Berkeley Haas MBA students enroll in the IBD course, where they work in teams of four to five under the guidance of a faculty mentor. From mid-January to early May, each student team holds weekly remote meetings with their client while conducting extensive research and analysis about their client’s business issue that is the focus of the project.
In May, student teams travel to the client project site for a final two weeks of work. During this time they conduct additional research, meet key project stakeholders to assess feasibility and build buy-in, and conclude the project by delivering data-based and actionable recommendations.
IBD Project Timeline
February to August – Client recruitment: IBD program staff talks with prospective clients to understand their strategic needs and how an IBD project can help.
August to October – Project applications due: Prospective clients submit project applications.
October to November – Project refinement: IBD staff help prospective clients refine the scope of their project.
December to Project selection: IBD faculty and staff select projects for the spring semester.
January to May – Remote project work: Students work with clients remotely from Berkeley Haas and hold regular meetings with clients to learn about the business, obtain data, share findings, and get feedback on their emerging recommendations. This ensures that the project progresses in line with the client’s needs and expectations.
May to Students on-site in the project country: The student team travels to the project country for two weeks of intensive work, including additional in-person interviews with key client personnel and field research of client facilities. Projects conclude with a presentation to the client of the team’s findings and actionable recommendations.
