October 2004
The Baldwin-Wallace College Business Division’s Executive MBA program is making a contribution to the survival and growth of the Northeast Ohio regional economy – one company at a time.
This program teams uniquely qualified Executive MBA candidates, who generally have 15 to 20 years’ experience in their respective fields, with local companies as strategic consultants.
“I found the Executive MBA program to be a great learning experience,” said Doug Miller, who received his Executive MBA degree in May. “It allowed us to utilize business tools in a real-world situation, and to address the real-world issues our client company was experiencing.”
Students in the second year of this two-year program divide into four- or five-person teams. In addition to continuing classwork, each team goes to work with a local B-W client company to review the company’s business and its strategic plan. They study the company’s industry, its competition, its approach to innovation and entrepreneurship, the global issues involved and other aspects of its business, integrating their classroom learning and business experience.
Each team’s assignment is to develop and recommend a strategic plan for the client company. In essence, each team provides bench strength for its client company’s management team.
Near the end of the school year, each team makes a presentation of its findings and recommendations, first to Executive MBA program faculty, then to its client company’s senior management.
These reports are well received by the client companies, typically providing management with new ideas on strategic direction or offering affirmation of the company’s existing objectives and strategic plan.
Two groups from the Class of 2004 enjoyed exceptional experiences.
One team, working with a local injection molding firm, met with the company’s senior executives, then was invited to present its findings a second time – to the company’s board of directors, who also responded positively. For that Executive MBA group and client company, there has been continuing dialogue even after the group’s graduation.
Miller, who was part of that group, said the client company had had a “less than positive” previous experience with outside consultants.
“But when they worked with the B-W team, they were pleased with the depth and understanding of their industry that we represented,” Miller said. “The CEO felt he gained a new perspective on issues facing the company, and he felt we presented a comprehensive strategic plan.”
Another team, working with the North American sales and distribution arm of a European-based consumer products company, was invited to present its findings to senior executives from the European parent company at a quarterly senior management meeting – providing group members an opportunity to engage in a truly global discussion.
“This kind of hands-on, in-depth client strategic consulting as an integral part of an Executive MBA program is unique to Baldwin-Wallace,” said Peter Kelly, who heads the Executive MBA program. “It is one of the distinctive experiences of our program, giving our students insight into local companies, providing their client companies with new ways to view their strategies, and challenging our students to find real-world applications for their academic course work.”
The program provides a win-win for all, Kelly added, as the students have a tremendous learning experience, and the businesses of Northeast Ohio are able to benefit in a tangible way.
For information on the B-W Executive MBA program, call 440-826-2064.
275 Eastland Rd.