Presented by: Michele Rushing Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Presented at: CUMREC 2002 Minneapolis, Minnesota May 14, 2002 Orchestrating a Successful Consulting Engagement

u Introduction u Defining the Project u Assembling the Project Team u Technology Considerations u Selecting Consultants u Working with Consultants u Post-Project Considerations Outline

Introduction

Introducing... u Chartered in 1869 u Multi-campus u Comprehensive state-supported institution u Internationally recognized programs

u Located in Carbondale, Illinois u Enrolls approximately 22,000 students u Carnegie II Research Institution u Home to Saluki Athletics at Carbondale...

Define The Project ? ? ? What do we need to do and why?

Why is this project needed?...  Higher education industry is changing u Technology advances u Don’t have expertise available to address this project Define the Project

Project Mission... Engage the consulting group in a contract which will allow the necessary transfer of knowledge for creating an analytical tool to attribute tuition revenue at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Define the Project

Decide on Goals & Objectives... Problem This way! Define the Project

Assembling the Project Team Who?

u Secure high-level executive sponsorship of, support for, and participation in-- the project Assembling the Project Team

u Include team members with a functional background Technical Functional Assembling the Project Team

FunctionalTechnical Effective Tuition Rate Tuition-Iwaivers-Swaivers Tuit_Cnt = ? ? ? ? Assembling the Project Team

Functional Technical u Include a customer on your team Customer Assembling the Project Team

u Achieve “buy-in” Assembling the Project Team

u Train the Team What’s a datamart? Assembling the Project Team

Technology Considerations ? ? ? Do we need technology?

u What type of data is needed, and where is it? Report Paper- Based Knowledge- Based Technology Considerations

I can’t hear you! Technology Considerations u Determine technology needs

Now I can hear you! u Select, purchase, install technology components and applications Technology Considerations

u Install applications Technology Considerations

u Identify and clean data files

Selecting Consultants ? ? ? Who do we hire?

Help! Define Consultant … “An individual with specialized skill and knowledge who is contracted to accomplish (or assist in accomplishing) an assignment in an unprejudiced manner and independent of other responsibilities” Selecting Consultants

u DEMAND consultants with experience in your industry u Do your homework u Ask for a site visit

Working With Consultants

u Include them as a member on the team - Contact early in the planning process -Establish good working relationship -Discuss engagement Working With Consultants

u Go as far as you can without them Start Working With Consultants ?

u Prepare a project plan and follow it

u Be prepared when they get there Working With Consultants

u DEMAND knowledge transfer u Communicate, communicate, communicate Working With Consultants

Post-Project Considerations

u Data Maintenance u Program Maintenance u Data Quality u Project Expansion u End-User Training u Competition with Existing Data u Web Access Post-Project Considerations

u Revisit Other Areas Post-Project Considerations Remember that good idea early in the project?