Management Consulting Today and Tomorrow ― Perspectives and Advice from Leading World Experts

This new edition gathers over twenty-five experts to outline the theory behind consulting, providing insight into change processes and management issues in the field. The business of consulting has grown faster than most other businesses, due not only to increased demand by clients, but also from the innovative capabilities of numerous consulting firms as they develop new services.

Divided into six parts, the book introduces students to the consulting industry, addressing the major practice areas, contexts, and implementations of the field. Significant updates detail the effect of economic troubles between 2010 and the present; analyze the market response to consulting in recent years; and provide a more thorough understanding of how consulting is applied in the different areas of a business, such as operations, marketing, and finance. Introductions written by the editors offer further insight into the themes and learning goals of each section, helping readers to recognize the elements of a successful consultation and utilize their new skill set. The text concludes with a look at the future of consulting with regards to ethics standards and how strong manager-client relationships contribute to financial growth. Readers will also learn how the developing field of entrepreneurship creates new economic structures and job opportunities.

Students of business and management will not only learn how to consult, but also gain the skills needed to adapt to and lead organizational change, giving them a competitive edge when they enter the field.

Thomas H. Olson is Professor of Clinical Management and Organization at University of Southern California, USA.

Flemming Poulfelt is Professor of Management and Strategy and Vice Dean at Copenhagen Business School, Denmark.