Business School

Business schools are distinct in their focus on practical business skills, industry connections, technological innovation, professional orientation, and specialized accreditation. As the business landscape advances and shifts, our experienced team of professionals is well-equipped to help schools transform existing practices and plan for the future in order to remain competitive.

OUR APPROACH:

Recognizing the unique characteristics of different business schools, we tailor our consulting services to address the specific needs and goals of each institution. We reject the idea of a “one-size-fits-all” approach to problem-solving, ensuring our solutions are specifically adapted and aligned with each school’s mission and values. Our work starts with hearing from and collaborating with school leadership and administration to establish trust throughout the course of our engagement, whether it’s developing a new strategic plan, determining the future of online programs, or evaluating other opportunities for growth.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

  • Strategic Planning and Development
  • Market Research and Competitive Benchmarking
  • Survey Development and Analysis
  • Academic Portfolio Management and Market Positioning
  • Student Recruitment and Retention
  • Online Education Growth and Refinement
  • Rankings Assessment
  • Rankings Assessment
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Accreditation Support
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Beyond familiarity with business schools, we bring hands-on experience working within and alongside them across various functions to drive their success as an official AACSB partner

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Our Work, Your Success

MBA Recruiting Assessment
Rice University - Jones
Kennedy & Company partnered with Villanova University’s university of Engineering to develop 5-7 year for the college. The plan needed to both set the strategic direction for the college and serve as a compliment to the University-wide strategic plan, “Rooted. Restless.” K&Co began their work by conducting interviews with the college’s leadership and department chairs to understand the historical context of, strengths, limitations and areas of opportunity at the university. Following these interviews, K&Co engaged the senior leadership from across the University to understand their perceptions of how the College of Engineering could support and advance the strategic goals of the University as a whole and assess opportunities for cross-institutional partnerships and collaborations.

After working with college leadership to identify four strategic focus areas for the strategic plan, K&Co conducted visioning sessions and focus groups with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to understand their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the college and desired future strategic direction for the college. As a part of these sessions, K&Co also worked with faculty and staff to evaluate and eventually reaffirm the college’s mission statement.

Relevant Services: Business School Services, Enrollment Strategy, Slate, Financial Aid

Graduate Business Portfolio Positioning Study
Penn State Business School
Kennedy & Company assisted Smeal with a market study and data-informed repositioning of its graduate business portfolio, including Masters programs, certificate (for credit and not-for-credit) and Executive Education. Smeal’s portfolio was a blend of in-person, hybrid, and online offerings, with the College facing challenges partially attributed to the remote location of the University Park campus.
Smeal was interested in assessing student demands in the current state and adapting to meet those needs.

Relevant Services: Business School Services, Enrollment Strategy, Academic Portfolio Strategy

Executive MBA Enrollment Strategy
Vanderbilt University - Owen
Kennedy & Company partnered with Owen to identify opportunities to drive growth in the “top of the funnel” for the Executive MBA programs. This included recommendations to improve the positioning of each program, its features, and benefits; identification of promising pipeline feeders and messaging; and the staffing, budget, and program structure implications of pursuing these recommendations.

Our work included a review of marketing, recruiting, and enrollment strategy and plans, current staffing and budget, and interviews with leadership and program staff. We also conducted research on market trends in EMBA programs and demographic and employment trends in Owen’s primary markets.

Our team developed, deployed, and analyzed a market survey of prospective students to better understand program structure, features, and benefits most valued by prospective students, and how prospective EMBA students search for and select programs. Our work culminated in a set of recommendations to improve the positioning, marketing, and recruiting of the programs.

Relevant Services: Business School Services, Enrollment Strategy, Organizational & Operational Planning, Academic Portfolio Strategy

Career Services Assessment
Rice University - Jones
Kennedy & Company partnered with Rotman to review its career services function. Notable growth in the academic portfolio in recent years has led to a wider range of student populations with varying career services needs. This project focused on determining how to best organize to efficiently and effectively provide best-in-class service to its students and industry partners across a dynamic, diverse portfolio of programs.

Kennedy and Company conducted an assessment of the current organization and operations as well as a market analysis of industry trends, peer benchmarking, and industry partner interviews. The project culminated in a set of recommendations related to organizational design, opportunities for efficiencies and cost savings, and target areas for process and technology improvement.

Relevant Services: Business School Services, Organizational & Operational Planning, Academic Portfolio Strategy

Past & Current Business School Clients Include

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