover, the facility is intended to increase tribal self-sufficiency by bringing income into the community and providing employment for tribe members. A key question is how to make the Occaneechi Homeland Preservation Project work as a sound business venture. This will involve the development of a marketing plan for this ‘heritage site,’ along with a complimentary financial plan to assess the degree to which it may provide employment for tribal members. Students taking on this project must have the willingness and passion to work in a challenging setting that requires that they think creatively.

Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)

Located in Greensboro North Carolina, the Center for Creative Leadership is the leading nonprofit institution in the world dedicated exclusively to leadership. CCL integrates cutting-edge research with innovative training, coaching, assessment and publishing to create proven impact for leaders and organizations around the world. They would like Bryan MBA students to design a formal crisis communications plan for them. Dr. Catherine Holderness, who has taught the MBA course in Crisis Management, will serve as a resource for this project. As students will learn, a well thought-out crisis communication plan must be consistent with the mission and values of the organization. Students with a serious interest in leadership training, assessment and development could not ask for a better project.

-October 2007