Management Skills Alliance Pty Ltd. (MSA) through the strong relationship with the Anderson Business School of Management at UCLA is able to offer a unique opportunity to entrepreneurial Australian companies wishing to establish themselves in the next stage of growth either Internationally and or in the USA.

“The Global Access Program (GAP) provides companies around the world with the opportunity to engage a team of five Fully- Employed MBA (FEMBA) students in their final year of study at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. “

“GAP is a unique educational program that matches the FEMBA students with key members of the” company to address strategic business issues. Students perform extensive primary and secondary research and work closely with company executives to develop an investment quality, comprehensive, business strategy and plan that enable the companies to move to the next stage of their corporate development. “

“As one of the top business schools in the world, and the #1 part-time MBA program in the nation (Business Week Nov. ‘07), the UCLA Anderson School of Management attracts some of the most accomplished and talented individuals in the world.”

“Students enrolled in UCLA Anderson’s FEMBA program are on average 31 years old and have approximately 8 years work experience. They collectively contribute more than 2,500 hours to each company, which most firms would find cost-prohibitive at typical consultant rates. These students are full-time profession­als with expertise in a wide range of business functions, such as marketing, finance, and operations. “

Benefits for Companies

• A comprehensive, independent assessment and evaluation of their current business plans, corporate growth strategies and market opportunities

• Extensive primary and secondary market research and analysis

• An investment-quality, professional business plan with full financial projections and a video of the final presentation

• Application of state-of-the-art management frame­ works and analysis techniques

• Access to UCLA Anderson’s extensive business net­ work of students, alumni, faculty and consultants

• Specific recommendations to accelerate the company’s growth to the next stage of their corporate develop­ment

• Final plan review and construc­tive feedback from senior managers and other industry professionals including attorneys, accountants, technology experts, angel investors and venture capital professionals.

• A unique executive education experience

 Company Eligibility

• Entrepreneurial technology company with track record in a prod­uct or service business

• Independent business or a small business unit within a larger corporation

• Domestic or foreign-based company  

• Current revenues from sale of products or services  

• Project scope should be focused on business or stra­tegic plan development

• Web site and management fluency in English

 Company Investment Requirements

• Top management time to meet with students  

• Top management participation and attendance at key events at UCLA (July & December)

• Full access to strategic and financial data  

• Positive or near positive cash flow to enable con­tinuing operations beyond December 2011

• Host students at their company base

• Payment of A$45,450 + GST includes overall MSA management fee and GAP program fee.

Companies can apply for application form and fee structure – see Contact Us

History and the MSA Connection
“GAP was founded in 1998 and has since worked with companies in ten countries and teamed some 1,700 MBA candidates with over 328 international participating companies.”

“Recognizing the importance of international business, UCLA Anderson School of Management began offering courses focused on global issues in the 1980s.” “The international and entrepreneurial focus merged after a faculty member took his 1995 sabbatical in Australia, where an entrepreneur asked for help with his start-up high tech company. A small group of UCLA Anderson MBA students worked with the entrepreneur. The project was so successful for the students and beneficial for the company that students wanted to work with other entrepreneurial businesses.”

“So the faculty contacted the Australian businessman to ask if there might be additional companies interested in participating in the program. With the help of Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), 20 Australian companies applied for this opportunity, eight were selected and the Global Access Program (GAP) was born.”  

Lionel Barden, a member of the MSA team was that entrepreneur.

Timing

The 2010 programme runs from  July to December and companies interested in joining need to have their applications in by no later than last week February.  Interviews by senior representatives of the Programme will establish a trip to Australia to meet with applicants in the March April period. Applicants must be fully prepared for this interview.

Further information is available on the GAP through the contact details in this website.