Management consulting : a complete guide to the industry / Sugata Biswas and Daryl Twitchell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Biswas, Sugata, 1967-

Contributor:

Twitchell, Daryl, 1971-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Business consultants.

Business consultants--Vocational guidance.

Physical Description:

xii, 336 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : John Wiley, [2002]

Summary:

Demand for qualified management consultants continues to rise as new positions open up every year. With tens of thousands of applicants vying for these coveted slots, however, the competition for them is fierce. Added to that, the preferred method of candidate selection, the case interview, is an excruciating challenge for even the most qualified applicants. If you want to prevail in this grueling contest, you must be very well prepared.

Management Consulting: A Complete Guide to the Industry, Second Edition guides you carefully through every phase of the management consulting job search process and gives you a leg up on the competition every step of the way. It provides an objective picture of the industry as a whole, shows you how to grab the attention of consulting firms that are virtually buried in resumes, and helps you navigate abstract and complex case interviews with confidence.

More than 100 sample case questions prepare you to think on your feet during the case interview, and outlines of the 15 most common case frameworks help you shape your answers to fit the topic. You'll even find a directory of 100 consulting firms to help you start your job search. Plus, contributions from leading consultants from various sectors of the industry give you a feel for the business and help you discover how you can fit into it.

This new edition features a revealing profile of the e-business segment of the consulting industry as well as considerable information on consulting to start-ups, incubators, and other new-economy enterprises. All salary information is completely updated, as are statistics on the industry and discussions of key trends affecting the management and recruiting practices of consulting firms. You'll also discover how to negotiate among your offers for the most attractive package.

Whether you're a recent business graduate/MBA or an accomplished professional seeking a career change, you need all the help you can get to break into consulting. With Management Consulting on your side, you'll develop the background knowledge, interview skills, and absolute confidence you need to take the consulting industry by storm.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The Management Consulting Industry 5

The Role of a Management Consultant 6

The Consulting Product 8

The Range of Consulting Firms 10

Segmenting the Industry 11

The Evolution of Management Consulting 17

Continued Growth of the Profession 23

Emerging Trends in Management Consulting 24

Chapter 2 The Consultant's Work and Lifestyle 29

The Management Consulting Firm 29

The Consulting Work Style 33

Steps in a Consulting Engagement 36

The Consulting Lifestyle 39

Consulting as a Career Accelerator 42

Chapter 3 The Emergence of e-Consulting 45

e-Consulting Services 46

e-Business Incubation Services 51

Determining Your Fit with e-Consulting 54

Chapter 4 Perspectives on Consulting 57

The Consulting Profession

The Work of Consulting / Gary Neilson 60

Can Consulting Be a Career? / Bill Matassoni 64

Strategic Thinking and Innovation in Consulting

Business Strategy and Consulting: A Theorist's View of Practice and a Practical View of Theory / Barry Nalebuff 69

Innovation in Consulting / George Stalk Jr. 73

Customer-Driven Growth Strategy / Charles P. Hoban 78

Alternative Approaches to Consulting

The Generalist Approach to Consulting: The Strategic Value of Breaking Industry Barriers / Paul Smith 83

Selecting a Small versus a Large Firm / Ellen McGeeney 88

The Internal Consulting Practice of Strategic Planning / Catherine Arnold 94

Profiles of Consulting Specialties

Change Management Consulting / Arun Maira 101

Information Technology Consulting / Rudy Puryear 106

The Evolving Role of Health Benefits Consulting / Bruce Kelley 110

Consulting to the Nonprofit Sector / Laura Freebairn-Smith 115

Consulting to Government and Nonprofit Organizations / Brian Murrow 121

e-Business Consulting

Consulting in the World of Electronic Commerce / Joseph B. Fuller 127

Digital Consulting / Glenn Cornett 132

Careers after Consulting

Consulting and Venture Capital / Andrew L. Busser, Jeffrey S. Edelman 138

Life after Consulting / Eileen M. Serra 145

Chapter 5 Planning Your Consulting Career 153

Finding Your Niche in Consulting 154

Researching the Industry 156

Narrowing Your List of Firms 158

Prioritizing Short-Term versus Long-Term Interests 161

Getting Your Foot in the Door of a Firm 162

Chapter 6 Mastering the Case Interview 171

The Parts of a Case Interview 172

Part I. Greetings 173

Part II. The Resume Review 175

Part III. The Case Question 178

Part IV. Questions and Wrap-Up 189

Practice Makes Perfect 190

Post-Interview Follow-Up 191

Responding to Rejection 191

Chapter 7 Negotiating Your Offer 193

Negotiating the Terms of an Offer / Keith G. Allred 194

Negotiating a Favorable Deal for Yourself: The Art of Successfully Claiming Value 195

Enlarging the Pie: The Art of Creating Value 201

Making Allies out of Your New Colleagues: The Art of Maintaining and Enhancing Relationships 205.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0471444014

OCLC:

47018554

Online:

Table of Contents