Introductory description

This module discusses the basics of consulting, such as the consulting industry, consulting work and processes, problem-solving approaches, and emerging consulting areas such as IT/digital and sustainability.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module syllabus is outlined below:

• Introduction (e.g., module agendas, class survey, and team building)
• Consulting industry (e.g., industry history and current landscape, and consulting service offerings)
• Consulting work and process (e.g., consulting process model, consulting failure, and project management)
• Business problem solving (e.g., 4S Method including design thinking, hypothesis-driven, issue-driven paths)
• Consulting for information and digital technologies (e.g., enterprise information systems and AI applications)
• Consulting for sustainability
• Guest speakers and cases from industry

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of what consulting is and how it works
• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and context of consulting, and consulting work and processes
• Demonstrate an understanding of problem-solving approaches
• Demonstrate an understanding of information and digital technologies, and sustainability
• Critically analyze business cases, identify issues, and propose plans to address the issues

Indicative reading list

This module recommends the following books:

• Witzel, M. 2016. "Management consultancy," Routledge
• Garrette, B., Phelps, C., and Sibony, O. 2018. "Cracked it! How to solve big problems and sell solutions like top strategy consultants," Palgrave Macmillan.

This module uses cases that will be communicated to students at the start.
This module recommends the following research articles to understand the increasing applications of AI in business and associated challenges:

• Lebovitz, S., Levina, N., and Lifshitz-Assaf, H. 2021. "Is AI Ground Truth Really True? The Dangers of Training and Evaluating AI Tools Based on Experts’ Know-What," MIS Quarterly, 45(3b), pp. 1501-1525.
• van den Broek, E., Sergeeva, A., and Huysman, M. 2021. "When the Machine Meets the Expert: An Ethnography of Developing AI for Hiring," MIS Quarterly, 45(3b), pp. 1557-1580.
• Lou, B. and Wu, L. 2021. "AI on Drugs: Can Artificial Intelligence Accelerate Drug Development? Evidence from a Large-Scale Examination of Bio-Pharma Firms," MIS Quarterly, 45(3b), pp. 1451-1482.

This module recommends the following research article to overview the sustainability issues in business:

• Gillan, S. L., Koch, A., and Starks, L. T. 2021, "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, 66, no. 101889.

Subject specific skills

Identify and solve issues in cases and communicate the outcomes effectively
Plan and implement a consulting project (e.g., developing a proposal with scheduling and budgeting, and completing proposed tasks)

Transferable skills

Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills
Demonstrate strong oral and written skills