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The University of Dayton Operations Management Capstone Course: Undergraduate Student Field Consulting Applies Theory to Practice

Author

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  • Michael F. Gorman

    (Department of Management Information Systems, Operations Management and Decision Sciences, School of Business Administration, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio 45419)

Abstract

The operations management major at the University of Dayton offers a unique capstone experience that features live consulting projects with actual client problems. As a result, students gain valuable experience applying technical skills in a live environment, and clients gain real operations improvements. In the past eight years we have graduated 163 students who have conducted 56 projects for 22 clients. This paper describes how the course is structured, observations of faculty and clients on best practices and risks associated with such an offering, and as evidence of success, the quantitative and qualitative impact the student-led projects have had on clients.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael F. Gorman, 2010. "The University of Dayton Operations Management Capstone Course: Undergraduate Student Field Consulting Applies Theory to Practice," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 40(6), pages 432-443, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:40:y:2010:i:6:p:432-443
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1100.0530
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James R. Bradley & Jim Willett, 2004. "Cornell Students Participate in Lord Corporation's Kaizen Projects," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 34(6), pages 451-459, December.
    2. B. Curtis Eaves, 1997. "Learning the Practice of Operations Research," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 27(5), pages 104-115, October.
    3. Thomas A. Grossman, 2002. "Student Consulting Projects Benefit Faculty and Industry," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 32(2), pages 42-48, April.
    4. William C. Giauque, 1980. "Taking the Classroom into Reality: A Field Consulting Experience for MBA's," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 10(4), pages 1-10, August.
    5. Sanjay L. Ahire & Michael F. Gorman & David Dwiggins & Oleh Mudry, 2007. "Operations Research Helps Reshape Operations Strategy at Standard Register Company," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 37(6), pages 553-565, December.
    6. William C. Giauque & William J. Sawaya, 1982. "Taking the Classroom into Reality: Even Better the Second Time Around," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 12(1), pages 27-32, February.
    7. Sanjay L. Ahire, 2001. "Linking Operations Management Students Directly to the Real World," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 31(5), pages 104-120, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Robert B. Handfield & Steven A. Edwards & Jeffrey S. Stonebraker, 2011. "NC State's Supply Chain Resource Cooperative Educates in the Real World," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 41(6), pages 548-563, December.
    2. Melissa R. Bowers & Kenneth C. Gilbert & Charles E. Noon, 2019. "Innovative Collaboration Between Industry and Academics: Meeting Industry’s Future Talent Requirements," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(6), pages 397-406, November.
    3. Michael F. Gorman, 2018. "A Survey of Research in Field-Based Education: A Summary of Process, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 18(3), pages 145-161, May.
    4. Thomas L. Magnanti & Karthik Natarajan, 2018. "Allocating Students to Multidisciplinary Capstone Projects Using Discrete Optimization," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 48(3), pages 204-216, June.
    5. Michael F. Gorman, 2011. "Student Reactions to the Field Consulting Capstone Course in Operations Management at the University of Dayton," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 41(6), pages 564-577, December.
    6. R. John Milne & Amy K. Zander, 2012. "Operations Research Capstone Courses for Business Majors with Analytical Backgrounds," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 2-9, September.
    7. Mark E. Hillon & Yue Cai-Hillon & Darrell Brammer, 2012. "A Brief Guide to Student Projects with Industry," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 10-16, September.
    8. Janine Sanders Jones & John R. Olson & Peter Southard, 2021. "Kaizen Events at the University of St. Thomas: Experiential Learning for Students," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 21(3), pages 115-129, September.
    9. Michael Francis Gorman, 2023. "Case Article—Blending Statistics, Optimization, and Simulation in a Multiphase Case," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 173-176, May.

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