11 minute read
LEARNING BY DOING
from College of Business Administration - Fall 2024
by Central Michigan University College of Business Administration
Students in the College of Business Administration at CMU engage in interactive classes on campus and enhance their education through hands-on learning opportunities outside the classroom. Every day, students create businesses, manage financial portfolios, and participate in real-world scenarios through competitions, workshops, class projects and internships. Each experience develops transferable skills that help students get hired and enable them to excel as soon as they graduate.
Mentoring Detroit Youth
Student experience offers in-depth look at what it takes to start — and run — a successful business
For CBA students Deja Granger, of Farmington Hills, and Riley Robinson, of Detroit, interning with YouthTank Detroit as junior program coordinators was an opportunity to be part of a business venture from the ground up.
Founded in 2022, YouthTank Detroit is a business incubator that — through five-week paid internships — teaches area high school students about the power of entrepreneurship through real-world projects using technology and business skills to better their communities.
The first cohort in the summer of 2023 provided the high school interns with opportunities for networking, presenting, financial planning and more. They also spent time in the Apple Developer Academy, working toward tech-driven solutions for mobility issues in the city.
Planning, logistics and spreadsheets, oh my
Gearing up for its inaugural year serving 42 high school students, the YouthTank Detroit team spent the first half of 2023 building the youth internship — and Granger and Robinson were in the middle of it all.
“We were key players in helping start the program,” Granger said. “From looking for vendors, communicating with parents and more, it really helped me learn how to start and run my own program. We worked with a lot of different spreadsheets to keep everything organized.”
Granger and Robinson were instrumental in day-to-day planning to ensure smooth operations for the high school interns. In one project, they worked from start to finish on a system to accurately log student hours for payment.
The high school students started their days with entrepreneurial focused activities. On a few occasions, Granger and Robinson facilitated, including one where Robinson led an exercise in setting goals and sourcing images to create digital vision boards. At completion, each student presented their boards to the group.
“Some of the students were more softspoken, so seeing them grow, helping them with their presentation skills and encouraging them to use their voice – it was very rewarding,” Robinson said. “Seeing their growth at the end of the program was the best part.”
The two also leaned on their own inclass learnings to support the students. Granger, an entrepreneurship major with minors in hospitality and marketing, guided the students in video production, managing YouthTank Detroit’s social media platforms, starting a podcast and creating a newsletter. Robinson, a double major in graphic design and studio art, helped oversee students in the Apple Developer Academy and in the creation of a new YouthTank Detroit website.
Learning through leading
For Julie Messing, director of the CMU Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship, internships like YouthTank Detroit prepare students for success in many ways.
“An entrepreneur likes to shape things themselves, and it was great for Deja and Riley to get that experience,” she said. “It gave them confidence and the chance to apply what they were learning in the classroom.”
Holly Arida, YouthTank Detroit co-founder and educator and entrepreneur in residence, worked beside the CMU interns. As leader of an entrepreneurial organization, she said Granger and Robinson’s involvement in YouthTank Detroit during its early stages was great exposure to what they may experience in their own ventures.
“We are really about cultivating entrepreneurial experience in young people,” Arida said. “Very rarely as a young person do you get to be part of creating a five-week program that didn’t exist before, and yet that is exactly what entrepreneurship is.”
Fostering relationships with the high school interns was a highlight for Granger and Robinson, who finished their internship with new skills and learning experiences.
“I learned I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and I’m excited to carry what I learned with me on my professional journey,” Granger said.
The Business Of Cereal
12th annual ERPsim competition gives students coveted SAP experience
Most college students aren’t thinking about all that goes into producing, packaging and selling their favorite cereal when they enjoy their breakfast.
But that process is exactly what 200 CMU students in the annual ERPsim competition had been calculating, analyzing and testing for months leading up to the March event.
Split into 40 teams, each group was partnered with national and international companies who use SAP technology. The global enterprise resource planning (ERP) software helps businesses manage their data — everything from forecasting and production planning to product inventory, marketing costs and more.
The goal of the one-day competition was simple: be the team whose cereal company reached the highest valuation. To achieve this, students used SAP to work through the cereal lifecycle, reviewing data and making manufacturing, pricing, supply chain and sales decisions accordingly.
While the competition is fueled by the chance to win a scholarship, it’s also an extra-curricular experience designed to deeply expand knowledge of how SAP works in a business setting.
“There is a huge need for employees qualified in SAP, but there is a learning curve to understanding the software because of its massive size and capabilities,” said Vishal Shah, associate director of SAP University Alliance and a business information systems faculty member. “This competition exposes students to the software so they can learn how it works and gain confidence in their skills.”
Practice makes perfect
Student teams started practicing for the competition about two months prior. While the simulated market — selling cereal in grocery stores throughout Germany — was the same in practice as in the real game, factors changed to create new hurdles. In some, the supply of ingredients ebbed and flowed. In others, consumer demand changed or the cost of goods varied.
“With practice, you start to see trends that make it easier to deal with unpredictable hiccups,” Shah said. “The practice sessions allow teams to come together, work out strategies and test theories before the big day.”
Pre-competition preparations also gave the teams and their company mentors an opportunity to connect and solidify their plans.
David Stevens, a senior executive with Mount Pleasant-based American Mitsuba, mentored this year’s winning team. He gave his students one key piece of advice: Learn everything, but focus on what you’re best at.
“I suggested they all learn every function, but then focus on who is best at each,” he said. “The students knew their strategy well and stuck with it.”
Putting strategies to the test
On competition day, students and companies gathered in McGuirk Arena for a mental showdown.
“Mentors are in the arena with their student teams, and there is a ton of energy — students mingling with companies, gearing up for the game and just having fun,” Shah said. “It’s very exciting to be part of.”
The game was divided into two sections. In the first, every team competed in four 20-minute rounds (20 minutes equals 20 days in the simulation). Based on performance there, two flights — the top 20 teams and the rest of the teams — competed in a second game. Eight teams — the top five in flight one and top three in flight two — won scholarships.
Tennessee senior Kaitlyn Bailey, a member of winning team American Mitsuba, said she enjoyed seeing her classroom learnings come together in real life.
“Sometimes it’s hard to piece all the different factors that go into producing something together in a classroom setting,” she said. “We had marketing, pricing, production and more, and the competition is a fun way to see it all come together.”
While only a handful of teams won scholarships, many students walked away with job offers. Further, all gained the valuable real-world experience employers are looking for.
“At CMU, we’re preparing students for what they’ll experience in a professional setting, and employers are noticing,” Shah said. “This competition gives students skills they will be able to apply to any situation.”
LOGISTICS COMPETITION PREPARES STUDENTS FOR REAL-WORLD SUCCESS
Experience builds a competitive edge
The fourth annual CMU Logistics Undergraduate Case Competition in October brought students, faculty and industry leaders together to highlight the College of Business Administration’s dedication to experiential learning and hands-on practice of professional skills.
With 92 students from across campus participating and support from five companies — Penske Logistics, Dow, Gordon Food Services, Kimberly-Clark and Ryder — the event’s size reflected its growing popularity.
“Each year it’s getting bigger,” said logistics faculty member Jim Taelman. “It’s amazing to see the students and industry partners return year after year.”
The event offered a case competition for juniors and seniors, and an ERP simulation for freshmen and sophomores. Both challenged students to apply classroom knowledge to realworld scenarios, a hallmark of CBA’s experiential learning approach.
Analysis and strategy key in logistics showdown
In the case competition, teams tackled a transportation procurement challenge with real-world data from GFS and Penske. Over two weeks, they analyzed data, crafted RFPs and researched industry trends before presenting recommendations. Their of students are employed, attending graduate school or serving in the military within six months of graduation 95% of students complete internships 73%
Average starting salary (up from $58K in 2023) $62K objective was to optimize carrier routes and logistics by balancing quality, cost and safety, while proposing technical improvements to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Evelyn Smith, logistics faculty member and event co-lead, emphasized the impact of such experiences.
“Presenting ideas to industry experts and responding to questions on the fly builds invaluable skills,” she said.
The corporate partners judged the teams’ analysis, route adjustment, technical recommendations and presentations.
“Logistics pulls everyone in,” Taelman said. “You’ve got students studying procurement, logistics, accounting, marketing — all of them vital. It’s a black hole of opportunity.”
During the case competition finals, three teams — Fired Up Consultants, Lucc Legends and Freight Flow — presented their analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges, followed by a Q&A session.
Maple syrup simulation tests skills
The ERP simulation offered underclassmen a unique learning experience through a maple syrup supply chain game. Students simulated real-world business decisions by purchasing syrup from a Canadian supplier and selling it to German grocery stores, intending to maximize company valuation by managing supply chain costs, warehousing and pricing.
Many students had participated in similar simulations in the classroom, but the competitive atmosphere brought a new level of intensity. The winning team, Team Delta, pulled ahead in the final days of the simulation and ended with a company valuation of more than $1.2 million, earning each member a $500 scholarship.
Building connections
In total, $12,000 in scholarships — generously donated by CMU alumni Jim and Renaye Damman — were awarded.
The event fostered strong connections between students and faculty, reflecting CBA’s emphasis on building close relationships. CBA Dean Chris Moberg, addressing the students, encouraged them to take advantage of these opportunities.
“Saying ‘yes’ matters. When you try new things, you discover who you are, and you happen to meet the right people,” he said.
Moberg’s words underscored the importance of such out-of-classroom experiences. By facing real-world challenges and engaging directly with industry experts, students set themselves apart from their peers.
SETTING THE LEADERSHIP STANDARD CBA students excel on and off campus
Logistics students earn first win in national competition
CMU logistics students Mia Phan, Justin Schoff, Zac Telder and Ryan Burtch brought home a monumental first-place finish in the General Motors/Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business Supply Chain Case Competition in October, beating 20 other teams from throughout the country. The first-ever case competition win for CMU underscores the university’s commitment to equipping students with the practical skills and real-world experiences essential for career success.
Finance students win ACG Cup
A team of CMU finance students made history by becoming the first team in school history to win first place at the ACG Cup, Michigan’s largest intercollegiate finance competition. The team of Lucy Forlastro, Corinne Sleeter, Jackson Raymond and Carolina Hernandez Ruiz received $6,000 in prize money.
Human resources students win HR Games
A team of CMU students — Coy Lakatos, Chloe (Collings) Ignatowski and Aubrey Goerge — brought home a first-place win at the 2023 HR Student Games, an annual competition sponsored by the Michigan Society for Human Resource Management. Students answer HR-related questions during multiple rounds in a Jeopardy-style game format. The CMU chapter also was honored with the Callie Zipple Spirit of HR Award for its professionalism and collegiality.
CMU student places first in Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge
Student teams from five Michigan universities gathered at CMU in fall 2023 for a chance to present their elevator pitches and win prizes. CMU student Robert Rasegan, who pitched his business idea, “Rasegan Outdoor Company,” took home the top prize of $5,000.
