Management Consulting Projects: A Step-by-Step Experiential Guide

Description

This textbook provides students with an easy to use, proven roadmap for completing a successful consulting project from start to finish. Primarily designed for students who work as outside consultants on solving client problems and investigating potential opportunities, the textbook’s structure first explains the consulting process to students and then depicts it in a chronological flow, using real-life examples to demonstrate practical application. Each section builds upon the previous one, focusing on the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills for employability. Now in its sixth edition, this text has been fully revised to bring it up to date with the current business context and global environment, including: A major expansion of the tools and resources needed for students to conduct research on a client’s situation. A new final chapter that ties the overarching consulting process together and focuses on how the student should use this experience for their own professional development. New examples of award-winning projects to provide practical guidance. Fresh material on the use of new technologies in the consulting process, ethics and data management, and remote working. This well-renowned model promotes a conceptual understanding of the consulting process and the interactions between and among students, the team, the client, and the instructor. Management Consulting Projects should be essential reading for experiential Business Consulting modules, Small Business Management, and Strategic Management at postgraduate and MBA level. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents About the authors Preface Introduction 1 Experiential learning using consulting Definition Types of consultants Experiential learning Conceptual framework Purpose of field work Ethical considerations Confidentiality Communication 2 Developing the consulting team and its dynamics Project matching Team formation Team dynamics/ communication Initial client meeting 3 Identifying the client’s issues through root cause analysis Internal analysis External analysis Resources for research 4 Client contract development and relationship management Letter of engagement Project management Project communication 5 Project deliverables Final report Final presentation Evaluations 6 Professional development and conclusion Professional development Conclusion Appendix 1: Templates Appendix 1A: Survey preamble Appendix 1B: Confidentiality/Participation agreement Appendix 1C: Company contact sheet Appendix 1D: Activity log Appendix 1E: List of action verbs Appendix 1F: Progress report Appendix 1G: Peer evaluation Appendix 2: Examples Appendix 2A: SWOT example Appendix 2B: TOWS example Appendix 2C: Sample progress report Appendix 2D: Thank you letter Appendix 2E: Sample letter of engagement Appendix 2F: Final sample project 1 ( tied to Appendix 2E) Appendix 2G: Final sample project 2 References Index