In the business world things are rarely clear or static, so flexible creative and well thought out solutions are the way to go. If the process of analyzing an industry or firm is easy, the client would have developed their own plan, using their own resources. The clients however have determined that they can use fresh approaches and new ideas. They have come to you for help and expect a professional job. You have the tools in your mental kit of marketing and business knowledge to product a good plan.
Some clients ask if the students can produce a professional plan.
I answer no, this is a learning process and the students are limited in both time and experience. I also tell the clients that the class will produce a plan with good new ideas for growing their business, and will provide a well structured and logical analysis of the environment and markets that form the foundation of the plan. Group meetings will be plentiful. I would expect that the average group will meet in class and one or two times a week outside of class. The actual number of meetings a week will change over the semester.