21008 Contemporary Issues in Management Consulting

Subject level: Postgraduate

Handbook description

This subject introduces the theoretical and practical guidelines associated with current issues in management consulting. A range of contemporary issues is examined which vary depending on their currency. Such issues may include ethical consulting, consulting for sustainability, accessing and linking into power in management circuits for consulting effectiveness, and consulting best practice.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. identify and understand a range of issues which impact upon contemporary consulting practice in both Australian and international organisations
2. apply practical strategies for dealing with these issues
3. identify values necessary for ethical and effective consulting.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject forms part of the Management Consulting major/sub-major offered within the MBA program. It contributes to the objectives of both the major and sub-major by focusing on fundamental dilemmas, issues and processes that are critical for effective and ethical consulting practice. It provides a foundation for other more specialised subjects within the major/sub-major, which emphasise the management of change and the development of specific consulting competencies.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will be required to work individually and in groups to research a particular issue (such as those listed above). Students will be further required to present their findings to the whole group. This will generally take place for approximately half of a three-hour session in the subject. The other half will involve visits from guest lecturers who are experts in the particular field and who can both comment on the presentation and provide guidance and practical experience in managing the relevant issues. Where appropriate videos, debates, readings and case studies will also be used.

Content

• Consulting and managing for sustainability
• Knowledge management
• Effective and ethical use of power in consulting and managing change
• Corporate governance — roles and practice
• Best practice in management and consulting
• Ethics and social responsibility in consulting
• The increasing importance of managing the supply chain
• Dilemmas of outsourcing
• Consulting for large-scale corporate transformations
• Skills for consulting and managing change.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Exploration and presentation of a particular issue (Group)

Assessment item 2: Case study (Individual)

Assessment item 3: Final examination (Individual)

Required text(s)

Greiner, L, Olson, T and Poulfelt, F (eds) (2005) Handbook of Management Consulting: The Contemporary Consultant – Insights from World Experts, Ohio: Thomson

Greiner, L, Olson, T and Poulfelt, F (Eds) (2005) Case Book: The Contemporary Consultant – Educating Today's Consultants, Ohio: Thomson.

Indicative references

Block, P (2000), Flawless Consulting: A guide to getting your expertise used (2nd edn), San Francisco: Jossey Bass/Pfeiffer.

Biswas, S and Twitchell, D (1999), Management Consulting: A Complete Guide to the Industry, New York: John Wiley.

Clark, T and Fincham, R (eds) (2002), Critical Consulting: New Perspectives on Management Advice Industry, Oxford: Blackwell.

Fombrun, C and Nevins, M (2004), The Advice Business. Essntial Tools and Models for Management Consulting, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Kubr, M (2002), Management Consulting: A Guide to the Profession, Geneva: ILO Publications.

McKenna, C (2006), The World's Newest Profession: Management Consulting in the Twentieth Century, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schein, E (1999), Process Consultation Revisited, Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley.

Wickham, P (2004), Management Consulting: Delivering an Effective Project, Essex: Pearson Education Ltd.