What is a contract?

1. What is a contract? • An explicit agreement of what the consulting team and client expect from each other and how they are going to work together. • It is designed not so much for enforcement, but for clear communication about what is going to happen on the project.

2. Elements of the contract: • Clear articulation of the business problem. • Objectives of the assignment (what the team will accomplish). • Methodology (how the team will accomplish the objective with validity) • Expectations between client and consulting team.

3. Elements of the contract continued… • Timeline of deadlines • Non-legally binding language • Options for Reflection Paper #2 (team must interact with clientele of non-profit organization or attend board meeting,etc) • Identity of team and client

4. Contract format • An opening: indicates to the reader the reason for the communication • Background of business problem: communicates you are sufficiently familiar with the facts • Objective of the assignment: the end result

5. Contract format • Methodology: outline (preferably in chronological order) each major task you will perform. • Timeline • Confidentiality statement (if appropriate) • Closing (summary statement, directions) • Signature block: all parties must sign

6. Advice on contracts… • Take your time to work through all of the details of objective, methodology and timeline. • Review evaluation criteria on Bb. • Reach consensus as a team. • Be realistic, but thorough: this is a capstone course! • Be open to feedback on Sept. 27th

7. Finally, the contract should…. • Look professional • Be written on team letterhead • Be free of grammar or spelling errors • Be articulated with such clarity that a third party could read it and understand all expectations and details of the project.

8. Contract Examples