IT Consulting - 95-822 Course Schedule

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Finals

Date	Session Topics	Session Materials	Assignments
Week 1
Course Overview and Requirements, Pre-Test	Course Information Handout Course Introduction Slides	Assigned: Ayole Homework
Capacity-Building Consulting and Alternative Consulting Models	Consulting Models Slides Consulting Models Chart CART Video	Due Today: Ayole Homework Assigned: Read Apprenticing with the Customer (This document is available from the ACM Digital Library from on campus or when connected via the library VPN from off campus) Read: Technology Literacy Benchmarks for Nonprofit Organizations Read: Southwestern Pennsylvania Nonprofit Technology Survey 2010
Gathering and Analyzing Information	Gathering Information Slides Context Description Chart	Due Today: Read: Apprenticing with the Customer Read: Technology Literacy Benchmarks for Nonprofit Organizations Read: Southwestern Pennsylvania Nonprofit Technology Survey 2010 Assigned: Mess Map Homework
Structuring unstructured problems	Structuring Unstructured Problems Slides	Due Today: Mess Map Homework due before class Assigned: Hunger Alliance Homework
Establishing Relationships, Preparation for the Initial Community Partner Meeting	Relationships & Preparation for Initial Meeting Slides CFD-Checks	Due Today : Hunger Alliance Homework Assigned: Initial CP research and meeting planning Assigned for : Causal Flow Diagram 2 Work Process Diagrams Bring 1 copy of each to class Submit to Blackboard before class.
Initial Community Partner Meeting Location: University Center Rangos 3	Orientation Slides	Due Today: Initial CP research and meeting planning
Researching alternative approaches	Initial Meetings Review Status Reports Literature Review	Due Today: Causal Flow Diagram 2 Work Process Diagrams Bring 1 copy of each to class Submit to Blackboard before class. Assigned: Read: Solutions Literature Assigned for : About the Organization Report Assigned for : Literature search, as described in Literature Review Slides
Buy / Build Alternative Web-Based Solutions Technology Planning	Buy/Build Slides CMS and Hosted Application Slides Technology Planning Slides	Due Today: Solutions Literature Assigned: Scope of Work Planning Workshop Preparation Due : About the Organization Report
Scope of Work Planning Workshop Each mentor team will meet individually:		Due Today: Review the About the Organization report of all of your peers Scope of Work Planning Workshop Preparation
Context Analysis, Scope of Work Report, and Work Plan	Slides: Context Analysis slides Measurable Outcomes slides Handouts: Context Analysis Template Context Analysis Requirements and Grading Criteria Context Analysis Workshop Preparation Guide Work Plan Examples: Example one Example two Context Analysis Example: Community Technical Assistance Center Caveat per the use of examples: These are examples of past students' good work. They are not ideal solutions, however, and some parts may not be good. Therefore look at them with a critical eye and use them as examples not templates. Also be aware that your requirements are in the Context Analysis Requirements and Grading Criteria, and the requirements for these reports could have been slightly different.	Due Today: Literature search, as described in Literature Review Slides Submit to Blackboard before class. Assigned: Context Analysis Report Send to Peer Send to Mentor Send to Community Partner Submit to Blackboard
Communicating your plan Peer reviewing an other's plan	Peer Review Slides Purpose, Value, and How To Review Consulting Reports Context Analysis Workshop Peer Presentation Requirements	Due Today: Context Analysis Report Send to Peer Send to Mentor Send to Community Partner Submit to Blackboard Assigned: Context Analysis Workshop Preparation Guide Assigned for : Work Plan Bring 4 paper copies to class Do not submit to Blackboard Assigned for : Revised Context Analysis Report
Context Analysis Workshop Each mentor team will meet individually:		Due Today: Context Analysis Workshop Peer Preparation Guide
Reviewing Work Plans		Due Today: Work Plan Bring 4 paper copies to class Do not submit to Blackboard Assigned for : Revised Work Plan
No class meeting		Due Today: Revised Context Analysis Report Submit to Blackboard Email to Mentor
Special Topics		Due Today: Revised Work Plan Submit to Blackboard You should keep the Work Plan up to date, and constantly shared with your CP. Assigned: Read: Modeling Technical Skills Read: New Metaphors for Understanding the New Machines (This document is available from the ACM Digital Library from on campus or when connected via the library VPN from off campus) Do: Communicating Technical Ideas homework Here is a good example
Modeling Technical Problem Solving Communicating Difficult Technical Concepts	Modeling Technical Problem Solving slides Communicating Difficult Technical Concepts slides	Due Today: Two readings Communicating Technical Ideas homework Submit to Blackboard before class. Bring a copy to class
*Spring Break*
Spring Break
No class
Documenting and Analyzing Outcomes	Documenting Outcomes slides	Assigned: Outcomes Homework Have phone conversation with Mentor to update on progress.
Outcomes Workshop	Outcomes Workshop slides	Due today: Outcomes Homework Assigned for : Initial Analysis of Outcomes Submit these to Blackboard Email them to your mentor & peers for discussion at the Recommendations Workshop
Formulating Recommendations	Recommendations slides Report Criteria Outcomes Analysis & Recommendations	Assigned: List of Potential Recommendations Submit to Blackboard Email to your mentor & peers for discussion next class. Assigned for : Analysis of Outcomes and Recommendations Report (See criteria at left.)
No class		Due Today: Initial Analysis of Outcomes List of Potential Recommendations Submit these to Blackboard Email them to your mentor & peers for discussion next class.
Recommendations Workshop Each mentor team will meet individually:
Recommendations Affinity Exercise	Recommendation Examples Example 1 - Very good vision and 1st recommendation. Good 2nd recommendation, satisfactory 3rd recommendation. Example 2 - Weak vision, two very good recommendations
Writing the Final Report Discuss Recomendations	Final Report Requirements Final Report Template This template uses the same formatting styles as previous templates.	Due Today: Analysis of Outcomes and Recommendations Report Send to Peer Send to Mentor Submit to Blackboard
Review for Exam Final Presentation	Final Presentation quidelines and Final Exam review questions Consulting Model Overview slides	Due Today: Peer Review of Analysis of Outcomes and Recommendations Report Assigned: Revised Analysis of Outcomes and Recommendations Report Full Consulting Report
No class		Due Today: Revised Analysis of Outcomes and Recommendations Report Submit to Blackboard Email current version of Final Consulting Report to Community Partner and Mentor Assigned for : Final Consulting Report
Exam
No Class or Meetings
Reflection
No Class or Meetings		Due: Final Consulting Report
Finals Week
None		Due Today: Final Presentation PowerPoint Slides
Community Technology Forum Open to the Public		Due Today: Conduct Final Presentation