2023 BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon™:
Northeastern University
Investing in Students’ Employability through Impact-Driven Consulting Cases
JUNE 2-4 & 9-11, 2023 | Online
Why BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon™?
As Human Resource Management Journal indicates, “In an overcrowded graduate labor market, employers must distinguish between equally qualified graduates to determine ‘standout employability’ (Anderson and Tomlinson, 2021). In the fun, fast-paced, and hackathons-style two-weekends-with-a-week-between boot camp 3-credit course, Dr. Julia Ivy provides Northeastern University students with a BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon method, instrument, and platform that serves this purpose. Following a four-step method, students serve as Case Consultants for organizations that they select as relevant to their vision and goals.
The experience incorporates storytelling and case writing based on market and industry analysis, stakeholder management, resource-based views on organizational strategy, and problem-solving and strategy execution. As an outcome, students can invest in their employability as problem-solvers and consultants and signal that they can align with organizations of their choice at several levels by employing an instrument of Consulting Cases.
What can they get from this?
Understand sources of standout employability from personal and organizational perspectives.
Assess their psychological and professional readiness for crafting their competitive edge.
Learn and practice the instruments of aligning with employers’ expectations at four levels: personal, social, professional, and the level of shared excitement.
Conduct field research and perform analysis for potential employers at several levels: stakeholder analysis, as well as company, industry, and market analysis.
Learn the craft of case consulting, sharped to craft graduates’ competitive edge.
Benefits
Making an Impact
Students receive first-hand experience in making an impact at the strategic level of company operation: revealing a challenge, conducting field research, creating a company case, and conducting design thinking for solving the company’s challenge.
Investing In Their Professional Portfolio
Students perform a Consulting Case for a business relevant to their interests, learn new things about the industry and market, explore social entrepreneurship, and craft the edge of their personal strategy.
Getting Ready for Professional Interviews
Students receive a ready-to-present portfolio piece, supported by a recommendation letter and a ready-to-share communication pitch for sharing their case consult experience.
Schedule
Date | Time and goal | Reading | Activity |
Deliverables |
06.02 Friday |
5:30pm – 9:30pm CORE: Personal level of synchronization |
Chapters 2-3 Recommended: Useful resources for E-stage (online) |
Overview. Introduction to the challenges. “My choice” team sign-up. Teamwork. |
“My choice” 1 paragraph “Our Choice” 1-page |
06.03 Saturday | 9am – 5pm TRUST: Social level of synchronization |
Chapters 4-5 Recommended: Useful resources for D-stage (online) |
Role of Case Consultants. Meeting the Case Client. Company’s background | “Our Company” mini case |
06.04 Sunday |
9am-1pm From TRUST to VALUE |
Chapter 6 | Methodology. Market & industry research. | Action plan for June 6-17 |
06.05 -06.09 | Flexible schedule | Market & Industry data | Data. | |
06.09 Friday |
5:30pm – 9:30pm VALUE: Professional level of synchronization |
Chapter 7 Recommended: Useful resources for G-stage (online) |
Overview. Design thinking. Meeting a mentor. Formulating an idea | By 9:30pm “Our Idea” value proposition 1-page statement |
06.10 Saturday | 9am – 3pm VALUE: Professional level of synchronization. |
Chapter 8 | Design thinking (cont.) Prototype and its testing. Teamwork on PPT. Pitch practice. |
By 5pm “Our Solution” PPT |
06.11 Sunday |
9am-1pm PASSION: Exciting stakeholders |
Chapter 9 Recommended: Useful resources for E-stage (online) |
Pitch to the Case Client. Client feedback & plans for testing/implementation. | |
06.12 -06.19 |
Flexible schedule BE-EDGE |
Case Brief (for portfolio). Message/email. Reflection | By June 19. “My Edge” three submissions |