The Real-Time Restructuring Project: Maximizing Student Learning with Minimal Professor Effort

This article examines a real-time project in which students propose the financial restructuring of a firm currently experiencing difficulties. Such a project breathes life into the theories and analytical tools discussed in class while giving students practice at collecting and analyzing real-time information and at defending their analysis and proposals for the firm. This paper includes recommendations on finding a good project firm, on helping students find relevant information, on helping students come up with better recommendations, on laying out requirements for the student s written report, and on conducting the end-of-semester round-table discussion in which students defend their recommendations to their peers.