Introduction

The field problem solving project starts with an intake and an orientation. In terms of the problem solving cycle, the intake and orientation should be regarded as the ‘problem definition' step.

In terms of a consulting project, the intake should be regarded as the contracting phase. The intake usually consists of one or two meetings with company representatives, and results in a written preliminary project proposal including an initial assignment.

During the orientation the preliminary proposal will be transformed into a final proposal. It will result in a further detailing of the technical content of the preliminary proposal, but typically not of its contractual conditions. The orientation is based on five to ten interviews with people who deal with the initial assignment, and the intention is to create a broader perspective on this assignment.

Although during the intake the student is typically not an in-house trainee yet, orientation may be conducted on an in-house basis, but this is not really required. The intake and orientation together should not take more than four weeks in a six- to eight-month project.

Intake

The intake starts with an initial contact with a company representative, exploring the possibilities of an FPS project. The choice as to the company to be approached can be based on a variety of reasons. Students or their supervisors may have had prior contact with the company. Interest in the company may also be based on an external exploration. In either case, the prospects of interesting a company are higher if one proposes a specific – but not too narrowly defined – topic for a potential project. If the contact is successful, an appointment for a first meeting is made. If the supervisors intend to use the results of the FPS project for their research output as well (see Section 5.3), a company has to be found that faces a field problem of the type in which the supervisors are interested and wants to address this problem.