Management 452

MGNT 452: Business Consulting

Prerequisites: ENTR 450 or MKTG 340 and FINC 331, or permission of instructor.

Credit Hours: (3) Three hours lecture/field work

Introduces the student to comprehensive organizational analysis, alternative development and implementation planning in a business firm. Students will work in teams with the management of firms in the surrounding area. Extensive field work is required. managers of firms assigned to their team, conduct analysis of the firm’s problems and develop a plan of action for solving the problems identified. Professional presentations are an integral part of this course.

Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

Outline of Major Topics:

  • Role of Internal and External Consultant
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Setting up a Consulting Business
  • Consulting Strategies
  • Consulting Ethics
  • Managing Client Meetings
  • Understanding and Addressing Resistance to Change
  • Client Problem Diagnosis and Discovery
  • Data Collection Instrument Development and Techniques
  • Field Data Collection
  • Data Analysis and Feedback Techniques
  • Solution Implementation Approaches
  • Report Writing and Client Presentations

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Upon completion of Business Consulting the student will be able to consult with businesses in a number of management areas. The team work requires students meeting regularly with the instructor and the managers of firms participating in the projects. Analyzing firm problems, determining and selecting alternative solutions, and developing plans of actions for solving the problems are the major skills developed by the student. In addition, the student will create professional presentations to firm managers as an integral part of the course. The student will lead a team of student consultants on the consulting project.

 

Goals and Objectives of Course

Provide students with a transition experience from advanced classroom work to the actual business environment. Firms in the surrounding areas benefit from the consulting, analyses and proposals of the student. Enhance the independent activities of students as consultants in unstructured situations with actual small business management. In addition, the objective is to introduce students to the consulting and enable them to negotiate and counsel clients with business-related advice.

 

Assessment Measures

Tests, classroom performance in consulting exercises and discussion, organization of consulting activities, professionalism in interfacing with firms participating in projects, presentations, development of alternatives and plans of actions, interim progress reports, and the final written report are the criteria for assessment. Assessment will also consider depth and breadth of analysis by the students. Other Course Information Students must qualify for participation in the course based on motivation to do independent consulting work and an exhibited competence in academic endeavors.

 

Review and Approval

DATE ACTION APPROVAL
10-06-04, reviewed and approved by the Dept. of Management and Marketing faculty

March 01, 2021