Department of Management MQP Information Session

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Department of Management MQP Information Session

• Please get pizza and a
• drink so we can start

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Getting Started

• Introductions
• Faculty
• Students
• Purpose of Meeting
• Undergraduate Council (UG Council)
• More information
• More formal process

3
Importance of the MQP

• Capstone activity for your major
• Integrates theory and practice
• Expands on, and integrates, your foundation and
  major courses
• A source of competitive advantage in the job
  market
• Why our grads get substantially better jobs than
  grads of most IE or B-school programs

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The Standard MQP Approach
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The MQP Approach

• Must have senior standing (capstone), including
  completion of most foundation and major courses
• Should have completed Suff and IQP
• No single approach used throughout the Department
• Like four departments in a school (School of
  Management)
• MIS has one approach to meet their unique needs
• Special needs for IE as capstone design
• Wall Street, London, and GEAC single term
  projects for selected IE, MG, and MGE majors
• Custom MQPs for custom MGE or custom MG majors

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How MQPTopics Develop

• Company with idea approaches WPI faculty member
  works to clarify the need and finds team
• Faculty member with idea approaches company and
  finds team
• Students with idea approach company and find
  advisor
• Students with idea approach faculty member
  faculty member or team may find company

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Who Advises MQPs?

• IE Johnson, Noonan, Zeng, Zhu (Gerstenfeld)
• MG Danneels, Elmes, Higgins, Kasouf, Mistry,
  Mukherjee, Nilsson, Taylor (Banks, Vassallo)
• MGE Danneels, Elmes, Higgins, Kasouf, Mistry,
  Mukherjee, Nilsson, Taylor, Johnson, Noonan,
  Zeng, Zhu (Banks, Gerstenfeld, Vassallo)
• MIS Djamasbi, Loiacono, Strong

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Clarifying Your ThoughtsAbout Your MQP

• What do you want to do after you graduate?
• What company do you want to work for after you
  graduate?
• What do you want to learn through your project?
• What type of project partners do you want?

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Some RecentMQP Sponsors

• Morgan Stanley
• General Electric
• Bose
• Pratt Whitney
• Fidelity Investments
• City of Worcester
• Aearo Company

• Massachusetts State Police
• Teradyne
• ECI Biotech
• RPS
• Lehman Brothers
• Baxter HealthCare

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What Happens in a MQP?

• 3-4 students (typically)
• Self-managed team responsible for the work and
  achieving objectives
• Act as consultants
• Must act professionally (dress, attention, etc.)
• Students may be removed from teams
• Faculty member is advisor, but also the evaluator

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Most Common Structure

• 1/3-unit each in A-, B-, and C-terms (may not
  exceed 1-1/6 units)
• Present to client in C- or D-term
• Present at Project Presentation Day
• Attend Department Reception/Dinner to celebrate
  graduation and MQP Award
• Workload of 12-17 hours per week per person
• Often spend one day per week at site

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Other Information

• Track your MQP expenses
• Each student expected to spend 25 for each
  1/3-unit.
• Additional expenses must be approved by Advisor
  and Department and requires receipts
• Do NOT sign any legal agreements, NDAs,
  Confidentiality Agreements, etc., until they have
  been approved by WPI.
• See the Writing Resource Center for writing help
  if necessary.

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Other Information - 2

• Grades are based on quality and consistency of
  the process and results, not hours, not thickness
  of the report, etc.
• Satisfying the client is a necessary, but not
  sufficient, condition for success
• Some MQPs earn a grade each term other MQPs earn
  a grade of SP along the way, which is converted
  to a final grade at the end. Consistent SP ? A.
• An A on your MQP is 1/3 of an honors graduation
  requirement and will be judged accordingly.
  Please take it seriously.

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Benefits to You

• Get to graduate (possibly with honors)!
• Something to talk about in job interviews
• Equivalent of a year (or more) of work experience
  (according to recruiters)
• Premium starting salary
• Confidence in your ability to solve ill- or
  semi-structured problems and present the solution
  in a meaningful way

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Questions?