Of all the characteristics recruiters seek in MBA graduates, problem solving is reported to be a highly prized skill. With a keen ability to solve problems, a manager can yield dramatic organizational results by innovating, improving processes, viewing situations in a new light and, ultimately, influencing the performance of an organization in marked ways. In a survey of Notre Dame MBA program recruiters, the ability to solve problems was a top characteristic of the eleven considered. To help our Notre Dame MBA students acquire this much-needed leadership ability, we offer them a forum to exercise their problem-solving skills and bring about the best results for their future organizations and those they serve.

The management principles and analytical skills taught in the Notre Dame MBA core curriculum mirror the framework for solving complicated business problems set forth in Getting it Right: Notre Dame on Leadership and Judgment in Business, a new book co-authored by two faculty members in the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame - Ed Conlon, Associate Dean and Professor of Management, and Viva Bartkus, Associate Professor of Management.  Through Notre Dame’s signature course in problem solving and its accompanying textbook, "the students are challenged to dig deeper to identify ways to solve problems," says 2008 Notre Dame MBA grad Robert Henry.

During their time at Notre Dame, our MBA students have the opportunity to put their newfound skills to work, solving real-life business problems for actual organizations. They apply problem-solving frameworks with well-examined values, develop solutions, and suggest strategies for implementation. Each fall and spring, some of our MBA students help shape business strategies for companies like HP, Starbucks, Walgreens, GE, and OfficeMax, while others apply problem-solving skills to entrepreneurship projects, with all the inherent challenges, in places like Mexico, Jamaica, and Africa. With these advanced problem-solving skills, Notre Dame MBA students are ready to hit the ground running upon graduation.