Graduating seniors enrolled in this spring term’s MGMT 455 Implementing Entrepreneurial Strategies course gained real-life industry experience working with four businesses and one nonprofit organization to produce market research and feasibility studies.

MGMT 455 is taught by associate professor of management Ralph Heidl and supported by Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship program manager Kate Harmon. The course provides a framework for understanding corporate entrepreneurship and allows students to gain a real-life industry experience as student teams spend the term researching problems proposed by assigned client partners.

Projects range from product development research to digital marketing plans and B-corporation benefit analysis.

This year’s partner organizations included

• Palo Alto Software
• Capsim
• First Foundry
• Falling Sky Brewery
• McKenzie River Discovery Center

Palo Alto Software has served as a client partner for the class for the past four years. According to Peter Thorsson, the company’s director of business development and strategic partnerships, it’s the company’s interest in supporting student learning and the students’ fresh perspectives that keep Palo Alto supporting this course year after year.

This year has been no exception.

“We brought their idea up to our CEO, and I’d say that the proposal they produce will almost certainly proceed to be a meaningful, real-life project for us,” Thorsson said.