Eva Fast and Tom Verdery - Three MBA International Program Consulting Models: Skills Gap and Development Opportunities

1. Three MBA
International
Consulting Models:
Skills Gap and
Development
Opportunities
Presenting: Eva Fast and Tom Verdery
#ACBSPCancun

2. Brazil Studies Program
Team Teaching via Complimentary Skills
• Eva Fast – Assistant Professor of Marketing and
Management, John Brown University
 Academic & Practical Experience in Consulting Project
Management
 Multi-Cultural Knowledge – Born & Raised in Kenya
• Tom Verdery – Executive in Residence, John
Brown University
 34+ years with P&G, 16 years Working Exclusively
Outside the US
 Multi-National Business Relationships – worked in 32
Countries, including Brazil
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3. AGENDA:
Introduction
Brief Overview
Key Research
Consulting Projects as Effective Career Preparation
3 International Consulting Models
The Evolution – Successes and Failures
Skills Gap
Key Student Learnings
Development Opportunities
Capstone Program & Sustainable Client Relationships
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4. KEY
RESEARCH
1
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5. Research
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• Coelho, D. & Drozdenko, R. (2009). Benefits of real-time projects in the
business curriculum: a model for implementation and assessment.
International Journal of Education Research, 4(3), 91-103.
• Eisenberg, J., Lee, H.J., Frank, B. et all (2013). Can business schools
make students culturally competent? Effects of cross-cultural
management courses on cultural intelligence. Academy of
Management Learning & Education,12(4), p603-621.
• Drozdenko, R., Coelho, D. (2011). Faculty perspectives on experiential
learning: Is it worth the effort? Proceedings of American Marketing
Association Collegiate Conference, 2011, New Orleans, LA.

6. Why Consulting?
1. Add value to business relationships – MARS Story
2. Strengthen student’s business experience - video
3. Increase academic rigor of practicum
4. Add real world customer expectations to practicum
5. Student resume builder
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7. STUDENT VIDEOS
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8. THREE
MODELS
2
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9. Brazil Studies Practicum
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
• One client
project
• 8 weeks 3 /
credit hours
• Pre-trip
research
• Limited client
contact
• In-country
presentations
• Faculty
facilitates
student-client
interaction
• Three client
projects
• 16 weeks / 6
credit hours
• Combination of
pre & post-trip
research
• Limited client
contact
• In-country
presentations
• Faculty hands
off client
relationship to
the student
team
• Three client
projects
• 16 weeks / 6
credit hours
• Primarily in-
country research
• Increased
contact-time
with client in
country
• Video conference
presentation
• Student
ownership over
client
relationship
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10. Special Project Considerations
1. Sustainability
2. Client selection & project scope
3. Degree of student learning/ownership
4. Project management & project evaluation criteria
5. Program implications
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11. KEY STUDENT LEARNING
INSIGHTS
3
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12. SKILLS GAP
1. Project management
2. Communication
3. Cultural complexities of new markets
4. Navigating cultural waters
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13. CAPSTONE PROGRAM &
SUSTAINABLE CLIENT
RELATIONSHIPS
4
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14. Development Opportunities
1. Capstone Program:
• Curriculum Development
• Cultural components integrated into consulting project
2. Sustainability Factors:
• Create/Build/Nurture business relationships around the world
(contacts, faculty, 3rd party providers, etc.)
• Build faculty who understand consulting project management
• Staff to support faculty
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15. Questions?
Presenting: Eva Fast and Tom Verdery #ACBSPCancun