The Global Business Project (GBP) is a unique graduate-level course offered to MBAs and other graduate students
at ten member universities. Unlike other international consulting project courses, the GBP asks students to apply
both cross-cultural awareness and foreign language skills to produce strategic advice for companies that is
focused, compelling, and actionable. The course offers students the opportunity to increase their global business and
language competency through guided hands-on business experience in global markets, while also introducing them to
the challenges of virtual teaming. Teams are constructed through a competitive application process with members drawn
from multiple any of the member schools.
The primary goal of the course is to provide graduate students at participating institutions the opportunity
to increase their ability to conduct business in cultures other than US, in languages other than English, by working
in virtual and co-located teams on projects for multinationals or local companies in markets critical to US competitiveness.
ABOVE: A 2008 GBP team presentation in China
Target Countries/Languagesfor 2009
Brazil — Projects led by the University of Kansas CIBER
China — Projects led by the UNC CIBER
Japan — Projects led by Temple University CIBER
Poland — Projects led by University of Maryland CIBER
Sample Projects from 2008
| Destination Country — China | |
| Client Organization/Business Issue | Project Scope | |
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1. Manufacturer of hardwood lumber located in NC engaged a team to
develop and begin implementation of an export/sales & marketing strategy for China
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In Phase One of the project, team investigated alternative export strategies. In Phase Two the team identified potential clients/partners and set up visits for team for Phase Three, the in-country portion of the project. At the end of Phase Three, the team recommended next steps to the client and outlined an implementation strategy and timeline.
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2. US-owned multinational airplane manufacturer sought assistance in developing a strategy for creating culturally - attuned management systems that leverage the strengths of the diverse cultures participating in its worldwide divisions and subsidiaries.
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In Phase One, the team familiarized itself with the attributes/elements of existing management systems within the
aviation industry and identify the elements that are the most influenced by international cultural
attributes. In Phase Two, the team, working with HR executives in the US headquarters and a Shanghai subsidiary recommended
a plan/tool for systematically identifying the ways that those cultural attributes will shape the management system in
any given international culture. In Phase Three the team developed a plan for beta testing the prototype in the
Shanghai operations.
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| Destination Country — Japan | |
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1. The largest leather bag manufacturing town in Japan, known for hundreds of years as one of the top regions of
the world for producing leather bags of the highest quality, is experiencing a decline in sales as
a result of low-cost international competition. An association of 15 - 20 businesses in the area asked their GBP team
to develop a strategy for new business models that can revitalize the businesses.
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In Phases One and Two, the team investigated the industry on a global scale, looking for viable strategic options
for alternative business models, new product development, and new market opportunities. The team also examined
the cost side of the clients' current business models looking for ways to cut costs while retaining the
quality associated with these businesses. At the project's end, the team provided a detailed strategic
and 18 - month implementation plan for the strategy chosen by the client while the team was with
them in Japan.
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2. World's largest business software company and the world's third-largest independent software
provider overall offering business solutions sought a team to create a strategic plan for expanding
business in the Japan market, specifically in the client's western region in Japan.
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In Phases One and Two, the team will conducted a SWAT analysis and a 5-force analysis,
and identified strategic options for the client. In Phase Three, the team developed a marketing and
implementation plan for the client, and presented their options in Japan at the end of May. The plan paid
specific attention to the challenges identified by the client centering around improving customer and employee satisfaction.
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| Destination Country — Brazil | |
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| 1. A US manufacturer of high quality, efficient, environmentally friendly belt conveyors, ship loaders &
unloaders, and bucket elevators engaged a GBP team to develop a market penetration strategy for Brazil, focusing on the oilseed processing industry and grain storage and port facilities.
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In Phase One, the team investigated the Brazilian market and alternative methods for expansion, including export
of US - manufactured products, partial production and assembly and full-scaled production, sales,
and marketing operation in Brazil. In Phases Two and Three the team actively investigated the three most
feasible strategies and present to company officials an implementation plan for the team-produced strategy chosen
by the client as the one they decided to adopt.
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2. A global leader in biometric authentication software, this company specializes in biometric technologies focusing
on fingerprint and face recognition used in conventional or public safetly applications. It wanted help improving
its overall business in Brazil and to investigate possible expansion in China and Japan.
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In Phase One, the team worked with the company to develop a strategy to improve sales performance in
China and Japan by reviewing the company's past approaches to sales in
China and Japan and investigate sales and distribution models used throughout the industry. In phases two
and three, the team shifted its focus to exploring the company's general business strategy and recommended steps for improving sales and profitability in Brazil and international markets.
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Timing.
ABOVE: Pictures from the 2008 Course Kick-off meeting
August/September/October
Companies submit project applications via GBP website while CIBERs at participating schools acquaint MBAs and other graduate students from other disciplines with the course and the unique opportunities it provides to students with prior language and business experience.
October/November/December
Students at participating schools apply to the course via GBP website; faculty at the participating schools review their students' applications and recommend to the GBP Selection Committee those students with the best fit for the submitted projects.
The GBP Selection Committee reviews company and student applications, forms teams from among the recommended applicants at all participating schools, secures a faculty mentor for each team, and notifies companies and students of the matching decisions by mid-December.
March 12 - 14
Teams meet in Washington, DC with their faculty mentors, business language supervisor, and primary company representative to develop a detailed project scope of work, project timeline, and work plan for the 7 weeks of virtual team project work.
March 15 through April 30
Teams work virtually for seven weeks on the project, gathering data and investigating possible solutions to the
business challenges defining the project. Each team continues to be guided by a project-specific faculty and a company representative as well as by the business language professor overseeing all of the projects for
a particular country.
May
From May 14 - 16 (for China, Japan, Poland and Russia) / May 15-17 (for Brazil) the teams receive collective and individual mentoring at a partner business school in the destination country,
and visit selected historic and cultural sites.
From May 17-28 the teams work with the client in-country on the project collecting final data and presenting their findings to the client.
June and July
Final report due from each team by June June 30th. Final grades are provided to each school mid-July.
August
Final grades are submitted by faculty leaders to the students' home institutions.
Student Course Fees
Students pay a special fee of $2,750 to cover on-the-ground expenses for the kick-off weekend in
Washington, DC and briefing workshops in the host country. $500 of this fee is due in December when students
accept their team assignments. The balance is due by January 30, 2009. Students are also responsible for
their round-trip travel to Washington, DC in March and to the destination country in May.
Partial or full scholarships may be available from the CIBER in the GBP member institution; students should contact their school's GBP representative for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions - Students
When is the course held, and how much credit does it earn?
The GBP is held during the 4th quarter of the academic year, plus 2 weeks of travel at the end of May. The course earns the equivalent of one full semester course.
What are the destination countries/languages for the 2009 course?
Brazil (Portuguese), China (Mandarin), Japan (Japanese) and Poland (Polish).
Do I need to be able to speak Portuguese/Mandarin/Polish/Japanese?
Not necessarily. Every team will have 1-2 members who are fluent in the target country's language, but some team members will be chosen more for what they can contribute to the industry or functional area of the project. All team members, however, will be required to outline a plan for language learning/improvement over the course of the project.
Can I choose the destination country I want to work in?
Yes, you can note a first and second choice of country on your application.
Can I choose the individual project I want to work on?
No. but you can — are encouraged to — mention the type of project you think you would be best suited for and to highlight functional skills or industry experience you are hoping to gain through this project.
When will I know what project I'm assigned to?
Students accepted to the GBP will receive notification via email on December 8, 2008. This notification will include a description of the assigned project.
Can I withdraw if I don't like the project?
You will have a short window to decline the offer to be on a team before we send the match letters to the companies on December 15th. However, because each member of the team is chosen with the whole team in mind, we hope you will honor your commitment and accept your assigned match.
How much travel is involved?
All GBP students attend a kick-off weekend in Washington, DC March 13-15, 2009. Teams will then work virtually until their team travel to the destination country during the last two weeks of May.
How to Apply - Students
Application deadline for students is November 21 at 11:55 p.m.
Information for Clients
The Global Business Project (GBP) puts teams of MBA students from 10 leading business schools to work solving real problems facing real companies wanting to improve their competitiveness in one of four target countries: Brazil, China, Japan or Poland. The GBP's highly motivated students apply functional, cross-cultural and foreign language skills to produce strategic advice that is focused, compelling and actionable. Likely topics include supply chain issues, marketing research, market entry, and new product introductions. The student teams will conduct project work in March and April 2009, culminating in a two-week long in-country work from May 18 to May 30, 2009, which culminates with a formal presentation of recommended action plan for the client to implement over the next 12 - 18 months. Final written reports will be delivered by June 30th, 2009.
Students are not paid for their work; instead, they receive academic credit. Clients and the participating universities share the direct costs of the project: faculty oversight, team travel expenses, and printing of the final written report. Clients also commit the participation of at least two senior executives, and a least one of those commits to attend the GBP kick-off meeting in Washington, DC on March 13-& 14, 2009. These senior client representatives commit to continue to work closely with its GBP team throughout April and May in creating the project's Scope of Work, provide pertinent data, respond to and critique team recommendations and progress, and provide feedback to the team and faculty advisor at the project's completion.
Both projects and students are screened by a selection committee comprised of faculty and administrators to ensure the best possible matches. The selection committee particularly looks for projects meeting the following criteria
- An established company or non-profit organization with well defined business processes.
- A defined set of needs that can benefit from the attention of a team collectively versed in the language and culture of the target country as well as the business-related aspects of the project.
- Senior management that is ready to devote time and resources to the work of the MBA team
- A potential outcome that will enhance business performance of the company in general, but specifically in the project's destination country
The project should be designed to be completed in a 9-week time frame of 35-person hours in each of the first 7 weeks (8.5 hours/team member/week) and 120 person hours during each of the last 2 weeks (30 hours/team member/week).
Frequently Asked Questions - Clients
What is the staff commitment expected from my company?
Companies commit at least 2 senior managers (one in US, if company has US presence as well as target country presence) to work with team. At least one company representative will be expected to work with team during the kick off meeting in Washington, D.C. March 13 & 14, 2009. During the project, company representatives can expect to interact virtually at least 3 hours per week with the team in March and April and 8 - 10 hours per week when the team is on the ground in the destination country.
What does it cost my company to participate in the GBP?
Clients and the participating universities share the direct costs of the project: faculty oversight and team expenses. Although costs vary, depending in part on which target country is in play, the client portion is approximately 25% of the total actual costs for the project, which averaged $40,000 in 2008.
What is the company specifically required to provide for the team during their in-country trip?
Space in the company for the team to work
Accommodations and meals for each team member
Pre-payment or reimbursement for team's project-related business and travel expenses from May 18 - 30th
GBP clients can elect to provide these items directly to the team or to be invoiced by the GBP Consortium, which will in turn provide the team with funds to pay for their accommodations and meals.
When would our company receive the final project report?
Before returning to US, teams present final project findings and recommendations to company representatives by May 29th and will submit the final written report by June 30th, 2009.
What is the application deadline?
Company applications must be submitted online no later than November14, 2008.
When will I know if my project has been accepted and matched to a student team?
Matching of projects and teams will take place in early December and all student and client applicants will be notified of results by December 12th, 2008.
How to Apply - Clients
Application for clients are due by November 28 at 11:55 p.m.
For More Information
Contact your school's
GBP representative or
Global Business Project
