ProgramsMBA Capstone (Summer 2026)

MBA Capstone (Summer 2026)

Program Overview
Program Title MBA Capstone (Summer 2026)
Organization Ferris State University
# of Students Enrolled
0
# of Projects Running
5 Project/s Added (of 1 Project Expected)

Program Timeline

Project Duration

Start Date: 07/01/26      End Date: 08/12/26

1 month
Collaboration Overview
About Students

Students participating in the Ferris State University MBA Capstone are graduate-level business students in the final stage of their program, synthesizing advanced coursework across strategy, finance, operations, marketing, and organizational leadership.

These students bring a mix of professional experience and academic training, with many having backgrounds in corporate, small business, manufacturing, healthcare, and service industries. They are trained to think critically about complex business problems, evaluate competitive environments, and develop data-informed strategies that drive organizational performance.

Throughout their MBA studies, students have developed skills in strategic analysis, financial decision-making, market evaluation, and cross-functional problem solving. They are experienced in applying frameworks such as competitive analysis, industry structure evaluation, and organizational capability assessment to real-world business scenarios.

In this Capstone experience, students operate in a consulting capacity, working collaboratively in teams to diagnose challenges, analyze alternatives, and deliver clear, evidence-based recommendations. They are expected to communicate professionally with stakeholders and present their findings in a manner suitable for executive-level decision-making.

Organizations partnering with this program can expect thoughtful, analytical teams capable of approaching business challenges with structure, rigor, and a focus on actionable outcomes.

Student Level:   Graduate Degree

Student Time Commitment:   Full Time

Team Structure:   -

Program Goals
  • Integrate knowledge from various disciplines to diagnose complex organization problems and recommend evidence-based strategic solutions.
  • Conduct rigorous strategic and competitive analysis to assess industry forces, evaluate firm capabilites, and develop actionable strategic recommendations.
  • Apply advanced decision-making frameworks to evaluate alternative courses of action, assess risk, and justify a defensible strategic direction for an organization.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate strategic analyses and recommendations clearly and persuasively to executive-level stakeholders through professionally written and oral presentations.
  • Evaluate legal, ethical, and corporate governance implications of strategic decisions and recommend approaches that support responsible, sustainable organizational performance.
  • Manage organizational change by designing implementation plans that address stakeholder alignment, resource needs, change readiness, and measurable outcomes.
Format Structure

Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Format Title Mba Capstone
Format Description
The Ferris State University MBA Capstone is a high-impact, team-based consulting experience in which students partner directly with an organization to address a real strategic challenge. This engagement is designed to simulate a professional consulting project, with students applying the full range of knowledge gained throughout their MBA coursework.

Industry partners will present one or more strategic business challenges to the class at the start of the program. Students are then organized into small consulting teams, with each team assigned to analyze the same core challenge or a subset of related problems. This structure enables organizations to benefit from multiple perspectives, approaches, and solution pathways.

Over the course of the project, student teams will:
• Conduct in-depth industry and competitive analysis to understand market dynamics and positioning
• Evaluate the organization’s internal capabilities, resources, and strategic options
• Apply established strategic frameworks to diagnose key challenges and opportunities
• Develop and assess alternative courses of action, including risks, trade-offs, and implementation considerations
• Formulate clear, evidence-based strategic recommendations tailored to the organization’s goals

Throughout the engagement, teams will interact with the industry partner through a series of structured touchpoints, which may include a project kickoff, interim check-ins, and a final presentation. These interactions ensure alignment, provide opportunities for feedback, and allow students to refine their analyses based on real-world context.

At the conclusion of the project, each team delivers a concise executive summary and a professional presentation outlining their findings, strategic recommendations, and proposed implementation approach. Because multiple teams may be working on the same challenge, organizations receive a range of perspectives and ideas that can inform decision-making and future strategy.

This format provides a low-lift, high-impact consulting experience for industry partners while giving students the opportunity to engage deeply with complex, real-world strategic problems.
Benefits For Industry Partners
  • Strengthened ties to a regional talent and knowledge ecosystem
    • Pipeline development for future talent recruitment
  • Evidence-based recommendations grounded in current management research
  • Increased organizational learning and fresh perspectives
  • Low-risk testing of new strategic ideas
Project Modality Fully Remote
Industry Partner Requirements to Participate
Project Topics Growth Strategy Innovation Strategic Planning
Target Industries Aerospace & Defense Agriculture & Farming Arts & Recreation Biotech & Pharmaceuticals Computers & Hardware Construction, Repair & Maitenance Consulting & Professional Services Consumer Products & Services Energy & Utilities Fashion & Apparel Food & Beverage Government Health Care & Life Sciences Manufacturing & Industrial Media, Publishing & Content Non-Profit & Social Impact Restaurants, Bars & Food Services Retail & E-Commerce Sports & Entertainment Travel & Tourism
Skills & Expertise Competitor analysis Excel External Analysis Generic competitive strategies Industry Analysis Innovation Internal Analysis PowerPoint Strategic Grouping Structural Analysis Word
Location Information & Preferences

Located Anywhere

This course is offered fully online, and projects are designed for remote collaboration

Sponsors can be located anywhere

Expectations for sponsors: 
  • Kickoff call (~30 minutes via Zoom) to introduce the challenge (This can also be prerecorded, as this is an asynchronous class)
  • Week 2 - 6 Accessible via email and Zoom/Teams meeting as needed
  • Week 7 Final Presentation review - provided as recorded videos and potential portfolio, depending on project, due to this being an asynchronous class.
Sponsorship

Sponsorship Requested (Optional):

Pre-Revenue Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Growth Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Small to Medium Business an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Large Enterprise an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Government Organization an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Non-Profit an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Compensation

No Compensation Required
Other Requirements
  • Capstone Duration: 7 weeks
  • Deliverables: One page brief, 30-42 page strategic portfolio, recorded presentation (no more than 20 minutes)
  • Time Commitment: 5-6 short virtual engagements across the project
  • Fees: No sponsorship fee
  • Scope Fit: Must focus on a MBA capstone topic or challenge
  • IP: All work is shared freely with industry partners
 
Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers 2 Hours per week
Key Program Dates Due Date
Request for Proposal published

Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.

Nov 17 2025, 04:13 PM UTC
Interview

Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.

Nov 27 2025, 04:13 PM UTC
Proposal Application Deadline

Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.

Jan 30 2026, 04:13 PM UTC
Finalize Project Charter

Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.

Feb 10 2026, 04:13 PM UTC
Official Program Launch

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.

Mar 04 2026
Official Program End

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.

May 01 2026

Program Timeline

Due Date
Activities
Deliverables
Status
Action
Wed, 03/04/26
Program Kickoff
No Deliverables
No deliverables are required for this action item.
Location:

Projects

Filters
Project Organization Topics
Strategic Expansion and Innovation for FED Corporation FED Corporation Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Growth Strategy Research, Analysis, Evaluation Sales & Business Development Strategic Planning

Program Managers

Name Organization
Leslie Sukup Saint Leo University

Teams

Team Name  Project Name  Team Members 
No Teams Available