Managing multiple projects: Applying a demand-based approach

When incorporating live student projects in the classroom, it can become overwhelming for the instructor as they often face challenges in managing multiple projects. This article provides an overview of the common problems that can occur while overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. Within the paper, a demand-based approach to managing multiple projects is defined and proposed as a method for overcoming these problems. Case study results are provided from a Six Sigma consulting program that included multiple student live client projects, both on-campus and abroad. The results indicate that the demand-based approach provided an effective system for managing multiple student projects simultaneously, based on organizational evaluations of team performance metrics. Exhibits in the form of tables comparing the traditional and demand-based approaches are provided.