Taking Care of Business: 
A Primer on the Nature and Practice of Consulting

Instructor:
H.D. Covvey, Professor,
Agfa Research Chair in Health Informatics
Faculty of  Science, University of Waterloo

Date: Part 1 - October 2/03; Part 2 - October 9/03

Time: 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Register at: Career Services, Tatham Centre, University of Waterloo

Early Registration Fee: $20/session by 4:00 p.m. September 30, 2003

Registration Fee: $25 after September 30, 2003

Contact: 
Career Services - Tel:  888-4567 ext. 4047; Email: careers@uwaterloo.ca

Hosts: 
Co-operative Education and Career Services and
The infraNET Project, University of Waterloo  

Sponsors: 
Center for Information Systems Assurance, University of Waterloo
Entrepreneurs Association of the University of Waterloo

This is a 2-part introductory course on technology-related and management consulting. In part 1, we examine the nature of consulting, and consider topics such as which types of services to offer, solo versus multi-staff formats, starting a practice, marketing and selling, the financial aspects of a practice, operating and managing a practice, and delivering and evaluating services. We discuss questions like: How do you find prospective clients? How much should you charge? How do you do effort estimates and what if your estimate is wrong? What initial investment is required? What is a good business model? Then, we consider the client’s perspective, identifying appropriate and inappropriate uses of consultants, the role of the statement of work, how consultants are and should be selected, and how to and how not to manage consultants. We detail pitfalls, potential conflicts, and mistakes and how to avoid them. In part 2, we present consulting cases and engage in group discussion of issues and their resolution.

All registration fees will be donated to the University of Waterloo Fundraising Campaign for Health Informatics Research.