Consulting Project: Strategic Market Expansion/Sales Strategy
Main contact
Timeline
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October 27, 2025Experience start
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October 28, 2025Kickoff Discussion
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November 1, 2025Situational Assessment Report
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November 3, 2025Questionnaire to Client
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November 5, 2025Q&A Session with Client (Live)
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November 10, 2025Customer Needs Analysis Report
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December 18, 2025Experience end
Timeline
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October 27, 2025Experience start
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October 28, 2025Kickoff Discussion
Students join a synchronous or asynchronous discussion to grasp the course goals, process, or coursework, and the expected final deliverable
-
November 1, 2025Situational Assessment Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
- Provide an overview of the client's key customers and how they think of their brand vs other brands
- Provide an assessment of the client’s brand positioning & messaging vs. competitors (e.g., Address their hits & misses)
- Provide an assessment of their website, outlining key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps to address
- Based on this initial assessment, develop your top 3 big ideas on ways to improve their business
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November 3, 2025Questionnaire to Client
In this assignment, students are supposed to compile a list of questions to ask at the Client Q&A Meeting
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November 5, 2025Q&A Session with Client (Live)
Based on the developed questionnaire, students and the client have a live Q&A session (e.g., via Zoom); students will be able to gain critical information and insights from the client, specifically for the customer needs analysis and competitive assessment
-
November 10, 2025Customer Needs Analysis Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
- Identify top 3 buyer personas best suited for the client's business
- Profile each one based on primary needs/motivators, preferred product features, and adoption drivers & barriers to address
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November 17, 2025Competitive Assessment Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
• Profile the top 3 national competitors:
o Assess their products, pricing, advertising, social media, and digital product apps
o Evaluate their operational process: what are the best practices? Are there gaps to be exploited?
o Evaluate their offering options: what offerings, bundling, pricing/incentives, or other features should the client consider? What are the gaps to be exploited?
• Evaluate the emerging local competitors and summarize:
o What are they doing to improve offerings?
o What product/service options are they providing that the client should consider?
o What are the biggest threats and how should the client address them?
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November 24, 2025Top 3 Ideas Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a report that outlines your recommendation for three customer segments/personas to target, their needs, product features/pricing, and product positioning/messaging to drive the client's business
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December 8, 2025Strategic Recommendation Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a strategic recommendation for a customer segment/persona (chosen by the client) that outlines the situational/competitive assessment, unmet or underserved customer needs, product positioning & key benefits messaging, pricing strategy, and competitive differentiation
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December 13, 2025Draft Presentation
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a draft of the client presentation that outlines your strategic recommendations for the customer segment (chosen by the client) based on the Strategic Report prepared in the previous milestone
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December 18, 2025Client Presentation (Live)
In this live meeting with the client (e.g., via Zoom), students are supposed to present the final deliverables including, but not limited to, strategic recommendations and go-to-market plan to the client executives by integrating the instructor's comments
-
December 18, 2025Experience end
Experience scope
Categories
Market research Competitive analysis Market expansion Sales strategy Marketing strategySkills
market dynamics competitive analysis client needs assessment business case consulting strategic planning ideation timelines researchThis is a live consulting project assignment where Master of Business Administration (MBA) students will work with an actual client company and help the management solve a real challenge in revenue enhancement the company is dealing with.
In this consulting project, students follow a structured, research-driven approach to define the problem, assess market dynamics, analyze customer needs, and deliver practical, actionable recommendations. Here are the exemplary capabilities students are able to deploy in performing this consulting project:
- Diagnose business problems using structured frameworks based on the collected and analyzed data
- Build business models, market enhancement strategies, and forecasts
- Evaluate alternative strategies and recommend optimal solutions
- Prepare structured reports, presentations, and executive summaries
- Provide fresh insights and creative solutions that may challenge the status quo
Working asynchronously in assigned teams, students will compete to develop the most effective solution for the client.
The central business challenge:
How can the company attract customers (or a specific customer segment, such as young adults) who may not currently consider the company’s offerings?
Students will conduct research and analysis across several key areas:
- Situation & Market Assessment
- Customer Needs Analysis
- Competitive benchmarking
- Ideation and brainstorming
- Formulation of Strategy and Recommendation
Learners
Final deliverables may include:
- Identification of unmet or underserved customer needs
- Proposed product features, benefits, and competitive differentiation
- A detailed strategic recommendation for the chosen customer segment
- A clear and actionable implementation plan outlining key tactics, focus areas, and timelines
Project timeline
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October 27, 2025Experience start
-
October 28, 2025Kickoff Discussion
-
November 1, 2025Situational Assessment Report
-
November 3, 2025Questionnaire to Client
-
November 5, 2025Q&A Session with Client (Live)
-
November 10, 2025Customer Needs Analysis Report
-
December 18, 2025Experience end
Timeline
-
October 27, 2025Experience start
-
October 28, 2025Kickoff Discussion
Students join a synchronous or asynchronous discussion to grasp the course goals, process, or coursework, and the expected final deliverable
-
November 1, 2025Situational Assessment Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
- Provide an overview of the client's key customers and how they think of their brand vs other brands
- Provide an assessment of the client’s brand positioning & messaging vs. competitors (e.g., Address their hits & misses)
- Provide an assessment of their website, outlining key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps to address
- Based on this initial assessment, develop your top 3 big ideas on ways to improve their business
-
November 3, 2025Questionnaire to Client
In this assignment, students are supposed to compile a list of questions to ask at the Client Q&A Meeting
-
November 5, 2025Q&A Session with Client (Live)
Based on the developed questionnaire, students and the client have a live Q&A session (e.g., via Zoom); students will be able to gain critical information and insights from the client, specifically for the customer needs analysis and competitive assessment
-
November 10, 2025Customer Needs Analysis Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
- Identify top 3 buyer personas best suited for the client's business
- Profile each one based on primary needs/motivators, preferred product features, and adoption drivers & barriers to address
-
November 17, 2025Competitive Assessment Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
• Profile the top 3 national competitors:
o Assess their products, pricing, advertising, social media, and digital product apps
o Evaluate their operational process: what are the best practices? Are there gaps to be exploited?
o Evaluate their offering options: what offerings, bundling, pricing/incentives, or other features should the client consider? What are the gaps to be exploited?
• Evaluate the emerging local competitors and summarize:
o What are they doing to improve offerings?
o What product/service options are they providing that the client should consider?
o What are the biggest threats and how should the client address them?
-
November 24, 2025Top 3 Ideas Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a report that outlines your recommendation for three customer segments/personas to target, their needs, product features/pricing, and product positioning/messaging to drive the client's business
-
December 8, 2025Strategic Recommendation Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a strategic recommendation for a customer segment/persona (chosen by the client) that outlines the situational/competitive assessment, unmet or underserved customer needs, product positioning & key benefits messaging, pricing strategy, and competitive differentiation
-
December 13, 2025Draft Presentation
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a draft of the client presentation that outlines your strategic recommendations for the customer segment (chosen by the client) based on the Strategic Report prepared in the previous milestone
-
December 18, 2025Client Presentation (Live)
In this live meeting with the client (e.g., via Zoom), students are supposed to present the final deliverables including, but not limited to, strategic recommendations and go-to-market plan to the client executives by integrating the instructor's comments
-
December 18, 2025Experience end
Project examples
Below are example projects students may be able to support with:
- Develop a strategy to help a credit union attract Gen Z members through digital tools and targeted messaging.
- Reposition a local newspaper to engage younger readers through new content formats and platforms.
- Design a marketing plan to connect a real estate company with first-time homebuyers aged 25–35.
- Refresh a legacy beverage brand to appeal to health-conscious, sustainability-minded young consumers.
Additional company criteria
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:
Main contact
Timeline
-
October 27, 2025Experience start
-
October 28, 2025Kickoff Discussion
-
November 1, 2025Situational Assessment Report
-
November 3, 2025Questionnaire to Client
-
November 5, 2025Q&A Session with Client (Live)
-
November 10, 2025Customer Needs Analysis Report
-
December 18, 2025Experience end
Timeline
-
October 27, 2025Experience start
-
October 28, 2025Kickoff Discussion
Students join a synchronous or asynchronous discussion to grasp the course goals, process, or coursework, and the expected final deliverable
-
November 1, 2025Situational Assessment Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
- Provide an overview of the client's key customers and how they think of their brand vs other brands
- Provide an assessment of the client’s brand positioning & messaging vs. competitors (e.g., Address their hits & misses)
- Provide an assessment of their website, outlining key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps to address
- Based on this initial assessment, develop your top 3 big ideas on ways to improve their business
-
November 3, 2025Questionnaire to Client
In this assignment, students are supposed to compile a list of questions to ask at the Client Q&A Meeting
-
November 5, 2025Q&A Session with Client (Live)
Based on the developed questionnaire, students and the client have a live Q&A session (e.g., via Zoom); students will be able to gain critical information and insights from the client, specifically for the customer needs analysis and competitive assessment
-
November 10, 2025Customer Needs Analysis Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
- Identify top 3 buyer personas best suited for the client's business
- Profile each one based on primary needs/motivators, preferred product features, and adoption drivers & barriers to address
-
November 17, 2025Competitive Assessment Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to:
• Profile the top 3 national competitors:
o Assess their products, pricing, advertising, social media, and digital product apps
o Evaluate their operational process: what are the best practices? Are there gaps to be exploited?
o Evaluate their offering options: what offerings, bundling, pricing/incentives, or other features should the client consider? What are the gaps to be exploited?
• Evaluate the emerging local competitors and summarize:
o What are they doing to improve offerings?
o What product/service options are they providing that the client should consider?
o What are the biggest threats and how should the client address them?
-
November 24, 2025Top 3 Ideas Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a report that outlines your recommendation for three customer segments/personas to target, their needs, product features/pricing, and product positioning/messaging to drive the client's business
-
December 8, 2025Strategic Recommendation Report
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a strategic recommendation for a customer segment/persona (chosen by the client) that outlines the situational/competitive assessment, unmet or underserved customer needs, product positioning & key benefits messaging, pricing strategy, and competitive differentiation
-
December 13, 2025Draft Presentation
In this assignment, students are supposed to develop a draft of the client presentation that outlines your strategic recommendations for the customer segment (chosen by the client) based on the Strategic Report prepared in the previous milestone
-
December 18, 2025Client Presentation (Live)
In this live meeting with the client (e.g., via Zoom), students are supposed to present the final deliverables including, but not limited to, strategic recommendations and go-to-market plan to the client executives by integrating the instructor's comments
-
December 18, 2025Experience end