TMP FAQ

Just about any opportunity or problem can be addressed through the TMP process. Good project topics deal with matters that are important to the organization, but for which few resources exist. In addition, any area that benefits from an interdisciplinary approach—for example, cost—and technology-justification models for prioritizing drug targets makes an excellent TMP.

The corporate liaison plays a crucial role in TMP success. The liaison role is much more than a “when I get time” responsibility. Ideally, team involvement should become an explicit part of the individual’s job description for the duration of the project. Our most successful corporate liaisons report spending from two to four hours per week on the project.

Not only does the liaison help ensure that the project remains on track and that its goals continue to be relevant, but he/she serves as the gateway to the rest of the organization. Ideally, the liaison is thoroughly knowledgeable about the project topic, has excellent communication skills, and can work successfully with bright young graduate students. Also, the liaison should have adequate authority within your organization to make timely decisions and obtain buy-in.

Yes, fast-track TMPs can run from January-May, providing outcomes in a much shorter turnaround than the traditional nine month TMP model.

The TMP fee is $65,000 for approximately 2,000 hours of student work. The fee for lab-based projects is $70,000 to account for the additional student time and space required.  Historically, all costs—including a modest amount of travel, supplies, conference fees, and the like—have been covered by this sum. Should significant equipment purchases or extensive travel be involved with a project, KGI is willing to negotiate with the sponsor.

TMP sponsors—especially repeat clients—often face this dilemma. Here are some criteria that can be used to select an opportunity:

• Project time frame is aligned with the September to May calendar
• The project can be successfully managed from a distance
• The project requires interdisciplinary skills
• The project needs a mix of both business and scientific input
• There is an internal champion for the project who can serve as organizational liaison to the team

Sponsors provide skill lists that we use to formulate teams. Since the TMP is a curricular element, final student assignments are made by the faculty. However, it is common for companies to start the project during a summer internship, with the student intern transitioning to the project team in the fall.

Email us a one sentence description of your top three problems/issues/opportunities, and we will supply you with brief descriptions of how a team could support your needs.

KGI has two other TMP models: the fast-track program, which runs from January-May, and the ad hoc program, which can begin at any time. Contact us for more details, including pricing, on these two options.

Here are some ideas for engaging your team members early and solidly:

• At the outset, invite the students to visit your company and learn about your business
• Understand the different reasons each student is interested in your project.
• Be explicit about your expectations for matters small and large. For example, if your corporate culture is very punctual, explain that this will be important for the team’s credibility, and note that you always expect them to be on time.
• Encourage students to communicate both “bad news” as well as “good news”
• KGI students have tremendous intellectual curiosity, so don’t be shy about asking them to investigate an issue extensively.

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Use these handy questions to determine how a Team Master’s Project could benefit your firm. If you answer “yes” to at least one of these questions, a TMP is right for your company! 

• We have more projects than qualified staff to handle them
• Our organization needs more business analysis, but we don’t have time to train business managers about science and technology
• Sometimes we are too close to a problem to effectively identify solutions
• To save time, we need to be able to work on multiple parts of an initiative simultaneously
• It’s important to better understand our competitors, but we are unclear how to go about this