Students seeking master’s of business
administration degrees at the University of Missouri-Rolla have a problem. Or,
rather, they need one.

Teams of MBA students at UMR will be
attempting to solve a real-world business problem during the spring semester of
2008. Administrators and faculty members in the MBA program are currently
soliciting such problems from businesses of all
kinds.         

After competing to find the best solutions,
the top two student teams from UMR will visit the company that submitted the
winning problem and present their
findings.         

All types of business problems will be
considered, but preference will be given to projects that require analysis of
market feasibility and planning for a new product or
service.          

The following should be included in problem
submissions:         

— A summary of the problem

— A list of resources that would be made
available to students

— Contact information for a designated
company representative who would work with students

— A list of university resources that might
be required

— The amount the company is willing to budget
for possible expenses, including travel

— Any other incentives the company could
provide to help students tackle the
problem.         

Problems may be submitted via email to Dr.
Lance Gentry, assistant professor of business administration at UMR, at gentryl.mst.edu . The deadline is Wednesday,
Nov. 21. MBA faculty will evaluate the problems submitted and select a winner
by Dec. 6.