06310161 - International consulting

The aim of this course is to gain a profund 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) : 21 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)
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)

1 Introduction
2 The Descriptive Perspective
2.1 The Consulting Industry
2.2 Types of Management Consultancy
3 The Practiotioner 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 :

1. O'MAHONEY, Joe and MARKHAM, Calvert (2013), Management consultancy, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
2. Consultation and continous reading of thought leadership articles from international consultancies like McKinsey, Bain, Boston Consulting Group, AT Kearny…

RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND PUBLICATIONS :

1. HENRY, Jane E. and HARTZLER, Meg (1998), Tools for Virtual teams, Quality Press, Milwaukee.
2. KERZNER, Harold and BELACK, Carl. (2010), Managing Complex Projects,  International Institute for Learning, New York.
3. KERZNER, Harold and SALADIS, Frank P. (2009), Value-Driven Project Management, International Institute for Learning, New York.
4. MINTO, Barbara (2002), The pyramid principle. Logic in Writing and Thinking, Prentice Hall, London.
5. 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
Assessment type : Written
Nature of the assessment: Individual assignment:
2 options:
(1)    Strategic analysis of a company
(2)    Essay – Thought leadership

Other grade(s)
Grading during class
Length : *3 hours of class time – 30 min. per team
Nature of assessment: 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 (https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/management-tools-and-trends/). The starting point of choice and reflection comes from one of the top management consultancies (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...

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