Module 6: Managing Consultants

Introduction

Management consultants help organisations to solve issues, create value, maximise growth and improve business performance. They use their business skills to provide objective advice and expertise and help an organisation to develop any specialist skills that it may be lacking.

Consultants are people with skills or expertise who provide advice that assists managers to make decisions. Contracts with consultants generally specify the purpose of the task, but not details or the manner in which it is to be performed.

Contractors, on the other hand, are usually engaged by the hour to deliver defined goods or services or prescribed tasks as a result of decisions already taken by an agency. The Department of Defence also distinguishes Professional Service Providers (PSP) as individuals with specialist skills contracted to fill a line position, virtually in the sense of ongoing employees.

Unlike Public Service employees, consultants are engaged on a temporary basis to carry out specific projects. Establishing a collaborative relationship with consultants, therefore, requires some understanding of their working methods and environment.

Social learning activity

Read these articles:http://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2013/01/27/the-value-of-management-consulting-proven/#7b1bde8c1a8e

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21577376-world-grows-more-confusing-demand-clever-consultants-booming-brainy

2.Wacth this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULM4MK6oFzc

3.Then create a document using Google Docs to share your work so your whole group can have access to t. Based on your readings, use what you have learnt to collaboratively create a resume.

The final sheet should be sent to your instructor once you are done.

4.How will the resume be evaluated?

Each group menbers will grade their peers on a scale of 1-10 for their participation. This grade will count for 50% of the final grade. The instructor will also grade the whole paper using1-10 scale. The addition, the two grades will determine every students final grade.

Test

Test your knowledge here

https://benchprep.com/pmp/pmp-prep-course/practice-questions/developing-and-managing-the-project-team-25

Summary

It is very difficult to generalise the typical activities of a mangement consultant, as each project is unique and requires a tailorised approach and skill set. However, the following characteristics are common amongst most project-types:

Scoping client problems and conducting hypothesis of possible solutions
Researching and collecting data to investigate and solve specific client problems
Synthesising analyses outputs to build an overall diagnosis
Running workshops to facilitate discussions for performance improvement
Managing client stakeholders to create "buy-in" to a change initiative
Constructing and delivering business presentations, and interim progress reports

Because the face of business is always changing, companies are always looking for better ways to do things. This means that as long as companies want to be better, bigger, wealthier, and more productive, management consultants will find they have much work.