Media: News Release
Words: 419
Date: 5 February, 2014
Headline: MBA students lend expertise for company analysis
To help organisations improve their competitiveness in local and international
markets, the UCT Graduate School of Business is inviting participation in its
Company Analysis Programme for 2014.
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The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is currently accepting enquiries from
organisations interested in offering themselves as field partners for the Company
Analysis Project (CAP) course.
An important part of the MBA programme, the CAP course sees teams of MBA
students develop a multi-dimensional, strategic enquiry and analysis of participating
organisations.
Organisations are asked to make themselves available for interviews, observation,
and documentation reviews. Some teams may also request opportunities to engage
selected organisation members in dialogue groups, surveys, and/or shadowing. Strict
confidentiality is maintained during the entire project.
In return, the organisation has a chance to look at itself with fresh eyes. Teams will
explore key areas of strategic interest to the company and prepare a report and a
presentation highlighting the most compelling questions and opportunities they
discover.
The GSB MBA, as the only full-time African MBA to be ranked in the Financial Times
MBA ranking 2014, is widely regarded as the leading MBA programme on the
continent.
As such, CAP programme director Warren Nilsson, says that the analysis the MBA
groups provide has in previous years proven highly beneficial to participating
organisations, as an excellent way to develop meaningful, creative insight into their
work. “Typically groups spend approximately 40 hours over a number of weeks with
management and staff in analysing their selected organisations. In the process,
students also draw on their own pre-MBA work experience,” he said.
According to Nilsson, CAP organisations may be of any size or type – profit, nonprofit, government, or hybrid. Informal organisations such as networks and initiatives
will also be considered. “We welcome all creative proposals,” said Nilsson.
The next CAP course begins on February 24. Analysis will proceed throughout
March, April, and May. Final reports and presentations will be delivered in late
June/early July.
Participating organisations need to be located in either Cape Town or Johannesburg.
If an organisation is interested in participating, the following information must be sent
to course convener Dr. Warren Nilsson:

Organisation Name
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Brief Description of Organisation
Number of Employees or Members
Contact Person Name, Role, Email, Phone#
Any specific areas/themes you would particularly like an MBA team to focus
on (optional)
Send information to: warren.nilsson@gsb.uct.ac.za
Please note that MBA teams are free to choose their own organisations to work with,
so there is no guarantee that any particular organisation will be selected.
Ends
Issued by: University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. GSBCPR128
Contact: John Scharges. john@rothko.co.za 0214485941