The Consulting Challenge: A Case Competition

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2010

Abstract

The Consulting Challenge is a yearly case competition in which teams of graduate students respond to a request for proposals (RFP) for consulting services. The case and RFP are based on a problem that a host organization has experienced. Over 3 days, students meet with representatives of the host organization, analyze data, prepare a proposal for a consulting project, and then present the proposal to a panel of judges. This article includes a description of the Consulting Challenge, sample cases, and a planning guide. This article also includes an assessment of the competition completed by contestants and judges who had participated in one or more Consulting Challenge events over a 13-year period. Participants felt that the Consulting Challenge helped them be effective teammates, manage heavy workloads, apply theory, solve organizational problems, present a persuasive argument to a client, and manage their emotions. Judges and participants indicated that these skills are relevant to success in human resource management and consulting jobs.

Department

Psychology

Publication Title

Journal of Management Education

DOI

10.1177/1052562909358556

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