Recruitment/entry. This stage of the consulting process generally focuses on determining client-consultant fit
and on examining client expectations. For an A.C. team, this is also a time for clarifying the expectations and
needs of the academic institution/employer, as well as determining team member roles and commitments.
Several specific challenges were addressed during this stage of our consulting project.
* The client's doubts about the A.C. team's capability to execute such a large project were overcome through
extensive preliminary meetings (with a client steering committee and task force recommended by the A.C.
team), and by highlighting the team's prior consulting experiences, talent base, and emphasis on scientific rigor.