06211162 - Ressources humaines

The aim of this course is to gain a prefund understanding of the consulting industry in the 21st century (in Europe). Students are provided with four key perspectives on the consulting industry: 

1. A description of what management consultancy is
2. An understanding of the problem solving process
3. A critical analysis of the industry (ethics)
4. Some advice for a consultant’s career
The goal is that participants get a hands-on-approach on what management consultants do and how they do it (case studies, discussions, presentations)

This course will help students to train their analytical skills, to train their strategic skills and competencies, practice intercultural group work and leadership and gain to some degree insights into change management

Estimation of private study (outside of contact hours) :  18 hours

DIMENSION OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The participants are encouraged to act and consult in accordance with the ethical standards and norms defined by the IAE Lyon (Charte de Responsabilité Sociétale et des engagements des membres de la communauté de l'iaelyon, https://iae.univ-lyon3.fr/charte-de-responsabilite-societale-et-des-engagements-des-membres-de-la-communaute-de-l-iaelyon-1)

One part of the course is about ethics and ethical behaviour in consultancy and as a consultant

TARGETED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

Know methods and tools of a consultant in international management
Be able to train and use analytical skills 
Improve and use communication skillls
Work in teams and deploy team management skills
Be able to use some project management skills 
Develop and learn more about leadership skills (project manager, team leader)

COURSE OUTLINE

1 Introduction

2 The Descriptive Perspective
2.1 The Consulting Industry
2.2 Types of Management Consultancy

3 The Practitioner's Perspective
3.1 Clients, Procurement, and the Request for Information
3.2 The Consulting Life-Cycle
3.3 Consulting Approaches, Methods and Tools (Problem Solving)
3.4 Consultancy Skills
3.5 Running a Consultancy

4 The Critical Perspective - Ethics of Consultancy

5 The Career Perspective

PRESCRIBED TEXTS AND PUBLICATIONS:

O'MAHONEY, Joe and MARKHAM, Calvert (2013), Management consultancy, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Articles in journals like “Management Consulting Journal” (https://www.cmc-global.org/content/management-consulting-journal) and on websites of the professional consulting associations like Management Consultancies Association (MCA) https://www.mca.org.uk/, International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) https://www.cmc-global.org/, European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations FEACO https://www.feaco.org/ 

Consultation and continous reading of thought leadership articles from international consultancies like McKinsey, Bain, Boston Consulting Group, AT Kearny…

RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND PUBLICATIONS:

KERZNER, Harold and BELACK, Carl. (2010), Managing Complex Projects,  International Institute for Learning, New York.

KERZNER, Harold and SALADIS, Frank P. (2009), Value-Driven Project Management, International Institute for Learning, New York.

MINTO, Barbara (2002), The pyramid principle. Logic in Writing and Thinking, Prentice Hall, London.

RASIEL, Ethan M. and FRIGA, Paul N. (2002), The McKinsey Mind. Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and and Management Techniques of the World's Top Strategic Consulting Firm, McGraw-Hill, New York.
 

Individual grade
Individual assignment: 
Essay – Thought leadership

Other grade(s)
Grading during class
3 hours of class time – 30 min. per team

Final group presentation of the outcomes and recommendations of the consulting project or on an other topic relevant for consultants (eg. Digital transformation, Artificial intelligence…)

Weight : 2/3 – 1/3

TEACHING METHODS

PPT presentation, case studies, videos, individual and group work, break-out sessions, class discussions and presentations.

NATURE OF MATERIALS

PPT, videos, case studies,...

TEACHING INNOVATIONS AND USE OF TECHNOLOGY

The presentation topics that the students can choose from are mostly with a link to technology and business (e.g. Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends). The starting point of choice and reflection comes – among others - from several of the top management consultancies (McKinsey, BCG; Bain & Co….)

PRE-REQUISITES IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Good analytical thinking skills
• Interest in solving complex business problems
• Good knowledge about business and business functions
• Open mindedness and curiosity
• Self-awareness and self-organization – Open to feedback
• Ability to work in international / intercultural teams

ADVISED PRIOR READING:

• Articles of thought leadership from international management consultancies (eg. McKinsey Quartely, Newsletters from BCG, Bain, AT Kearny...
• https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner

RESOURCES AVAILABLE:

• Numerous books, articles, ressources are available in the library of the University and on the digital library. 
• Databases like eg. Factiva and Xerfi should be used activily by the students