This is a jointseminar of the Competence Center for CEE at the WU, Carlson School ofManagement (CSOM), University of Minnesota, and Toro Corporation, USA. Bothstudent groups (WU + CSOM) will work together on an international real lifecase provided by Toro Company. The topic will be the optimization of theaftermarket support activities for commercial customers in the Czech and Slovakmarket.

The subject of thisseminar is a real life case provided by Toro Corp. Students will have todevelop a recommendation for the Toro management regarding its aftermarketsupport strategy. The seminar consists of two parts: During the first part frommid-March to mid-May the CSOM- and WU-team work relatively independently andprepare for the case. Integration is provided by the course structure and theacademic seminar leaders, Prof. Arnold Schuh (WU) and Prof. David Bartlett (CSOM).Then we will have sessions in Vienna and Prague: From May 22-25 there will besessions at WU, in the following week May 28-June 1 the whole group will stay(fully or partly) in Prague – the length of the stay in Prague is not fixed yet.During these joint sessions the students work in mixed groups on the casesolution and final presentation. With the final presentation to the Toro managementthe seminar ends. The official end of the field study is June 1.

The output of theseminar is a paper that comprises the analyses and recommendations to the ToroManagement. The seminar grade is based on the individual contribution to theresearch work, on the participation in class discussions and on the quality ofthe Toro case solution and presentation. I expect that all participantscontribute equally to the preparation of the recommendation and final presentationin their groups. In order to pass the seminar you need 60% of the total score.
Thecourse grade will be determined as follows:
40%:Individual contribution & participation
60%:Quality of case solution and final presentation

Dates ofsessions

The participationin the joint sessions in Vienna and Prague is mandatory. The joint sessionswill take place from May 22-June 1 in Vienna and Prague when CSOM students cometo Vienna. The final work on the project is done jointly during these twoweeks. Field trips to Brno and Bratislava are planned too.

The kick-offmeeting is on Wednesday, March 14, at 17:30 at the Competence Center for CEE(UZA1, 4th floor, A). There will be 3 further meetings of the WU group fromMarch to mid-May.

Costs
Participants have to be aware that there are travelling costs related tothe field trip to Prague comprising expenses for accommodation andtransportation. All other costs for one-day trips to Brno/Bratislava or companyvisits and social events are covered by the schools.