A14902 Strategic Consulting Practicum

The course is aimed at providing a deep understanding of strategic consulting topics. 
Expected learning objectives are:
a. Deep knowledge of consulting processes
b. Main strategic consulting methodologies
c. Main tools used to solve business issues and to help entrepreneurs and top management in taking decisions.

At the end of the course, students will be able to carry out both studies and analysis that usually rely on a strategic consultant.

In particolar:

a. Analyze the business environment

b. Analyze a company from different viewpoints: organizational, economics, financial, competitive.

c. Apply different tools according to the customer needs 

The course intends to answer some key questions that are typical of strategic consulting which is aimed to give companies advice on their goals and future direction.

Which is the most proper framework that customers can use for making effective decisions about their direction? Which is the problem solving process that is used in a strategic consulting firm? How can we compare customers current capabilities with market opportunities? How can a Consulting firm help customers identify priorities?

The course involves the combined use of methodologies and techniques that will involve students actively. In addition to the lectures, discussion of case studies, exercises and role playing will be performed.

Theoretical lectures are based on slides and material prepared by professors.

Is required an active participation of students who are asked to participate in discussions, prepare short deliverables on the proposed topics.

Students are required to apply the theory to case studies that will be discussed in the classroom. Presentations will be carried out as if the students were strategic consultants and reported to the customer the results of their analysis.

Non-attending students must study the material and independently process the cases to support the oral test including theory and cases

For attending students, the vote is based on the following elements:

a. oral test (50%);

b. group work delivered and discussed during the course (50%)

For non-attending students, the vote is entirely based on an individual oral test.

Optional reading: Francesco Ciampi - Knowing Through Consulting in Action - 2017, Firenze University Press