Marquette, A. O. Smith and Accenture have completed an “Interchange” project, which allowed students to work directly with businesses to provide research and recommendations in key areas of corporate development, best practices, capabilities and industry trends. The objective of the project was to conduct research that can inform A. O. Smith as it builds and scales its own corporate development efforts.
The project was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of high-performing Marquette students assembled to deliver value to companies in the region while advancing innovative approaches for career preparation, talent development and talent recruitment.
“For 150 years, A. O. Smith has been an innovator, transforming itself from a machine shop making parts for baby carriages and other hardware into a global water technology leader,” said Paul Jones, A. O. Smith’s vice president for corporate development and strategy. “That transformation continues today, in part, through our corporate development efforts.”
“At Accenture, we reinvent learning at speed and scale, so we are very proud to join forces with Marquette and A. O. Smith,” said Brian May, senior managing director and Accenture’s Milwaukee office managing director. “Working together, not only to spearhead this effort, but coaching students will deliver an innovative, immersive, personal learning experience. It’s a win for the students — who will enhance their skills and get insights on how to drive value — and a win for Marquette, A. O. Smith, and Accenture.”
Over the course of eight to 10 weeks, the Interchange student team, with guidance from faculty mentors and coaches from Accenture:
- Identified trends and best practices in corporate development through primary and secondary research
- Conducted a comparative benchmark assessment of corporate development structures, strategies, practices, objectives and performance metrics
- Provided recommendations for A. O. Smith to consider for its own corporate development efforts
“Marquette is grateful to A.O. Smith and Accenture for helping provide an applied educational experience for our students and an opportunity for our talent, and our university, to deliver real economic and strategic value for businesses in our region,” said Dr. John Knapp, executive director of Innovation Alley at Marquette.
About A. O. Smith
Celebrating its 150th year of business, A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the Company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as water treatment products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.
