By successfully completing this final assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies:
- Examine the practice of fundamentals necessary for an information technology consulting role.
- Evaluate the activities that are key to consulting.
- Evaluate how research aligns with consulting initiatives.
The business plan should include the following:
- Table of contents.
- Executive summary: An approximately one-page summary describing your consulting practice, the services or products you will offer, and the business model you will use.
- Company description: This description provides an overview of your consulting practice in 1–2 pages. A cross-section of the activities offered, including company background, key consulting personalities, business objectives, and general information is appropriate here.
- Vision, mission, and values: This section should include your vision and mission statement, which should connect to your company description and your choices for services offered.
- Products or services offered: An examination of the areas of IT consulting that you intend to pursue and the services you would like to provide to your clients. Why do you intend to pursue this path? What are the assumptions and beliefs you bring as a consultant that will influence your practice?
- Marketing plan: This section describes the plan to market the practice to potential clients and companies, respond to inquiries, and build on current business.
- Operational plan: This section includes details on your methodologies for delivering products and services to your clients, including an examination of local, state, and federal regulations and their potential implications for your practice.
- Management and organization: This section describes the methods of managing the business and the key players in the organization.
- Structure and capitalization: This section describes the funding and financial resources you intend to pursue, as well as your business structure designation.
- Financial plan: For the purpose of this course and final project, no in-depth financial projections should be attempted. Provide a simple projection of your initial financial estimates.
Assignment Description
For this assignment, complete your final business plan by creating your executive summary and table of contents. Remember to integrate any feedback you received from peers and your instructor throughout the course, as well as your research on current IT consulting business plan practices.
Include the following:
- Document the need for IT consulting in the niche you are proposing.
- Describe an appropriate vision and mission statement.
- Describe the legal structure of the consultant business.
- Articulate IT management strategies and roles.
- Justify appropriate products and services to offer. Support appropriate methodologies for delivering those products and services.
- Articulate a marketing plan with marketing activities for current customers and future prospects.
- Articulate a growth strategy for personal IT consultancy. Project out two years in your plan.
- Articulate a financial plan describing funding and financial strategies.
- Integrate IT guidelines and regulations into a plan for IT consulting.