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TEM Lab is a cost-effective way to solve a business problem or address an opportunity. It puts Thunderbird talent to work all over the world.

TEM Lab Client Information

Thunderbird consulting teams create sustainable business solutions and transfer their knowledge and skills to their client organization. The strength of the Thunderbird approach lies in combining students’ professional experience and academic expertise with the client’s knowledge of their home market. Thunderbird consultants create a comprehensive work plan to address the needs defined by the client and bring fresh eyes to a business problem, along with a research-based approach to finding solutions.

A 2009 project by Thunderbird Student Consultants: Honeywell Aerospace

Recently, Honeywell Aerospace began to focus on the utilization of international engineering outsource companies and how they might provide maximum value to Honeywell Aerospace Engineering teams. The Thunderbird team was asked to assess how Honeywell Aerospace compared to other aerospace companies in managing outsourced engineering services and to provide guidance on future strategy and improvements.

“…considering the typical time commitments and usual rotation of people, it would have taken us [Honeywell] maybe two years to create the roadmap/framework that the team produced in less than two months. This team produced important tools that we can leverage to follow the strategic roadmap suggested by the team.”
- Paul Walia, Honeywell Aerospace

Consulting teams have direct access to internationally recognized Thunderbird professors who have business intelligence, financial analysis, supply chain resources, marketing/brand management and organizational consulting expertise. Professor Michael Finney, TEM Lab faculty lead, provides academic guidance and oversight to every team. Charles Reeves, the Lab program manager, coaches the teams and provides logistical support. Teams in the field are assigned a research assistant on the Glendale campus who has full access to Thunderbird’s world-class business library and resources.

Client FAQ

How does the student team engage with the organization?
What areas and what industries does TEM Lab serve?
How much does a TEM Lab consulting team cost?
What is the end result of a team’s work?
What kind of a timeline does TEM Lab function on?
How can my organization engage a TEM Lab team?
How are students prepared for a consulting project?

How does the student team engage with the organization?
TEM Lab consulting projects last five to six weeks. The team will travel to the client’s location and work with them on site. Generally the team will require significant access to the client’s office, personnel, internal information, and perhaps customers or other elements of the local business environment. The client is responsible for “plugging-in” the team.

Prior to departure, the consulting team forms its own internal structure and the team leader contacts the host organization for initial discussions. This is when the project deliverables get refined and the team can begin focusing on the project parameters. By the end of the first week in the field the team has finalized their work plan and the client signs off on it. This plan guides the work and outlines the resource commitments necessary to reach the project deliverables.

What areas and what industries does TEM Lab serve?
TEM Lab serves all sectors: government, for-profit and not-for-profit. TEM Lab works in emerging markets, defined as most locations outside of North America, Western Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Thunderbird MBA students have a wide variety of professional and cultural backgrounds. TEM Lab teams are capable of taking on a wide variety of business problems, including marketing, finance, supply chain, strategic planning, human resources, and so on. Click here to see a summary of past Thunderbird consulting projects.

For specific projects, the capacity of a Thunderbird consulting team to meet the goals of a host organization depends on the skill sets of students enrolled in the course. Bottom line: TEM Lab will not send a student team to work on a project if the students don’t have the experience and knowledge to be effective. Matching student skill sets to projects is done on a project-specific basis.

How much does a TEM Lab consulting team cost?
A TEM Lab consulting project costs approximately $20,000. This figure can vary depending on project location and living costs. The budget will be negotiated prior to deployment. A team treasurer tracks all expenses in the field in accordance with Thunderbird’s travel and expense policy. Half of the initial budget estimate will be due upon engagement. The remaining will be due at the end of the project and subject to revision based on actual costs. The team treasurer reports weekly on the expenses and they will be monitored to ensure that costs are in-line with the budget.

What is the end result of a team’s work?
The team creates a work plan to arrive at deliverables specified by the client. These deliverables depend entirely on the organization’s needs. For examples of past project deliverables, please click to see sample project synopses: sample Nha Trang synopsis - sample RDTech synopsis.

Click here for other examples of Thunderbird Student Consulting projects.

What kind of a timeline does TEM Lab function on?
TEM Lab consulting teams deploy in the spring and summer during half of the 12-week trimesters. A team can deploy in either the first or second half (a half is termed a “module”) of a trimester. In 2012, this will break down as follows:

Spring 2012, Module One:
January 23-28: orientation week on-campus
January 30-March 3: on-site work with client

Spring 2012, Module Two:
March 12-17: orientation week on-campus
March 19-April 20: on-site work with client

Summer 2012, Module One:
May 14 – May 19: orientation week on-campus
May 22 – June 24: on-site work with client

Summer 2012, Module Two:
July 2 – July 7: orientation week on-campus
July 9 – August 11: on-site work with client

Because of the extensive logistics required to organize a team, project synopses and commitments should be finalized almost one trimester before deployment. This may vary by project and by the time of year. Contact the Program Manager for more information because the project pipeline is fluid.

How can my organization engage a TEM Lab team?
Please contact the Program Manager for initial discussions that will determine whether the proposed project can satisfy the needs of both the organization and Thunderbird. If so, an initial project synopsis will be developed. (sample Nha Trang synopsis - sample RDTech synopsis). A budget and timeline will also be defined.

If a project is accepted it will be submitted to students when the class is being formed for the following trimester. For example, projects to run during the summer will be proposed to students before the end of the spring trimester. If student interest and skill sets match the project, a team will be formed and project plans finalized.

How are students prepared for a consulting project?
Students eligible for TEM Lab are in their second year of studies at Thunderbird and must have completed rigorous pre-requisites. In addition to their core courses, students must have taken a course that qualifies as a “comprehensive experience.” Please see the students' curriculum page to see the prerequisite courses.

Before deploying, students are prepared logistically, mentally and academically by the TEM Lab Faculty Lead and the Program Manager. Generally, one week is spent on campus gathering resources relevant to the region and industry. During this week the TEM Lab staff orients the team for their departure and an additional conference call with the client is held.

Contact Us

For more information about TEM Lab, please contact the Program Manager Charles Reeves, at charles.reeves@thunderbird.edu or +1 602 978-7497.

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