Part 1. Identify a client for whom you will act as a consultant. The client can be your own work group or company, a family business you are involved with, a business you worked for previously, a volunteer organization you work for or have worked with, or a public company. The client you choose should be a small group or organization in which you can influence change in your role as a consultant. Do not select “the military” or “the U.S. government” or “Giant XYZ Corporation.” However you may choose a small entity, such as a work group, within any of the larger organizations. Directions: Submit a summary describing the client and your relationship to the client. The summary should be no more than a couple of paragraphs. The summary will be included in part two of your paper. The purpose of submitting a summary is to confirm your client and identified problem fit the case study criteria.

Part 2. Identify the Problem done by Saturday Step two is to identify a problem or issue that is impacting performance in the organization. With your knowledge of the client you have identified and the learning you have acquired to this point, identify a management problem you will investigate and for which you will provide recommended solutions. If you are working with a supervisor or manager, you may want to consult with them to complete this step.

Discussing the client and the management problem you will explore. With your knowledge of the client you have identified and the learning you have acquired to this point, identify a management problem you will investigate and for which you will provide recommended solutions. If you are working with a supervisor or manager, you may want to consult with them to complete this step. Some questions you can explore to help you are:

• What are the goals of the company/division/work group?

• In considering the goals, where does progress halt?

• Is there data to substantiate this or is it a perception of the manager?

• Who is involved…the manager, the employees, stakeholders?

• How long has this problem existed?

• What and how are expectations and requirements communicated?

• When expectations or key deadlines are missed, what happens?

• What factors contribute to the problem (politics, structure, decision-making factors)?

• Are technical skills or training contributing to the problem?

• Are there ethical issues relating to the problem?

• If so, how have those issues been handled to date?