RMIN 5950: Module Overview & Project Guidelines

Summary

The course is divided into four main modules. In each module, teams will be assigned to one of two roles:

• Decider: Acts as the client, buyer, or evaluator in the module scenario.

• Pitcher: Acts as the seller, advisor, or proposer aiming to persuade the Decider.

Each team will serve as a Decider once and a Pitcher three times during the semester.

Module Topics

The four modules for the semester and the Decider/Pitcher roles in each are as follows:

• Broker Selection Module (link to details)

  • Decider: The RM department at a company seeking a new insurance broker.

  • Pitchers: Insurance brokers competing for the company’s business.

• Policy Marketing Module (link to details)

  • Decider: Broker placing a client’s coverage on the insurance market.

  • Pitchers: Commercial underwriting teams determining rates and terms of coverage.

• Enterprise Risk Management Module (link to details)

  • Decider: A company’s Board of Directors.

  • Pitchers: The company’s internal RM team pitching new ideas/programs.

• Loss Control / Benefits (details TBD)

Module Structure

Each module will follow a similar 3-4 week cycle:

1. Introduction and group coordination

2. Short lectures and in-class assignments (two per module)

3. Guest speakers and skill-building activities

4. Pitch meetings between Pitchers and Deciders

There will be some time provided in class for group meetings, but each project will require significant work outside of class time.

Team Format

At the beginning of the semester, students will be assigned to permanent teams of five. Each team MUST designate a Project Lead and a Scheduler for every module. These two roles are mandatory. You may keep the same person in each role all semester or rotate responsibilities.

• Project Lead: Oversees the team’s work and ensures on-time, high-quality submissions.

• Scheduler: Coordinates scheduling of pitch meetings with other teams and the instructor.

Additional roles may be designated by teams at their discretion. The Team Structure page provides some suggested roles. I encourage you to assign other roles based on your group’s preferences and goals – the more clearly you divide responsibilities, the stronger your deliverables will be.

Pitch Meetings

At the end of each module, each Decider team will hold back-to-back meetings with each of the three Pitcher teams, each lasting 15-20 minutes. You will simulate a real-world client/advisor interaction and dress in business casual. Pitcher teams will present their recommendations by guiding the Decider team through a detailed slide deck; Deciders will ask questions and evaluate proposals.

The instructor will participate in these meetings and may invite industry experts or other RMI faculty. The instructor will post his availability for pitch week (±1 day of the final class session for that module). Each Decider Scheduler must coordinate with the three Pitcher Schedulers to identify an appropriate 90-minute time slot and reserve an appointment. All participants and the instructor must be present. The instructor will not coordinate schedules – students are responsible for this process.

Grading

Your one time as a Decider will be 10% of your final course grade, while your three times as a Pitcher will each comprise 20% of your final course grade.

Decider Project Grades

Each student’s Decider project grade for their module is based on:

• Development of any written deliverables for the module

• Completion of all scheduled pitch meetings

• Thoughtful and complete scoring of each Pitcher group

• Participation in Q&A during pitch sessions

Pitcher Project Grades

Each student’s Pitcher project grade for a module is based on:

• 30% Peer evaluation from fellow Pitcher team members

• 30% Instructor evaluation of pitch

• 30% Decider evaluation of pitch

• 10% Quality of deliverables (e.g., slide deck for pitch)

After each pitch, all Decider team members, the instructor, and any guests will complete a scoring rubric evaluating the Pitcher group on five dimensions (Relevance, Clarity, Creativity, Professionalism, Responsiveness) on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 4 (Excellent). The total score from each of the Decider team members will be summed to a possible Decider evaluation score of 100 per Pitcher group. See the Scoring Rubric document for details.

The instructor (and any guests) will use this same rubric for their evaluation(s).