Overview

The external orientation involves a limited pre-study of the organization where the fieldwork project will be carried out and the sector in which the organization is active. This study takes place after the organization in which the fieldwork assignment will be carried out has been identified, but before the student has his or her first official conversation (intake meeting) with the assignment principal. The objective of the external orientation is to obtain the information and insights needed for a successful intake meeting.

When obtaining consulting assignments, professional consultants often find themselves in a competitive situation. By gathering information on the organization and its sector in advance, they are able to prepare themselves for the first meeting. Thus, they can ascertain whether there is a connection between the problem outlined by the company and developments within the line of business, and if so, what the exact nature of this connection is.

In most cases, such a connection does indeed exist, and having a clear understanding of its nature is essential. If a not-for-profit organization is seeking assistance in commercializing an internal service, a connection with external developments will not be immediately apparent. Gaining insight into the government s decreasing readiness to subsidize organizations will show things in a different light. Being able to bring up this connection at the intake meeting will help to obtain better insight into the budgetary needs of the organization and the urgency of its intended action. This insight also helps to consider alternative...