Читать книгу The Consultant's Handbook - Parikh Samir - Страница 5

The objective of this book is to provide a practical context as well as tips and actionable guidelines to those working with or interested in consulting.

Suitable audiences include soon-to-be graduates interested in the consulting profession, consultants aiming to accelerate their careers through the acquisition of new ideas, and experienced practitioners wishing to complement their own experience with that of others.

Beyond the realm of consulting, the topics presented in this book could also be applied by a wide range of professionals whose roles involve frequent interactions with internal or external stakeholders, in order to improve their effectiveness and to navigate around common obstacles.

This book is designed to be easy to read, as too many consulting-related books are not. The content presented should be easy to absorb and to connect with one's own experience. The very practical approach adopted as well as a rich variety of examples are intended to make the concepts discussed easy to implement with immediate benefit in a wide range of daily situations, irrespective of the reader's experience level. The content has been organized to take the reader on a logical journey through some of the most important considerations in the practical world of consulting. Each chapter will provide a foundation for the ideas presented in the next. It is therefore recommended that the chapters are read in sequence.

Part I, Consulting Fundamentals, introduces some of the underlying principles that apply to any consulting-based approach. Those beginning a career in consulting should give these topics particular consideration. Mastering them with high proficiency can immediately improve the outcomes of your consulting engagements. Experienced practitioners may consider these topics as something of a review but may wish to reflect on the examples that illustrate approaches that have worked well and not so well in the past.

Part II, Case Studies, demonstrates how these principles can be applied successfully in consulting engagements. Three different case studies based on real industry situations are presented, providing the reader with an insight into typical daily life in consulting. The case studies are illustrated with additional content that is better presented in context than in isolation.

Part III, Additional Topics, explores a range of other topics that should be understood in order to gain a solid foundation of consulting knowledge. These topics include the delivery of consulting projects, the management of client-related obstacles and the skill of advising.