This course provides an application of concepts and skills in an intensive field project. Students are guided through core elements of a typical consulting process, including entry and contracting, project research and diagnosis, analysis and recommendations, implementation, and evaluation.

The course is designed to support the needs and timing demands of the consulting projects – during the first three weeks as projects are “kicking off”, the classes are focused on effective team building through a series of workshops. Throughout this time, student teams are simultaneously managing project entry and contracting with their client companies, and beginning the process of developing client relationships. Teams are expected to begin researching their company and content area of consultation as soon as projects are assigned.

From week 4 through week 10 teams will meet once a week with faculty advisors for about one hour for each team separately. During these meetings the team gives a status update on the project progress and discusses challenging issues with the instructors. Team members are expected to be prepared for these meetings (Assignment 2 – Project Advisory Meeting Preparation - is due each week prior to the meeting). In week 11 each group will separately give a pre-presentation of the project results to the instructors.

In the final week of the course, teams present their work to the clients, faculty, and other students (Assignment 3). Assignment 4, the final written project report, is due April 23rd at 5pm. Teams are expected to manage closure of the project with the client organizations.