Field Study Program

You may be facing tough choices about which important projects you have resources to address. Putting a team of University of Washington Foster School of Business MBA students to work for your business can help make those choices a little easier.

Our 2011-2012 clients were overwhelmingly satisfied with the work, praising the value of outside perspective and analytical skills our students brought to their projects. Our partner companies and organizations report that they will implement many of the recommendations and received real value in having worked with the team. All work is strictly confidential, and is supervised by Foster School faculty and staff.

MBA Field Study Projects

Projects are offered to 2^nd-year full time and 2^nd & 3^rd’-year evening MBA students

Do you have a complex business challenge? A Field Study project might be right for you.

Teams of MBA students participate in a two-quarter (autumn/winter or winter/spring) project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. These projects can address domestic and/or international issues, and can be structured to fit almost any business challenge. Utilizing their training in management, finance, marketing and technology, the teams are able to conduct an in-depth analysis and then make recommendations for solving strategic problems, enhancing organizational effectiveness and competitiveness, and exploring and evaluating new business opportunities.

Recent clients include large corporations like Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Costco, Disney, Microsoft and Wunderman as well as  Groundspeak,  Marchex,  Port Madison Enterprises (the Suquamish Tribe) and the Puyallup Fair.

• Teams: 3-5 Second-Year MBA Students
• Project Length: 12-15 Weeks
• Start Date: Flexible within October 1, 2012 - February 22, 2013 range
• Project Topics: Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain/Operations, Strategy, E-Commerce
• Project Scope: Domestic or International
• Fee: $7,500 plus project-related expenses

How to Apply:  Please click here for a Field Study application form.

Please contact us to learn how a team of Foster  MBA's and a Field Study project could help your bottom line. 

Projects are offered to first-year full time MBA students

Are you looking for assistance and some new ideas on a challenge facing your business? An MBA Applied Strategy team may be able to help.

Completed through a winter quarter (2013) Applied Strategy class required of all full-time first year MBA students, these projects are selected and assigned by students, faculty and staff. As the name suggests, the projects must have at least some strategic element. We can work with you to frame the project in a way that meets this requirement while addressing your goals.

Among last year’s clients were Fluke, Isernio’s Sausage, Microsoft, Nike, Puget Sound Energy, T-Mobile, Valley Medical Center, Wells Fargo Bank, The YMCA of Greater Seattle and many other companies and organizations.

Demand for this program is such that we often have more projects than teams, so we may not have a team of students for your project. If that turns out to be the case, we'll try to find another way to meet your needs.

Teams: 5-6 First-Year MBA Students
Project Length: 8 Weeks
Project Topics: Marketing, Finance, Operations, Strategy, etc.
Project Scope: Domestic or International
Fee: $2,450 plus project-related expenses, payable at end of project. (Fee may be negotiated for non-profit organizations on a case by case basis)

Get Started
Provide a brief, general description of your project idea, using the application form before the November 16th deadline. If your project is selected when the class begins in January, the team will work with you to write the scope of work which both you and their instructor will approve before the project commences.

Key Dates for Applied Strategy Projects
November 16: Project Descriptions Requested
November 27: Prospective Client/Student Evening Reception (UW Campus)
January 7: Teams Assigned to Projects
January 15: Client/Student working dinner (UW Campus)
February 25-March 1: Team Presentations of Findings and Recommendations (Client office)

Download an Applied Strategy Project application form.