Dr Emma Soane NAB4.02 and Dr Rebecca Newton

This course is compulsory on the Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MiM) and Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange). This course is not available as an outside option.

The GMiM Capstone Course builds connections between management theory and practice and equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in their managerial careers. MG488 runs throughout the Global Master's in Management’s first and second years.

First year students are prepared for MG488B by attending MG488A sessions during the first year of the programme. The MG488A programme comprises five speaker-led sessions for each of MT and LT. The remaining sessions can be used by students to have one to one meetings with a Careers Consultant or a member of the Capstone team from the Department of Management. Second year students are welcome to attend MG488A sessions.

Second year students in MG488B apply the theoretical knowledge and business management skills gained in the first year by working on a business project.  This takes place in either MT or LT and culminates in a presentation by each project team to their company sponsors, LSE faculty and student peer group.  At the start of term students will be allocated to a client project team, typically comprising 5 or 6 students, supported by a sponsoring executive and a faculty coach, to carry out research on a business question posed by the client company. The actual topic is for the sponsoring organisation to decide and questions have historically been very diverse.

Students have the option of proposing companies as business project company sponsors “self-sponsored projects”, this options must be agreed in advance with the faculty member responsible for business projects to ensure its suitability.

7 hours and 30 minutes of lectures in the MT. 7 hours and 30 minutes of lectures and 1 hour of lectures in the LT.

Year 1

GMiM Capstone Lectures run once a fortnight throughout Michaelmas and Lent Terms. First year students are expected to attend all sessions. Students will also participate in a 30 minute blog group meeting in either Michaelmas or Lent Term.

Additionally, there is a 60 minute assignment information session in Lent Term to help students prepare for their assignments.

Year 2

In addition to the Capstone Lectures, in Year 2 there are two 60 minute lectures and one 90 minute lecture to prepare students for the Business Projects taking place in either Michaelmas or Lent Term. The sessions cover a variety of topics, including a project overview, the basics of consulting, team building and working with your faculty coach.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6 of MT and Week 6 of LT, in line with departmental policy.

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the LT.

Students are invited to produce one essay in the Lent Term of their first year. The formative essay does not count towards grades but is an opportunity to get essay feedback in preparation for the summative essay. 

Students produce an individual essay which considers the links between theory and practice. One essay title will be made available in Michaelmas Term of the first year. Essays will be submitted in Lent Term of the first year.

Recommended readings will be provided for Capstone lectures when relevant.

Essay (25%, 2000 words) in the MT.
Project (65%) and class participation (10%) in the MT and LT.

Attendance at Capstone lectures - 10% of total course marks.  Students are required to attend 10 Capstone lectures over the two years of the programme, with credits for attendance attached pro-rata to each session. Students must engage fully with session activities in order to receive attendance credit. It is recommended that students attend the 10 Capstone lectures in the first year of the programme. 

Individual Summative Assignment – 25% of the total course marks.  In year 2, students will write an academic essay on one of the Capstone lecture topics. Essay questions will be provided by the MG488 course team and will be made available in LT of the first year. Essays must consider application of management theory and practice. Students will submit their essays in MT of the second year.

Group Business Project - 65 % of total course marks.  All business projects take place during the second year of study. Business projects are assessed on a group basis under three headings: quality of group presentation; quality of research (including application of theoretical concepts); quality of outcomes (recommendations and solutions) and other deliverables.  Presentations for students working on their business projects in MT take place during LT. Presentations for students working on their business projects in the LT take place during the last week of LT.

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.