School of Business

Jayhawks Explore Business Climate in India

A group of five MBA candidates and two faculty members from the University of Kansas got a glimpse of the inner workings of several of India’s most prominent businesses during a two-week study abroad program in June. Sponsored by the University’s School of Business, in cooperation with KU’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), the program offered participants a chance to acquire first-hand experience of the current business climate in India.

Led by Associate Professor Sanjay Mishra, program participants attended lectures at the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad and visited a variety of firms in industries ranging from information technology, communications, software development and pharmaceuticals to more traditional sectors like hand weaving and film-making. Read More.

MBA students participate in Global Research Integrative Project

A group of 10 MBA students caught a break from the normal routine of studying and taking tests last month. Instead, they participated in the Global Research Integrative Project (GRIP) and learned how to practically apply the classroom knowledge they’ve gleaned thus far. The intensive course included a two-week trip to Brazil, where the students studied Embraer, an aircraft manufacturer.

GRIP is an eight-week course in which MBA students analyze a particular global industry. The analysis involves understanding the industry’s history, current state of affairs, challenges and strategies. This year’s GRIP class focused on the aircraft manufacturing industry. Professors Chris Anderson, Melissa Birch, Dennis Karney and Jill Kleinberg team-taught the course.

“In the business school curriculum, by design, we encourage the students to integrate concepts that they’ve learned in different courses, but that doesn’t always happen,” Anderson said. “That’s why they need this course.”

The 10 MBA students spent the first four weeks studying American aircraft manufacturing companies like Boeing and Cessna. With both companies located in Wichita, the students were able to tour their facilities and speak with company employees. The company visits supplemented classroom presentations, which combined to give the students a broad understanding of the industry. They also began studying Brazilian culture, in preparation for their trip.

During the next two weeks, students traveled to Brazil to compare how Embraer competes in the global aircraft industry. While in Brazil, the students attended a series of lectures designed to increase their knowledge of the country and visited Embraer’s headquarters.

“I enjoyed GRIP so much because we spent a lot of time learning about every aspect of the aircraft industry and Brazilian economy and how each impacts the other,” said Erin McDonald, an MBA student.  “Then we went to Brazil and actually saw the interaction and were able to ask questions of experts. It made all the preparation worthwhile.”

In the final two weeks of the course, the students examined their data and constructed a final report. They then presented their final report, about how Embraer should position itself to compete in the future, to a group of scholars, business executives and industry-insiders

For more information visit the School of Business website.