““Managing Student Managing Student Group Projects with Group Projects with

Real Clients”Real Clients”

Professor George SolomonProfessor George SolomonDepartment of ManagementDepartment of Management

Background on Student-Based Background on Student-Based Small Business Consulting Small Business Consulting

Initiated by US SBA in 1972 and called Initiated by US SBA in 1972 and called “Small Business Institute” program“Small Business Institute” program

BY 1990, 370 colleges and universities BY 1990, 370 colleges and universities involved and receiving $500/case the involved and receiving $500/case the purchase order assisting about 6,000 purchase order assisting about 6,000 small and entrepreneurial firms.small and entrepreneurial firms.

Discontinued by US SBA in 1996Discontinued by US SBA in 1996 Colleges continue on without SBA Colleges continue on without SBA

support.support.

GWU’s InvolvementGWU’s Involvement GWU involvement began in 1992 with GWU involvement began in 1992 with

Prof Charles ToftoyProf Charles Toftoy To date almost 2,000 Washington DC To date almost 2,000 Washington DC

Metro Businesses assisted.Metro Businesses assisted. Currently implemented in Management Currently implemented in Management

192 Small Business [undergraduate] – 192 Small Business [undergraduate] – Prof Rollins and Mgt 292 Small Prof Rollins and Mgt 292 Small Business [graduate] –Prof Toftoy and Business [graduate] –Prof Toftoy and SolomonSolomon

The type of Assignments given to the The type of Assignments given to the studentsstudents

Size of student groupsSize of student groups Who finds the client (instructor or Who finds the client (instructor or

students)students) Kinds of work the students doKinds of work the students do Feedback from clients.Feedback from clients.

Student projects as an example of Student projects as an example of "service learning." "service learning." 

How have you changed the way you How have you changed the way you manage these projects?manage these projects?

That is, what have you learned about That is, what have you learned about managing such projects?managing such projects?

How would you compare this method How would you compare this method of learning with others?of learning with others?

Academic Support for Student Academic Support for Student Based ProjectsBased Projects

Porter and McKibben’s Study for The Porter and McKibben’s Study for The International Association for Management International Association for Management Education (AACSB) indicated need for Education (AACSB) indicated need for integrating conceptual and theoretical integrating conceptual and theoretical principles with “live case work.”principles with “live case work.”

Porter, L. and McKibben, L. (1988), Porter, L. and McKibben, L. (1988), Management Education and Development: Management Education and Development: Drift or Thrust into the 21st Century, Drift or Thrust into the 21st Century, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY.McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY.