A14911 Strategic Consulting

The goal of the course is to provide students with a hands-on experience about the issues, topics and tools relevant in strategy consulting. It will highlight how consultants help C-suite executives and top management to solve strategic business issues and support them in taking decisions which typically shape the future direction of a business.

Expected learning objectives are:

-In depth knowledge of the main consulting processes

-Appraisal of the main strategic consulting analytical frameworks and methodologies

-Conducting in-depth industry analysis and accurate evaluation of a business’s position in its industry

At the end of the course, students will be able to carry out the main types of analysis that a strategy consultant typically execute. In particular: 

-Frame the scope of the consulting project

-Analyze the industry environment, the trends and competitive set of a company

-Analyze a company from different viewpoints: business models, value proposition, competences and key successful factors

-Develop familiarity with some of the main consulting processes

The course aims at answering some key questions for strategy consultants and corporate managers, such as why and how do company top management often rely on strategy consulting firms to help them analyse and resolve strategic problems and address high-priority business issues? How can a consulting firm help customers identify priorities? How to execute a strategy project by defining the scope and directing problem-solving? What are the best frameworks that they use in supporting their customers to make effective decisions about their strategy? How do you assess customers’ current capabilities against new market opportunities and required capabilities?

In particular the course will cover the following aspects:

-an overview of the international consulting market, its main players and recent evolution

-the profiles in the management consulting profession: required skills and capabilities

-a description of the process side of a consulting project: from defining the scope of a project to drafting the offer and the organizing the team to getting client buy-in on final recommendations

-an in-depth analysis of the key frameworks used by consultants (the strategy consultant “toolkit”)

Theoretical lectures are based on slides and teaching material prepared by professors and testimonials from the industry. An active participation of students will be required. In addition to the lectures, discussion of case studies, exercises and role playing will be performed. Students will be  required to apply the theory to case studies and field projects which will be carried out in parallel to in-class lectures and discussions.

Attending students: active class participation (individual - 30%) and field project team presentations (team - 70%)

Not attending students: oral exam on the course material (100%).