The Consulting Challenge: A Case Competition

Abstract

The Consulting Challenge is a yearly case competition in which teams of graduate students respond to a request for proposals (RFP) for consulting services. The case and RFP are based on a problem that a host organization has experienced. Over 3 days, students meet with representatives of the host organization, analyze data, prepare a proposal for a consulting project, and then present the proposal to a panel of judges. This article includes a description of the Consulting Challenge, sample cases, and a planning guide. This article also includes an assessment of the competition completed by contestants and judges who had participated in one or more Consulting Challenge events over a 13-year period. Participants felt that the Consulting Challenge helped them be effective teammates, manage heavy workloads, apply theory, solve organizational problems, present a persuasive argument to a client, and manage their emotions. Judges and participants indicated that these skills are relevant to success in human resource management and consulting jobs.