School News

Unforgettable Action-Based Learning: A Photographic Tour of Michigan Ross MAP Projects

July 17, 2024

Tags:

MAP, Action-Based Learning, Full-Time MBA

A collage of photos showing students on 3 different MAP trips, outside of the Taj Mahal, outside a futbol stadium, and in the outdoors near a volcano

This spring, Full-Time MBA students at the Ross School of Business tackled 74 Multidisciplinary Action Projects with companies around the world.

For more than 30 years, first-year Michigan Ross MBA students have been putting their leadership skills to the test at actual companies during the seven-week MAP course. The MAP experience, which pairs teams of MBA students with sponsor companies to solve real business problems, is designed to help students hone their analytical, project management, and leadership skills.

This year, students worked at companies like Amazon, Fidelity Investments, Nestlé, Riot Games Inc., and the Tata Group, among others. To get a glimpse into this year’s projects and experiences, we asked eight groups of MBA students to document their 2024 MAP journeys through photos.

Nestlé

Students stand with chefs in a large well appointed kitchen. — Working with chefs in a well-equipped kitchen at the Nestlé office.

The Nestlé MAP team was tasked with developing a go-to-market strategy for Nestlé frozen brands to gain distribution on college campuses and drive relevancy among younger generations.

Alaska Airlines

The Alaska Airlines MAP team was tasked with developing a market assessment and strategy to increase Alaska Airlines' visibility on the national stage, specifically as an airline of choice for Millennial and Gen Z travelers.

SERES

Students stand near a large smoking volcano — The group conducts a site walk with their sponsors at Ulew Fuego in Escuintla, Guatemala, in front of an active volcano.

The SERES MAP team analyzed, developed, and improved operational processes for an eco-social venture focused on ecotourism and retreats in Guatemala.

Students stand in the forest with boxes filled with honeycombs and bees. — The team learns about beekeeping from local community member Don Abraham on-site at Ulew Fuego in Escuintla, Guatemala.

Students pose in the grass in front of a tree holding an ULEW Fuego sign — The team poses in front of the Ulew Fuego grounds, holding a sign with the logo in Escuintla, Guatemala.

Rhinory

Students stand in front of a rhino in a cage holding a Michigan Ross flag — The team poses with Blake, Rhinory's white rhinoceros, while wearing Rhinory shirts, sipping Rhinory wine, and holding the Ross flag.

The Rhinory MAP team helped Rhinory, a rhinoceros conservation-focused business and winery, create a plan to expand the nationwide distribution of their wines to further company growth.

The MAP team taking part in a wine tasting at a competitor winery for research.

A student holds a wine glass while standing in front of a rhino who is behind bars — An MBA student holding a glass of wine with the Rhinory logo in front of Blake, the white rhinoceros.

Tata Group | Tata Steel

Students stand together in front of the Taj Mahal — The Tata Steel MAP group outside the main gate to the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Tata Steel MAP team was tasked with developing a strategy for scaling the industrial consultancy business to $1 billion annually in the next five years. The project was completed in two phases: phase one involved mapping the demand for the business, and phase two involved building a strategic plan.

Students in orange hard hats stand in green grass in front of Tata Steel sign and headquarters — The group stands in front of a Tata Steel sign at Jamshedpur Plant Headquarters.

Centre d’Esports Sabadell Futbol Club, S.A.D.

The team stands on a futbol pitch wearing the team uniforms of Sabadell FC — The team stands on the pitch at the Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta in Catalonia, Spain.

The MAP team working with CE Sabadell Futbol Club, was tasked with creating a working framework to assess ticket sales, facility monetization, and identify alternative revenue streams for the team. They proposed marketing initiatives that would capitalize on the players, the club, and the brand.

Students stand at the edge of the stands/seating area in front of a futbol field in the sun — The Sabadell FC MAP team poses in the stadium stands with the Michigan Ross flag.

Eaton Corp.

Students listen to a speaker in a warehouse — The Eaton MAP team tours an on-site location and speaks with industry experts.

The Eaton Corp. MAP team worked to build new revenue models around the existing megatrends of digitization and the energy transition, with a specific focus on long-term customer value. Areas of consideration included maintenance/repair services and software and how these capabilities can drive hardware pull-through until software capabilities are self-sustaining.

A student types on his laptop — A Michigan Ross MBA student on the Eaton Corp. MAP team works in a conference room.

Global Tipping Points

Students stand in front of the colorful Arsenal stadium holding a Ross flag — The team poses at Arsenal Stadium in Holloway, London, England.

The Global Tipping Points MAP team worked to create a plan for a new Net Zero Transition Center. MBA students collaborated with climate scientists at the University of Exeter to help build the foundation of the global climate solutions platform.

Students do dynamic and goofy poses with a Ross flag in front of Stonehenge — The Global Tipping Points MAP team visits Stonehenge.

Students pose with the Ross flag in front of the London Tower Bridge. — The Global Tipping Points MAP team visits the London Tower Bridge.

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