Mendoza School of Business

Undergraduates Given the Opportunity to Gain Real World Experience

Author: Bryan Fields

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Business analytics undergrads now take on real business challenges in capstone projects

Mendoza business analytics seniors now have the chance to tackle a capstone project and gain real-world experience thanks to a new program for undergraduates. Capstone projects were previously available only to graduate students and a select few undergraduates. The Master of Business Analytics (MSBA) program had experimented by including some undergraduates on graduate capstone project teams, but the course projects are now being offered to all business analytics seniors. Students must apply and be selected for the capstone course.

Empowering Students Through Real-World Analytics Projects with Local Businesses

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Mike Chapple – Professor and 

Mike Chapple, academic director of the MSBA program, spearheaded the new initiative, where students partner with businesses on analytics projects to solve the companies’ real business challenges. This is also the first time students will work with all-local businesses. “Manufacturing firms want to optimize their manufacturing or marketing by taking all of this data they’re generating every day and do something with it,” Chapple said. “They want to leverage it to their advantage and use it for whatever success they’re trying to achieve.” The first capstone consists of 11 students comprising three teams. Each team was paired with a local business: Lippert Glass, manufacturer for the automotive, rail, building products, and appliance industries in Elkhart; Smoker Craft boats in New Paris; and Itamco, gear and spline manufacturer in Plymouth.

Teams will complete their projects by the end of the semester in December. “We’re looking to provide an integrated learning experience,” Chapple said. “Students take everything they’ve learned in different courses and put it all together and apply it to their project. They figure out the right technique to solve a business problem. This is real-world experience, including working with a stakeholder and taking the results and communicating them to business leaders in business terms.” The program works in partnership with iNDustry Labs, Notre Dame’s platform for building bridges between the University and local industry. iNDustry Labs provides end-to-end support for businesses implementing new technologies, systems, products, and business strategies tailored to a company’s goal.

Leveraging Collaborative Resources for Business Growth and Transformation

Businesses can access resources covering a full range of expertise, facilities, and student talent at Notre Dame and through partner institutions in the Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation (LIFT) network and beyond. Funded by a Lilly Endowment grant, LIFT brings together business, community, and educational partners in innovative ways to diversify the regional economy and transform it using technology and advanced manufacturing to face an increasingly digital and automated future. Chapple said businesses have been eager to work with the students and get a new perspective. “These companies have had relationships with iNDustry Labs and are already looking for these types of opportunities.” MSBA plans to continue offering the capstone projects to business analytics seniors in the future.

Learn more about how you can tackle real-world business challenges in Mendoza’s business analytics major.

 

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