The practice of professional consulting
By: Edward G. Verlander
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Pfeiffer
Published: 2012
Place of publication: San Francisco
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9781118241844
Subjects: BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Consulting; Business consultants; Consulting firms
Description: "Despite the size of the consulting industry and its attractiveness to business school graduates, there is a dearth of agreement about what constitutes "professionalism" in consulting. The Practice of Professional Consulting provides the most comprehensive introduction to the field of consulting, including a complete system of guidelines, and all the tools, templates, techniques, case studies, competencies, and assessments to become a professional consultant. Broad enough to be useful to anyone starting any kind of consulting business, yet specific in explaining typical client situations, this guide offers new and aspiring consultants with a perspective of the rules, roles, values, methods, and techniques used across firms in the consulting industry"--
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: PrefaceAcknowledgmentsPART I SETTING THE STAGECHAPTER 1 THE NATURE OF CONSULTINGIt's an IndustryTypes of ConsultingTrusted Consultant and AdvisorConsultants QualificationsWhat is Professional Consulting?CHAPTER 2 WHY COMPANIES HIRE CONSULTANTSWhy Consultants Are NeededFast, Bigger, Better, Cheaper OutcomesForces That Drive Business ConsultingExpectations of Consultant's ServiceChanges in Client's Business and Organization NeedsFuture ChallengesCHAPTER 3 A MODEL FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTINGWhat Do We Mean by processA Framework for ConsultingThe Four Stages of ConsultingThe Four Roles of ConsultingConsulting CompetenciesPART II APPLYING THE MODELCHAPTER 4 STAGE ONE: THE DEVEOLPING AND DESIGNING PROCESSStage One Competencies - Winning BusinessUnderstanding the Client's Business and IndustryMaking A Good First ImpressionFirst Meeting DynamicsCHAPTER 5 STAGE ONE, CONTINUED: ASSESSING CLIENT NEEDS AND MANAGING EXPECTATIONSThe Purpose of Conducting a Needs AssignmentTypes of Questions - The FundamentalsConducting A Needs Assessment - A Question StrategyNeeds Assessment; title: Listening ActivelyProposal Development ProcessManaging ExpectationsCHAPTER 6 STAGE TWO: THE MOBILIZING & ALIGNING PROCESSStage Two Competencies: Mobilizing and AligningWork and Project Plan ReviewsRisk AssessmentProject Launch MeetingsCHAPTER 7 STAGE TWO, CONTINUED: TURNING CONSULTING GROUPS INTO TEAMSDefining a TeamStages of Team DevelopmentDiagnosing Group PerformanceHow Team Building is ConductedSpecial Problems in Team BuildingCharacteristics of High Performing TeamsProject Leader Style Needed for Team BuildingCHAPTER 8 STAGE THREE: THE BUILDING & PRODUCING PROCESSStage Three Competencies; title: Building and ProducingData GatheringPerformance Management and CoachingCoaching ConsultantsMotivating ConsultantsProgress Review MeetingsNavigating Organization PoliticsProject Management IssuesCHAPTER 9 STAGE FOUR: THE IMPLEMENTING & DEPLOYING PROCESSStage Four Competencies; title: Implementation and DeployingManaging ChangeImplementation StrategiesSkills TransferMeasuring Customer Satisfaction.PART III THE BIGGER PICTURECHAPTER 10 IMPROVING CONSULTING AS A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICEA Reality Check About ConsultingNeed to Professionalize ConsultingProfessional Capabilities of ConsultantsBuilding Block One: Business FocusBuilding Block Two: Business ManagementBuilding Block Three: Technical RequirementsBuilding Block Four: Inter-personal AttributesBuilding Block Five: Effective LeadershipCHAPTER 11 LESSONS OF EXPERIENCEHow to Grow in Professional CapabilityLessons from McKinseyThe Pain and Joy of a Consulting CareerProfessional Proficiencies in ConsultingTrends for the 21st CenturyAPPENDIXA. CONSULTING ROLE PREFERENCE INDICATORB. GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL CONSULTINGC. THE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF CONSULTANTSD. CONSULTING CASE APPLICATIONSE. DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND INSTRUMENTS FOR CONSULTING TEAMSF. REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX.