FINAL BUSINESS PROJECT


The climax of the MBA programme

The Final Business Project is the climax of the MBA programme.

Groups of  four to six students work together over an extended period on a real project of interest to them. The project is assessed according to the insight it provides into a business situation or business issue.

Framing the question ….  Is the most important step

The Final Business Project reverses the normal order of learning within the Business School in which the course leader creates a syllabus on which students are tested. In the Final Business Project, the student groups deal with a live and significant business issue, bringing whatever  learning is needed from their MBA course and elsewhere, to solve the business issue. Examining why the business issue is significant and framing the question in  such a way that it can be examined and answered is the most important step in doing a good project, and, more importantly, achieving actual business benefit.

The Final Business Project is open and interdisciplinary  

Whereas most MBA learning takes place within separate, traditional disciplines, the Final Business Project is, by its nature, open ended and interdisciplinary. Although many parts of the MBA syllabus inform the project report, there are many parts of the project report which are derived from other sources including but not limited to discussions within the group, conversations with industry participants and advisors, group members' own experiences and impressions, market data and analysis, course textbooks, academic journals, Polish and international business press.

The specific issue being examined is being examined for the first time

Most importantly, the specific issue being examined is being examined for the first time by the project group and is developed from the intersection between company and market at a particular time. Although, general theory is applicable and should be searched, project members should look at the project issue and decide what theory and sources are needed to provide a good answer.



Choosing the project
The choice of project is agreed by the group of students and Warsaw University of Technology Business School faculty. The faculty is also available for consultation over the course of the project.

Final Business Projects have covered every significant sector of Polish business
In the last few years, Final Business Projects have covered every significant sector of Polish business from finance (16%) to technology (10%) to retail (9%) to industry (7%) to infrastructure (7%) to pharmaceutical (7%) and have been a microcosm of the Polish business world. Significant numbers of projects have an international element - either Polish companies seeking to expand internationally or international companies operating or expanding into Poland.


Exploring business ideas ……………… Growth  strategies for existing business
Unsurprisingly, many students (appoximately one third) use the Final Business Project to explore the development of a business idea which they have had.  Other popular fields include development and growth strategies for existing business, often for the employers of one or more members of the group and resolving organisational issues which create obstacles to progress or tensions between parts of the organisation. Some projects concern positioning businesses within the commercial landscape to meet precisely identified needs created by the changing business environment which are not currently being met and are not capable of being met by existing players.
 
Examination and assessment
The project is examined by means of the written report, presentation and answers to questions from the examination panel.


Demonstrating capability

Success on the Final Business Project demonstrates that each student in the group can work with colleagues to provide insight appropriate to the specific business context within which the project takes place.




Maturing from training to education
By successfully completing the Final Business Project, students have demonstrated teamwork, originality, judgment in selection of topic, questions, methodology and thoroughness as well as taking the next step in their business career. They have moved from being trained in business disciplines to being educated.