The Crimson Press Curriculum Center

First Page and the Assignment Questions:
Three days before physical therapists, Susan Margulies and Joe Jones and occupational therapists, Melissa Meile and Martin Gold met for their monthly dinner out, Martin sent an e-mail asking them to send him their completed “homework” on what they needed to learn in order to decide whether to establish their own ergonomics consulting practice. He consolidated their lists (Exhibit 1) and handed them to his friends as soon as they had placed their meal order, this time at a quiet Thai restaurant in Kenmore Square.

Joe said, “We really did a lot of work! I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with us!”

Susan replied, “It was fun, wasn't it? I was a little frustrated about not finding everything I wanted to know, but ended up putting s affair amount of time in at the computer because what I could find was pretty interesting. I see from the consolidated list - thanks for doing that, by the way, Martin - that our research overlapped quite a bit, so you must have had some fun with it, too. I spoke with a friend who has a solo ergonomics consulting practice and she shared with me her fee structure. She charges $250 an hour for consultations to business and industry and the same fee when she is called in to do expert witness testimony. For a 2-3 hour on-site job analysis she bills $750-1500 plus travel time. Of course the 2-3 hours on-site analysis, also has another 3 hours billed to write a report. When she needs to travel out of state, expenses for travel, accommodations and meals are included.”

Assignment

1. How would you respond to the questions in Exhibit 1?

2. What should the group do next?