MrL8Nite goes back to school

Consultancy Project: I, II, & III

Course description from catalog:

ED 758A Consultancy Project (Three 1 unit semesters)
Allows the student to apply their knowledge, skills, and values to a real-world problem. Students identify a project-based issue, concern, and problem, identify a set of strategies to meet the projected goals, seek the assistance of a mentor in achieving the goals, and begin to implement strategies to achieve a solution to the issue or problem. The issue for study can be identified during the first academic year. The consultancy course spans more than one semester and includes plan preparation and approval, implementation of the plan, presentation of results to clients, and an evaluation of the projects. Consulting topics may serve as a basis for comprehensive exam topics.

Professor: Dr. Paul Sparks

Reading Materials

Paul has published his reading materials list for the Consultancy course --

Required:
The Art of Possibility - Zander & Zander (already picked this up in a previous semester)
Leadership from the Inside Out - Cashman

Optional:
Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used - Block

I'm ordering the optional...just to see what its about.

Amaan the Wise

"The stubborn close their mind and convince themselves of one truth. The wise keep an open mind to the different possibilities leading to and stemming from the present."

Fall 2008 - Completed (I)

Major Contribution - I selected a non-profit career services group (www.crossroadscareer.org) to help them migrate from their single website to using various Web 2.0 tools such as Blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. as well as updating their circa 2005 website to current standards. Also read the book Flawless Consulting (already read the Zander book in a prior course).

Spring 2009 - Completed (II)

Major Contribution - This was to be the semester that the actual consulting was done, but the client didn't get started with their Web 2.0 presence until March, so I am still doing the consulting work (and will continue into the summer semester). I've provided guidance on a website redeisgn (a la "Krug"), launched and manage their LinkedIn group for their program leaders and I've starting writing a resume review blog (http://mrl8nite.wordpress.com) that will eventually be tied into their new website.

Summer 2009 - Completed (III)

Major Contribution

I've spent a lot of time helping the Crossroads Career Services organization, a group that I've volunteered with for several years, look at their online presence. I've spoken at their conference as a panel member and helped them focus on LinkedIn and blogging. These two online social networking aspects have helped them reach out to the membership as well as the general public. The website that I provided some guidance and feedback on seems to be a good improvement over their prior site.

This was to be the semester where I wrote up and presented what I accomplished during the prior semester, but with the late start on the actual consulting work, I'm writing and consulting at the same time. As the consultancy officially wrapped up at the end of the semester, I decided to keep active in the program as the LinkedIn coordinator and continue publishing numerous articles in my blog on resume writing and reviewing for those that are in the job hunt.

See some of my writings ...

http://mrl8nite.wordpress.com

and the website I helped redesign...

http://www.crossroadscareer.org

and the blog I'm helping with at the site I helped redesign...

http://www.crossroadscareer.org/2009/08/resume-writing-tips/