Become an ALP Host Company

The Jones School is one of two business schools that require every student to have real business experience as an integral part of their education. The Action Learning Project program is an 8-week team consultation that enables your company to develop or improve an existing or new business process. As a host company, you define the scope of the project. Rice MBA students apply their knowledge acquired from an unparalleled education in all the traditional management disciplines, including leadership, ethics, and communication skills, to conduct research and analysis of your company’s business process issue. The result is a detailed written and oral report with specific recommendations for process design or improvement, delivered to managers and associates.
 
How does the Action Learning Project work?

• Phase I – The Jones School accepts applications from prospective host companies.
   
  
• Phase II – Prospective host companies submit proposals to the Action Learning Project committee. Based on committee recommendations, companies will then present a finalized Request for Proposal to students. The Jones School recommends that host companies present their proposals in person to increase the chance of being selected. A smaller number of proposals will be accepted from this pool, and students will bid on these projects. Students are placed with companies based on their preference, background, skills, and past work experience. Companies are not allowed to request students for their projects under any circumstances.
  
  
• Phase III – A qualified team of 5 to 6 Rice MBA students, guided by a company liaison and faculty mentors, meet with the host company to begin their analysis and research, spanning 8 weeks.
  
  
• Phase IV – Once the research is completed, a detailed, written report with specific recommendations for improvements are presented, as well as an oral report, to company management.