International Business Project

The International Business Project takes place during the spring semester and constitutes an important part of the CEMS programme at RSM. Over a period of almost four months, teams of international students work intensively on a consultancy project for a company or institution, supervised by coaches from the university and the company. Students are expected to respond professionally to a real-world management problem, and to learn from working together in multidisciplinary and culturally heterogeneous groups. 

Client organisations can be large, prestigious multinational companies, medium-sized or entrepreneurial firms; the projects can have a human resources, marketing, strategy, or logistical focus. However, each project presents a unique ‘problem’ or managerial issue the company would like to have solved or addressed. Each project also provides students with an important learning experience. The projects should preferably have a distinct international focus.

Examples of projects from spring 2011:

• ABN AMRO / Dialogues Incubator 
  Knowledge valorisation 
• Bosch Security Systems 
  Devising a strategy for Bosch Security Systems to enter the Sub-Saharan market 
• Cytec Industries 
  Assessing opportunities for the use of Cytec’s Aerosol Surfactants in pigment and colorant markets 
• Eastman 
  European market development for Eastman TritanTN Copolyester 
• ING/Nationale-Nederlanden 
  Design of a significantly improved planning and control cycle for NN Life 
• KONE 
  Design of a new supply line strategy for KONE in the Netherlands 
• Philips Lighting 
  - Accelerated growth of Philips “Fit & Forget” lighting solutions in the Xtra/Xtreme range 
• - End-user innovation in B2B: a benchmark study 
• PricewaterhouseCoopers 
  Banking in the New World and the effects of new banking models emerging from the credit crisis 
• Royal Dutch Shell 
  Practical applications of Social Network Analysis in Royal Dutch Shell 
• Siemens IT Solutions and Services 
  Market approach towards full connectivity in the Dutch Healthcare market