Rutgers MBA Team Consulting Program

Since 1971, hundreds of businesses, large and small, have discovered a unique, university-based resource that delivers professional and cost effective consulting services.

The MBA Team Consulting Program at Rutgers Business School – Newark and New Brunswick brings the knowledge and experience of seasoned MBA students to bear on a challenge or problem identified by a client company. Students get the opportunity to sharpen their problem-solving and team-building skills; the sponsoring company receives a detailed report full of insightful analysis and valuable recommendations. To date, Rutgers students have completed more than fifteen hundred projects for a wide range of clients including Fortune 50 companies, privately held firms, not-for-profits, state agencies, municipalities, and entrepreneurs.

Business organizations turn to the Rutgers MBA Team Consulting Program because it delivers timely, cost-effective results and provides an independent assessment of their business or competitive environment. The moderate, fixed project fee is a fraction of what typical market-rate consultants charge for the same work.  As part of Rutgers University, student consultants have vast resources from which to draw. From the school's outstanding libraries and information systems to faculty and administrators, they can access a wealth of information and expertise as background for their projects.  And, as an added benefit, clients get a first-hand look at how highly motivated, potential employees work with their management teams. Many MBA candidates have been offered and have accepted full-time positions with client organizations. They bring with them a keen understanding of the company, its competitors and the marketplace. They also possess an insight into the company's operations and can become a value-added employee almost immediately.

Getting Started

The process begins with a meeting between the client and the director of the MBA Program. Options are discussed, responsibilities are outlined and expectations are set. Once a project has been accepted by the program, a team of students and an experienced faculty advisor are assigned to work with the client.

Teams

Each team is carefully assembled to ensure its skills match the requirements of the project. For example, if the assignment focuses on financial issues, finance students will be placed on the team. Projects that involve multiple issues will be assigned to teams comprised of students with varied interests and backgrounds.

Ongoing Learning Experience

Consulting assignments begin in September, February or May and are completed over a 15 week period of time consistent with the academic semester. Teams usually begin their project by defining and researching the problem. During the semester, periodic meetings involving the team, faculty and client are held to gauge the team's progress and to obtain client feedback. The client will receive a report summarizing the analysis completed and research remaining to be done.

Presentation

At the conclusion of its work, the team puts together a report detailing its findings along with recommendations for appropriate courses of action. Reports are generally presented to the client's senior management in a formal boardroom presentation.

We take the appropriate measures to ensure confidentiality.

Students recognize that during the course of their consulting assignment they will be dealing with information that is sensitive in nature. For this reason, all client information is regarded as confidential. Formal confidentiality agreements are executed by the student consultants, faculty advisor and program director for each engagement.

No information or consulting material is released by students, faculty, or the university without the prior approval of the client.