Request for Proposals

Supply Chain Management Capstone Projects

All Boston University (BU) M.S. students in Supply Chain Management (SCM) at Metropolitan College (MET) are required to complete a capstone project.  These projects are “real world” problems presented to the SCM faculty by a client firm.  Each project is done by a diverse team of students (both domestic and international, both full-time and part-time, and both experienced and inexperienced) during the Fall (Sept-Dec) or Spring (Jan-Apr) semesters.  Teams typically include 4-6 students who each spend 10-12 hours per week on the project.  Each team is led by a BU professor, who meets weekly with the student and liaisons with the client firm.

The best projects use the unique skills possessed by the students, including analytical modeling, social networking expertise, and/or experiences at unrelated firms.  They typically include both technical and non-technical elements.  Project results are presented to the client firm as a presentation (in person or using teleconferencing systems) and final written report.  The report will not be disseminated beyond the project team, the client firm, and the professor.  Optionally, the students will present their work at MET, but only if the content of the presentation is agreed to by the sponsoring firm.

The firm’s commitment does not include a fee.  The commitment would consist of a meeting or two with a SCM professor to scope the work, then weekly or bi-weekly meetings with the student team.  This commitment should not extend beyond one hour per week.  The faculty advisor and student team are willing to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).  Although we require that the client firm is acknowledged by name, there is no requirement that the content of the project be disseminated beyond the project team.

If you would like us to consider a project at your firm, please complete this form.  If you have any questions, please contact the SCM coordinator, Canan Corlu, canan@bu.edu.