The main benefit was the investment we closed because of the G-Lab project. The project brought in a much needed outside view.

- 2006 PROJECT SPONSOR

G-Lab Projects

G-Lab combines traditional classroom learning with intensive real-world experience. Student teams work on what is essentially a 4-month, mini-consulting project. Companies set the project focus and negotiate with their teams to agree on the scope, schedule and deliverables. That is, our teams work on the problems host companies want to fix.

Each G-Lab team is composed of four MIT students, virtually all MIT Sloan MBAs. Our international action learning lab courses are popular and demanding, so we are able to select the best students for G-Lab. The students have a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, ranging from management consulting and financial services to manufacturing and service operations. For them G-Lab represents both a course for credit and a singular opportunity to hone their business and consulting expertise.

Project Timeline

The G-Lab projects kick off in late September. From October through December, students work in a remote internship, collaborating with their CEO clients by phone and gathering research, data, and extensive analysis. They then work on-site at their host company’s offices in January, for an intensive, three-week internship in the host company’s offices. At the conclusion of the on-site internship, teams formally present their conclusions to senior management, delivering written reports and backup data detailing their analysis.

Project Focus

The range of possible topics for G-Lab projects is virtually unlimited. Teams have developed internationalization strategies, new market entry analyses, capital-raising (domestic and foreign) strategies, sales and marketing strategies, organizational structure plans, commercialization recommendations, competitive landscape assessments, etc. Host companies also come from a vast range of industries: high-tech, hotels, furniture, fashion design, airlines, pharmaceuticals, and more. Host company needs are the sole drivers of project focus.

Host Company Obligations

Host companies receive optimal results when the CEO and senior management have spent focused time and energy on the project and with the team. This is especially true when the teams are on-site. Please seriously assess the ability of your company's senior management to commit the time necessary to gain maximum benefit from a G-Lab team.

Host companies do not pay the students any salary or compensation. We ask that companies invest in G-Lab by paying for the students’ economy-class travel and lodgings costs. The cost of hosting a four-person team for three weeks tends to be approximately US$10,000. Students are responsible for their own food, visa, and other incidental expenses.

Applying for G-Lab

If you would like to apply to host a G-Lab project, please contact glab-faculty@mit.edu to discuss project opportunities. We look forward to learning more about your firm.

Selected Previous Projects