Professor Charles Lumbers, the MSc in Strategic Management coordinator is in charge of Praxis Streams assignments and elaborates on the concept of this project.

"I developed this course in order to provide the MSc students with the opportunity to learn from strategic problems that companies actually face in daily business life. We selected the companies that offered the most interesting strategic problems for the students to analyze.

During the course, the students meet several times with the company representatives so that the former can adapt their efforts to the needs of the companies in order to build their strategic analysis. At the end of the project, the students  provide the company with a consultancy report, presenting their findings and indicating the necessary course of action to be taken to solve the issue.

This project allows the students to apply their theoretical knowledge and gain real experience in solving a strategic management problem. This interactive approach really is a win-win situation for both the companies and the students."

Projects in 2008 include:

A small financial holding company which owns two firms (one with 300 employees and the other with 90) in the security sector and which is currently faced with a classic strategic challenge of deciding on their future development (expanding/developing their current activity or a diversification into related activities). 

A start-up in the ICT/mobile sector.  Like many others, they are seeking a successful business model and development plan within the user-content-driven world of Web 2.0  Based on an original sort of user input and an innovative technology for its use, they need a business-plan type analysis and recommendations.

A local wine cooperative which is seeking to expand internationally.  Whereas its exports to the rest of Europe are on track and doing well, its ambitions for le grand export to India and China lack a coherent international development plan.  A full feasibility study and set of strategic recommendations are needed. 

The innovation and (economic) development service for a large university hospital in the region.  Their ambitions to launch technology platform for collaboration among medical firms, ICT firms, health professionals and researchers has run into trouble for lack of a clear business model / business plan.  A great challenge in the area of public-private partnerships which is the emerging model in this key economic sector.

 

The students in the MSc in Strategic Management programme have shown great interest in this module and work enthusiastically on the different projects. Professor Charles Lumbers is very pleased with the success of the course.
"2005 was our first year of working with the Praxis Stream projects, and I am delighted with the reactions of the students. Today the Praxis Stream projects deal with even more companies and we have far bigger consulting projects."

Find out more here