39050 - Management Consulting

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Docente: Laura Amadesi
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: SECS-P/08
  • Language: English
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Business Administration (cod. 0897)

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

  • Introduction to Management Consulting

  • Development of a real business case to be solved in teams: the case will be presented by a professional, who will act as a real client. Students will have a chance to ask him/her relevant company information and will present him/her the solution developed in team. Work on the business case will continue throughout the whole course period.

  • How to plan and structure a business case

  • Management consulting toolbox – case studies will be provided to see management consulting tools in practice: Growth/Share Matrix, Product Line Profitability, ROS/RMS, The Experience Curve, The Value Chain, Product/Industry Life Cycle, Best Demonstrated Practices, SWOT analysis, etc.
  • Principles of Management Consulting Written and Oral Communication: how to structure a presentation, hints on slide design, communications skills, etc

  • Typical Management Consulting Job Interview

Readings/Bibliography

The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World's Top Strategic Consulting Firm, by Ethan Rasiel and Ph.D., Paul N. Friga

The McKinsey Engagement: A Powerful Toolkit For More Efficient and Effective Team Problem Solving, by Ph.D. Paul N.Friga

Teaching methods

Class lessons, case studies, open discussions, participation of industry managers and senior consultants from top consulting firms.

Assessment methods

Team development and presentation of a business case. The work will be developed by teams, each student will be assessed based on the quality of the work developed in team and based on his/her individual presentation skills. Final oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Laura Amadesi