Global Practicum Partners

Selected Global Business Practicum Clients
  •  Client: Bio Derm Sciences, Inc. 

 England (2007) Project: Analysis of Entry Strategy for an Advanced Wound Care Product- A seventeen-person team, working in four sub-teams under the guidance of Professor Alan Randolph, worked with Bio Derm Sciences in Germantown, Maryland, to study the market for a moist wound car product in the UK.  Aided by DBED and the DOC the team analyzed how the advanced wound care market operates in the UK, how a business must work with the National Health Service, what companies might be partners for distribution, and how to price the product to get the best reception.  Based on the team’s analysis, the client decided to hold back on its entry into the UK until they can make product changes based on the feedback from the team.

 Comment from client:  “Refreshingly, we received very honest, candid, and research-backed rationale to change our entry strategy into the UK that will ultimately yield a much better outcome and longer term success.”  J. Randall Hoggle, Chairman,  BoardBio Derm Sciences, Inc.

  • Client: Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED)

 Argentina (2006) Project:  Analysis of Potential of Foreign Direct Investment into Maryland - A ten-person student team, under the guidance of Professor Chris Nielsen, worked with a variety of Argentine companies to help them assess the potential for successful business ventures into Maryland.  Assisted by DBED, a variety of Argentine companies were identified, and the student team studied these companies and the relevant Maryland markets to determine the potential for foreign direct investment into Maryland

  •  Client: MBNA America Bank

Germany(2005) Project: Analysis of Consumer Lending Products Market- A six-person student team, under the guidance of Professor Alan Randolph, worked with MBNA America Bank to analyze the consumer lending products market in Germany.  Working with the help of the DOC representatives in Berlin and Frankfurt, the team learned that the German view of credit is quite different than in the US.  Germans do not like credit cards, and they prefer not to have large loans.  The team learned from their interviews and research in Germany that for a US bank to succeed in the German consumer lending products market will take a fresh and new way of viewing consumers.  Based on the team’s analysis, the client decided to delay entry into the German market and conduct more analysis of how to succeed.

 Comment from client:  “The Practicum program addressed a real world challenge for MBNA.  The students were creative in the resources they utilized to research the issues and developed a number of interesting proposals.  Their work directly contributed to our decision making process.” PJ O’Dwyer, Senior Executive Vice President,   MBNA Corporation

  •  Client: McCormick & Company, Inc

Brazil (2004) Project:  Analysis of the Seasoning and Flavors Markets- A ten-person student team, under the guidance of Professor Alan Randolph, worked with McCormick and Company to analyze the potential for entry into the seasons and flavors markets in Brazil.  Working with the assistance of the DBED representative in Sao Paolo, Brazil, the team developed a questionnaire to use with consumers, distributors, and chefs in the Sao Paolo area.  The team learned that while Brazil is a large market in terms of number of people, many of those people are too poor to use sophisticated spices.  In addition, there is a high degree of loyalty to the major distributor, which is a Brazilian company.   

 Comment from client: “The results of the University of Baltimore Practicum (spring '04) exceeded our expectations! We found the results of the work provided by the students to be professional, and well researched. One year later we are still referring to the document provided by the Practicum, as we develop a strategy to address an opportunity in an overseas market.” Fred Lissauer, VP Global Export Business Development, McCormick & Company, Inc.

  •  Client: ATEC- China

China (2002) Project:  Analysis of “Made in USA” Consumer Products-  An eight-person student team, under the guidance of Professor Alan Randolph, worked with a Maryland based with goals of introducing USA products into the Chinese consumer market to assess how USA products are perceived in China.  The team developed an interview set of questions and traveled to Shanghai, China, to conduct interviews (using translators) on the streets of Shanghai, in businesses, and in shopping areas.  The conclusions of the interviews were that USA products are perceived to be of good quality but the pricing was felt to be a little high.  Armed with this information, the client has continued to pursue plans for exhibition centers in China for USA products.

  •  Client: Single Source
     

Argentina (2001) Project:  Market Entry Analysis for Maryland Office Products Company  - A seven-person student team, under the guidance of Professor Chris Nielsen, worked with Single Source to identify and pre-qualify joint venture partners for entry into the Argentine office products market.  The team found many differences between the US market and the Argentine market.  And using a decision grid of five critical criteria, the students visited Buenos Aires, Argentina, to interview and visit potential partners.  In the end the team recommended three potential partners who met the criteria 

Poland (2001): Pyrolysis for Reclamation of Scrap Tires- A five-person student team, under the guidance of Professorr Alan Randolph, conducted a feasibility analysis for a Baltimore entrepreneur who owned the rights to a South Korean process for disposal of tires.  Byproducts of the disposal process were carbon black char, oil, steel and gas.  The students used interviews and other data collection techniques in Krakow, Poland, to determine costs, government incentives, and pricing possibilities for the byproducts.  The client decided to pursue the project based in the student team analysis.