College of Business News

The College of Business is seeking local and regional businesses and non-profit organizations that would be willing to offer management students practical business experience during the upcoming spring semester in return for research, issue analysis or operational advice.

Participating students will be enrolled in “Management 475R—Management Practicum” or “Management 463—The Entrepreneurial Experience.” Both courses are senior-level courses taught by Gary Bishop, an Associate Teaching Professor of management.

During the four-month courses, students will help manage special consulting projects requested by area businesses and non-profit organizations. Past projects have included developing business, marketing and financial plans, identifying ways to improve businesses, suggesting solutions to problems, re-branding businesses, market and competition analysis,
website and social networking development, sales analysis, feasibility studies, helping with human resources and customer service issues, developing employee training and handbooks, plus many more business and management processes.

The College of Business is currently accepting applications from companies and organizations that may want to participate in either of these courses during the spring 2013 semester, which runs from Jan. 9-May 3. All types of businesses and, organizations are encouraged to apply.

Application materials are available online at http://www.montana.edu/cob/centernewwest/BMGT_ConsultApp.pdf.

For more information, contact Bishop at 406-994-7017 or gbishop@montana.edu.

News

Richard E. Broome, a former member of the White House crisis management team, will discuss “Managing Risk in the New Operating Reality” on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 4:10 p.m. in the Procrastinator Theater on the Montana State University campus. The lecture is part of the MSU College of Business’s David Orser Executive Speakers Forum.

Broome is expected to address questions risk management raises, including “How do I get the big picture in focus? What is relevant to my organization? How do I prioritize efforts? How do I get ready for the next big event?”

Broome is a business consultant in the public and private sector with more than 40 years of experience in the design, development and management of computer information systems. He has served on the National Security Council staff as a member of the White House crisis management team for two U.S. presidents. His responsibilities included leading decision support systems in the White House Situation Room, which provides presidents with information required to respond to rapidly changing international events.

As a business consultant with expertise in risk assessment and crisis management, Broome held positions at the National Association of Securities Dealers, a parent firm of the NASDAQ stock market, Computer Sciences Corporation and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Among other accomplishments, Broome helped develop business recovery plans for a regional stock exchange that were used after Sept. 11. More recently, he designed a series of business war games to examine the preparedness of the nation’s financial services sector against potential risks challenging the sector. The activities examined both potential global business impacts as well as recommended mitigation strategies.

Prior to his business career, Broome served in the U.S. Army. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Utah State University, a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and a master’s degree in information systems from the Naval Postgraduate School.

The MSU College of Business’s David Orser Executive Speakers Forum is named for David B. Orser, a 1966 MSU graduate who started funding the program in 1988 in order to inspire MSU business students to pursue careers as innovative, responsible and ethical business leaders. For more information about the forum, contact Audrey Lee at 406-994-7026 or audrey.lee@montana.edu.

News

Montana State University’s College of Business seeks local businesses and non-profit organizations that are willing to offer business students practical marketing experience during the spring semester, running from January 9 to April 26.

Participating students will be enrolled in Marketing 447: Marketing Mix, a senior-level course taught by business instructor, Minette Jessup. Organizations are asked to commit to approximately four meetings with their student team on campus and to deliver other background information necessary for successful project completion. In exchange, students will provide a documented marketing plan and a completed marketing activity. The marketing activity will be customized to the business or non-profit organization and will be focused on such needs as target market research, pricing and competitor analysis, distribution and Website evaluation or promotional activity development.

The MSU College of Business is accepting applications from businesses and non-profit organizations until December 7, with notification of selection results no later than December 21.

Application materials are available online at http://www.montana.edu/cob/centernewwest/MKTG447_ConsultApp.pdf.

For more information, contact Jessup at minette.jessup@montana.edu.

News