Leading experts in higher education working alongside top corporations to solve today’s global business issues.
The results of corporate partnership with MSU scholars delivers incredible value. The Broad Integrative Fellows Program (BIF), designed to enhance integrative thinking among faculty, positions corporations at the forefront of the college’s classrooms, recruiting cycle and research outputs. The year-long program pairs a small group of Broad College of Business faculty, called BIF Fellows, with the chosen corporate partner to collaborate on cross-functional, real-time issues – which, in turn, provides faculty with perspectives to sharpen business curriculum and prepare students for successful careers.
The BIF Program
Because the Broad Integrative Fellows program is intended to expose college community members to cross-functional issues, partnerships with corporations are critical to provide faculty and students with the interdisciplinary perspective necessary to prepare students for successful careers.
The BIF program is a year-long endeavor (January to December) in which 5-6 of the Broad College’s high-performing faculty participate as “Fellows.” The foundation of the BIF program involves an intensive day field visit by the Fellows to the corporate partner campus for purposes of interviewing key corporate executives and staff members from multiple functional units (e.g., marketing, finance/accounting, strategy, HR, logistics/supply chain). Generally, Fellows interview approximately 10-15 individuals, with each interview lasting 30-60 minutes.
Prior to the field visit, we will collaborate with the corporate partner to identify a compelling, multi-faceted and cross-functional business problem, issue or dilemma that has been or is currently being addressed by the partner. The business problem will be the focus of the interviews and will provide the basis for an integrative teaching case that the Fellows will write upon completion of the interviews.
The case becomes part of our Broad Interdisciplinary Case Series, and we work with a publishing company to make the case available for business colleges worldwide, offering your company national and international visibility.
Partnership Benefits
Participating as a corporate partner in the BIF program will provide a number of positive outcomes for your organization:
- Strengthens the relationship with the Broad College and creates opportunities for recruiting, class presentations and research
- Positions partner as a collaborative leader in corporate innovation to business students and faculty
- Influences management education and the quality of future recruits
- Provides access to materials from the partnership to be used for internal management education
Confidentiality
As academics, our reputation is based upon our integrity in protecting the proprietary data of corporate partners related to our research or, in this case, in creating teaching materials. As such, we will take the necessary steps to satisfy the confidentiality concerns of our corporate partner.
Program Sequence
Phase I
- Educational workshops for Broad College and Michigan State University faculty (between January and May)
- Topics include integrative thinking, teaching and curriculum development
- BIF directors collaborate with partner during a pre-case site visit to identify a compelling, multi-faceted and cross-functional business problem or issue
Phase II
- Fellows spend two to three days ingrained in the corporate partner’s campus (taking place over the summer)
- Fellows conduct 15-20 interviews to discuss issue with corporate stakeholders and staff across the partner’s functional units
Phase III
- Fellows develop a teaching case focused on the corporate partner, which may include a pilot test with students
- Fellows submit case for publication (with permission) for use by business colleges around the world. Publishing the case cements the success of the BIF program and enhances the collaborative and innovative reputation of the Broad College and the corporate partner.
BIF Corporate Partner Alumni
Past corporate partners have included Disney, Marriott, Amazon and the Home Depot, who have helped to positively shape the Broad College faculty and its students.
Past Cases
Become a Corporate Partner
Becoming a BIF corporate partner means your organization would join an elite group of corporate peers who have helped to positively shape the Broad College faculty and its students.
If your company is interested in becoming a corporate partner, please contact either of the co-directors, Judith Whipple or Gerry McNamara.
Broad Integrative Fellows Co-Director
Any questions regarding the Broad Integrative Fellows program can be directed to the BIF co-director.
Gerry McNamara
- John H. McConnell Professor in Business Administration
Management
Email: mcnamara@broad.msu.edu
