Commercial Collegiate Collaboration

< RETURN

Posted on 21st May 2009

Date: May 2009

Joining forces with Dr. David Finnegan MBA D. Phil., Business Systems Integration Specialist, Corporate Director BTLM and Assistant Professor ISM, Lee Maisner, 7 Layer's Managing Director and one of the Business School graduates himself, has been involved in a number of projects that Dr. Finnegan has initiated with his MBA, BSc and ISM students. Together they have pioneered various modules in order to inject a more practical, commercially aware and 'real world' element into the student's course work. Applying the lecture theory and models in the work place environment is far more useful to the students and vital to their development in preparation for tasks they will face in employment. In the current climate, both parties feel it is crucial that today's graduates receive the most useful and practical experience possible to assist them in securing fulfilling and worthwhile jobs in the future.

Most recently ten undergraduates participated in a project to devise a strategy applying the theories of CRM to 7 Layer. The teams were divided into three groups and allocated specific sales, marketing or service related exercises. Each group was mentored by the corresponding 7 Layer employee, with overall theoretical guidance underpinned by Dr. Finnegan. They were advised to work together, integrating their solution proposals as a total contingent, but also had to produce a report and presentation on both a team and individual level in order to comply with university guidelines. The course culminated in a Dragon's Den style forum in which the teams presented their solutions to a number of high level WBS staff and the relevant 7 Layer managers. The winning team were presented with portable DVD players.

Tracy Kennish, 7 Layer's relatively newly appointed Marketing Manager and also a combined Business Studies and German WBS graduate, was enthusiastic about the experience: 'Having only been with the company a very short time when this project was initiated, I personally gained a great deal from the student interaction and mentor role. It helped me to clarify my thoughts on key strategic focus and gave me some insight on how to best channel company resources and my efforts for maximum effect. It was also rewarding to know that, as individuals and as a company, we are proactively contributing to a commercially valuable transitional process.'

The exercise was considered to be a novel, positive and worthwhile experience by all participants. Furthermore, elements of the proposed solutions are being reviewed and ideas highlighted for consideration with a view to possible implementation within 7 Layer.

Needless to say, the relationship has been both mutually beneficial and rewarding on so many levels. This year 7 Layer employed a new Business Analyst, Anjalie Nawaratne. Anjalie successfully completed a 3 month summer placement at 7 Layer, impressed staff and management so much with her capacity to acquire and apply complex cash logistics processes that, after she finished her Warwick MSc qualification in Information Systems and Management, they decided to retain her services. Long may the collaboration continue in revolutionising the passage of successors on their path into the commercial world.

 

Click here to download this as a PDF >

 

Click here to download an interview with Lee Maisner and Warwick Business School >

About 7 Layer Solutions
7 Layer Solutions is a specialist software house focussed on the development and delivery of robust and innovative solutions to the cash logistics industry.
The company has undertaken contracts for banks, security companies, suppliers of cash processing systems and commercial companies, including some of the industry’s best known names. We are used to working on commercially sensitive business projects where maintenance of security and confidentiality are essential.
We act as a developer of products for other companies, working closely with the in-house client facing teams to design, develop, deliver and support the software solutions needed by end client organisations such as retailers, commercial banks, cash centres and central banks. We also develop our own range of niche products that we distribute through specialist suppliers of services to the cash logistics industry.
The skill set and experience of its staff are such that 7 Layer Solutions are able to assume responsibility for existing applications, for stabilisation and maintenance, or build new solutions straight from the business requirements. 7 Layer is able to engage in a software project at any stage from initial concept definition through to deployment.

For more information contact:




< RETURN

© 7 Layer Solutions 2010
Web Design SOZO