Students, under the supervision of a faculty mentor, will work collaboratively in a consulting team responsible for helping a client organization solve a particular problem in the areas of marketing, finance, productions, human resource, and/or entrepreneurship, among others. Applying concepts, theories, and best practices learned in previous coursework, students will analyze and evaluate quantitative/qualitative data in a problem context for the purposes of preparing a deliverable solution that meets the specific needs of the client. The organizations will vary in size and scope, and may include for-profit, non-profit, and public sector governmental entities.
This course is designed to provide the student with an immersion into understanding and addressing an organizational or market-based problem or opportunity facing a client. The client may be a non-for-profit or for-profit organization, government or private business entity, or entrepreneurial venture. The course is designed to enhance students’ ability to engage in project management and small teams across both academic and practitioner/ professional domains. Students will work on teams engaged in a variety of activities, including but not limited to: resolving organizational problems, exploring market opportunities, conducting research, analyzing data, creative problem solving, and designing deliverables such as strategic plans, market analyses, product prototypes, etc. The nature of the project and the deliverables will depend on the interactions and agreements among the faculty, client(s) and students.