Small Business
Consulting Project
Guidelines
MBA290
Advanced Strategic Management
Fall 2009
Professor Han
Two Tracks
• A small business that group members
choose
• A small business assigned to you by the
instructor
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Milestones
• Complete Phase I (Initial Client Interview) by
Tuesday, Oct 13.
• Complete Phase II (Analysis) by Tuesday, Oct
27.
• Complete Phase III (Recommendations) by
Tuesday, Nov 17.
• Complete first draft of final report by Tuesday,
Dec 1 .
• Final report is due on Wednesday, Dec 9.
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Phase I: Initial Client Interview
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First visit - All members go
Elect a project manager & an alternate
Keep track of time spent by each member
Tell client your role and output
Have client sign “Waiver of Liability” form
Leave Client Banking Survey form
Learn the business – Ask questions and
request information using question
checklist
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Phase I: Initial Client Interview
Question Checklist
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Ownership
Employees
Organizational structure
Products/Services
Selling area
Competition
Performance
Strategic objectives
Financial objectives
Any questions that you think are relevant
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Phase II (Analysis)
• Use both the I/O View and the Resource-based
View to analyze the case.
• Use the I/O view to evaluate the fit between the
firm’s strategic goals and its competitive position
in the marketplace.
• Use the Resource-based View to analyze the
firm’s resources and capabilities and identify its
core competencies; evaluate the fit between the
firm’s strategic goals and its resources and
capabilities.
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Phase III:
Strategic Recommendations
• Developed from the I/O view: How could
the organization improve its market
position (think about strategic group,
market niche, customer base, and value
chain, etc.)
• Developed from the Resource-based
View: How should the organization create
and upgrade its resources and capabilities
that are difficult for others to imitate
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Phase III:
Functional-Level Recommendations
• What actions should the organization take
to better handle its five forces. Only focus
on the forces (e.g., customers, suppliers,
rivals) that are relevant to the organization.
• What actions should the organization take
to make itself more effective and efficient
(think about the most critical aspects of
operations, e.g., marketing, finance,
information systems, human resources)
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Final Report:
Basic Requirements
• 20-30 pages (not including exhibits, tables and
graphs)
• Double space
• Appropriate headings
• Be straightforward in the opening section
• Be clear, comprehensive and precise in the
analysis section
• Be creative and pragmatic in the
recommendations section
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Final Report: Structure
• Cover page
• Table of contents
• Section I: Summary (background
information, methodology used, key issues
identified, key findings and key
recommendations)
• Section II: Analysis
• Section III: Recommendations
• Appendix (optional)
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Final Report: Grading Criteria
• Ability to identify key issues facing the
organization
• Appropriate use of relevant theories and models
to analyze the case
• Creativity and feasibility of strategic and
functional-level recommendations
• Appropriate use of evidence to support analysis
and recommendations
• Overall writing style and skills
• Presentation of report and handling of Q&A
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What to Submit
• Waiver of Liability Form (10/13)
• Hard Copy of Final Report for Client (12/9)
• Electronic Copy of Final Report for Instructor
(12/9; email to hans@csus.edu)
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The following materials should be submitted to Prof. Seung
Bach (bachs@csus.edu; 278-7125), Tahoe Hall 2036, on Dec 7th
or 9th between 11:50am and 1:20pm.
Hard Copy of Final Report for Instructor
Banking Survey
Student Time Log
Client Sign-off Form
Note: Write group members’ names on each of these
documents that you submit.
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