Case Study – Week One

Submitted by:
Stephanie Richey

For:
Southern New Hampshire University
Professor Richard J. Monohan
QSO-600-X2072 – Operations Management

Date:
November 22, 2014

Strutledge College is considering the addition of an MBA program. Certain
Factors have been identified that should help in making a final decision. However, the college has solicited recommendations that will be presented to the Board of Regents. The purpose of this case study will propose a course of action plan that will benefit Strutledge College and its endeavors to expand its student base and build valuable ties with area businesses, and simply survive.

Problem Although business courses are taught at Strutledge College there are no undergraduate degrees offered. Enrollment has decreased and costs to operate the college are rising. With regards to budget, Strutledge is not in a position to hire additional staff. In addition, recent reports of the dwindling value of an MBA are cause for concern.

History According to Kelly Cherwin currently 126 institutions, most of which are in the United States, offer nearly 300 of these innovative degrees and last year nearly 5,500 students are enrolled in Professional Science Masters degree programs or PSM. (Cherwin, 2014) Although Strutledge is considering a Masters program in business the notion of program improvement applies. “Sam Sterling, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Keck Institute noted, ‘We continue to see rapid growth I the numbers of students enrolled.’” (Cherwin, 2014) The overall objective for Keck Institute was to offer a program that would meet the needs of the students and prepare them well enough to begin productive workers upon graduation. US News journalist Lindsay Olson poses the question, will getting a Masters degree get you where you want to go? (Olson,