Schulich’s Strategy Field Study (known as the 601) takes the place of a formal thesis. This long-term consulting engagement is done with an existing business which is looking to review their business strategy. The project is one of the elements that Schulich believes distinguishes their MBA Program from the rest.
For our 601, the team found and established a relationship with a prominent logistics organization in the GTA. Over the span of the following eight months, we worked to refine the company’s position in the marketplace.
This experience involved the creation of over 2000 pages of documentation, over 30 interviews with management, front-line staff, customers and even competitors. In the end our team produced detailed analysis documents on:
- Industry
- Competitors
- Marketing
- Customers
- Employees
- Financials
- Operations
- Technology
- Change Management
Each paper was then contextualized in the broader perspective of all of the other papers and recommendations were made along with a detailed implementation plan. This was then presented back to the organization’s senior management team.
Most Schulich students will agree that this is by far the most challenging and rewarding aspect of their entire MBA experience, and I am no exception. The 601 truly brought together everything learned in the program up to that point and pushed each and every member of our team well outside of our comfort zone.