39050 - Management Consulting

Learning outcomes

The course objective is to integrate and transfer the managerial tools that were acquired during the two year program in an operational perspective. A particular focus will be given to the role of consultants in the strategic decision making of firms, to the management tools used by management consulting firms, to the methodology for the of top management decision making. At the end of the course, participants will have a methodical approach to managerial problem solving in a business company.

Course contents

This course offers an applied perspective on the managerial tools acquired throughout the two-year program, focusing on their integration into real-world business contexts. Particular attention is given to the role of consultants in strategic decision-making, the methodologies used by management consulting firms, and the analytical frameworks that support top management decisions. By the end of the course, students will develop a structured, methodical approach to solving managerial problems within complex business environments.

Structure of the course:

1 Course Introduction & Business Case Launch

2 Guest speech – Management Consulting Toolbox

3 Management Consulting Toolbox

4 Team Work and Business Case Progress Update; Digital Transformation

5 Business plan - M&A

6 Guest speech; Principles of Management Consulting Written and Oral Communication

7 Project work presentation and discussion

Readings/Bibliography

Required Readings:

- Slides

Supplementary Readings (Optional):

- Will be uploaded on Virtuale

Teaching methods

The main instructional approaches used in the course are:

- Lectures

- Group Work

- Case Studies

Assessment methods

Class attendance and participation in team-work assignments is compulsory.

Students participating in team-work assignments:

Component Weight (%)

Final Exam 40

Group Project 60

- Exam and group project structure:

The final exam is a written exam where students have to solve different exercises on the course topics. To each exercise a given maximum number of points is associated, and to get it the student has to solve correctly the exercise and all the steps must be justified. The theoretical maximum number of points achievable in case of a perfect exam is 32.

The group project consists in a presentation to solve a real customer challenge and groups can be organized with 4-5 people max.

The evaluation of the answers of the exam depends on the correctness, completeness and rigor of the answers

The evaluation of the group projects depends on the completeness of the report and the rightness and completeness of the answers provided during a group oral examination

- Exam policy:

Registration to exam will be available on Almaesami. Grades will be published on Virtuale and students will have the possibility to reject 1 time.

Grading scale:

< 18: failed

18-23: sufficient

24-27: good

28-30: very good

30 e lode: outstanding

Erasmus: at most 20 Erasmus and Overseas students, and 10 UADE students, selected in chronological order, will be admitted to the course and the exam.

Students with disability or specific learning disabilities (DSA) are required to make their condition known to find the best possibile accommodation to their needs.

Teaching tools

Tools, platforms, or resources used during the course:

- Learning platform: Virtuale (virtuale.unibo.it) contains the slides and the team-work assignments

- Presentation software: PowerPoint

- Communication tools: Email; Teams; Forum on Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Laura Amadesi