The winning team, made up of five students, recommended an innovative Circular Framework, an approach that maximizes value and eliminates waste by improving how goods and services are designed, manufactured, and used. They suggested that ZURU move its processing manufacturing facilities to the United States (US) and use recycled materials to manufacture toys by leveraging the company鈥檚 relationship with Walmart, while also developing a processing plant adjacent to the US manufacturing plant to process recycled materials.
The runner-up group, also made up of five students, recommended that the company establish a ZURU Ventures firm to invest in finding solutions to specific challenges that ZURU faces. Its first investment would include working with bio-based material companies to find alternate materials for ZURU products.
One of the students, Theresa Klaassen says she found significant value in this assessment because of the real-world experience available through pitching ideas to ZURU.
鈥淚dentifying solutions to a real company鈥檚 need by applying the theory we have learned in the management course (MGMT301) at UC has been an awesome way to learn the skills we will need when we start working after study,鈥 she says.
鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful that Anna has set up her course in this way, as I think it鈥檚 empowering us to become employable graduates at the end of our degree.鈥
Because of their impressive pitch and idea, the students from the winning group will meet with the ZURU team to discuss internship opportunities through an interview process.
Stevens says, 鈥淶URU has grown to become a major international player in Toys and FMCG due to innovative, fresh thinking. It's been great to see the next wave of business minds using that same principle to come up with novel solutions to global business issues.
The students who participated from the 茄子视频app官网 showed incredible thinking and creativity. Brittany and I were happy to take their ideas back to our management team and to give the students a glimpse into our world,鈥 Stevens says.
UC management lecturer, Dr Anna Earl, was excited to collaborate with ZURU for the final assignment of this semester鈥檚 cohort.
鈥淚 believe that experiential learning helps students to learn in the most effective way because it provides them with hands on experience working on real life, global issues that companies face,鈥 she says.
鈥淏y developing a report and a pitch for ZURU, students needed to be creative in developing the solution, and they also had to learn the art of delivering the pitch to their customers.鈥
鈥淪tudents can talk about this project during their future interviews because they have developed tangible skills and outcomes, and it鈥檚 a brilliant reward if our students see their ideas implemented in an organisation.鈥
Dr Earl says, 鈥淚 am proud of my students for eagerly taking on this challenging assignment to develop realistic solutions that could overcome challenges for an established organisation.鈥
It鈥檚 stories like this that reflect the 茄子视频app官网 Business School鈥檚 meaningful research, empowered students, and quality education, which are all strengths that have led to EQUIS reaccreditation. Explore all that鈥檚 on offer when you study or engage with the triple crown accredited听UC Business School here听鈥 the 茄子视频app官网 school that鈥檚 in the business of making a difference.
