The Acadia Centre for Small Business & Entrepreneurship

1. The Acadia Centre for Small Business & Entrepreneurship Student Consulting 2006

2. ! CONFIDENTIALITY ! • you must hold in strict confidence all information concerning the business and affairs of the client and the project • you are not to disclose that you are working with the client unless the client tells you otherwise • the confidentiality principle continues indefinitely even after your work with the client ceases You will sign a Confidentiality Agreement!

3. AGENDA • Consulting Styles & Roles • The 6 Phase Consulting Process • Team Dynamics • Project Management Tips

4. A “CONSULTANT” DEFINED What is your definition of CONSULTANT? Let’s build a definition together.

5. WHAT IS A CONSULTANT ? A consultant is a person in a position to have some influence over an individual, a group, or an organization, but who has no direct power to make changes or implement programs.

6. CONSULTING STYLES • CONSULTANT CENTRED • CLIENT CENTRED • EXPLORATIVE • COLLABORATIVE

7. CONSULTANT CENTRED • the consultant is viewed as an expert in a certain discipline • s/he is in charge and tells the client what to do, how to do it, when, where, etc. • when consultant has all/most of needed content and when client has little or no such expertise

8. CLIENT CENTERED • client directs the project • consultant is objective observer • when the client has subject matter know • how and the consultant does not

9. EXPLORATIVE CONSULTING • consultant explores the client system and issues at hand • when neither party knows the answers to the basic questions

10. COLLABORATIVE CONSULTING • consultant and client work together • the project is a joint effort you learn from the client the client learns from you • taken on when both the client and the consultant have significant, but different know-how

11. WHAT SKILLS SHOULD A CONSULTANT POSSESS…TECHNICAL (task/function)INTERPERSONAL (communication/team work)CONSULTING (process)

12. 6 PHASE CONSULTING PROCESS 1. Making First Contact/Entry 2. Establishing the Relationship 3. Problem Finding 4. Solution Finding 5. Reporting 6. Evaluation/Termination

13. www.acsbe.com Key word : student consulting

14. Team Dynamics • Task vs Relationship Tension • Tuckman Model • Asset Map your team • Roles and Responsibilities • Timeline

15. Milestones • Weekly support meetings with TA • Initial Meeting & Confidentiality Policy • Draft and Final Contract • Take Action/Action Plan • Draft Report • Final Report • Reflection/Evaluation

16. Project Management Tips • Set up regular weekly meetings – and cancel one if you have to • Establish one point of contact for the client • Establish a communication method for contact with your client • Be careful with words (let’s do a few examples) • Take minutes of meetings and circulate responsibilities • Use software on laptop • Let the client know how things are going at all times – even if the news is bad (relationship/time tension diagram)

17. THANK-YOU