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New Venture Lab

Welcome!

The resources on this guide will help students working as consultants to local entrepreneurs through the New Venture Lab program learn about and apply best practices in business consulting while becoming familiar with some of the resources and tools they'll use throughout their careers.

This guide is arranged according to the information a consultant might need to help an entrepreneur launch a new business idea or address an issue in an existing enterprise:

  • Scan the industry for information on its health and the viability of new entities,
  • Identify competitors and their operations,
  • Learn about the market environment and the decisions other entrepreneurs in the area are making around advertising and the development and launching of products or services,
  • Find out about potential customers and their wants and needs, and
  • Leverage local resources to get a new business started and on the path to success.

“A professional consultant is one who can be trusted to use standard consulting methods and procedures, who gives advice and produces solutions on behalf of clients.” 

Verlander, E. G. (2012). The practice of professional consulting. Center for Creative Leadership. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/gonzaga/detail.action?docID=875832
 

How To's of Consulting

Are management consultants useful?: Amid the snake oil and the scandals, the industry provides a valuable service. (2022). Economist, 445(9316), 16-18. https://library.search.gonzaga.edu/permalink/01WIN_GONZAGA/1k6v739/cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2722670429

Canato, A., & Giangreco, A. (2011). Gurus or wizards? A review of the role of management consultants. European Management Review, 8(4), 231-244. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=bth&AN=69703457&site=ehost-live&scope=site&custid=s6951651

Komarjaya, J., Huifang, L., & Bock, G. (2004). Consulting from students’ perspective. Consulting to Management, 15(2), 29-33. https://archive.org/details/sim_consulting-to-management_2004-06_15_2

Nickols, F., & Bergholz, H. (2013). The consultant’s competency circle: A tool for gauging your success potential as an independent consultant. Performance Improvement, 52(2), 37-41. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=bth&AN=85675107&site=ehost-live&scope=site&custid=s6951651

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