Content:
By now you will have realized that one of the most important competencies that the DSL program hopes to develop in its students is consulting skills. For those who may not be familiar with the broad principles or content matter of consulting this assignment propels you in the direction of forming your own company. If your reaction to this assignment is, “What, already?” The answer is, yes. The best way to become a consultant is to do consulting.
In this assignment, you begin by:
(a) Thinking through the process of establishing your own consulting firm or practice. What will be your consulting brand? In what areas will you specialize? How will you market your services? Based on the readings for this period, along with a survey of any consulting organizations (both ‘live’ and online), develop:
a consulting philosophy (why you do what you do and the impact it should have on a client’s organization);
a value proposition (what differentiates you from other consultants); and
brand (the distinctive of your business; what clients buy into) for your real or conceptual consultancy. How you express these elements is entirely up to you.
*Note: Make sure that the final deck includes the points above, along with defining your area of expertise and how you will market your services
The only limitation is that your Consulting Brand be professionally conveyed. In other words, it should conform to the highest production standards and be targeted at a prospective ‘high end’ client or consulting exhibition where consultants might showcase their wares. In other words, the end product should be something you would be proud to present to a client (Please be sure to research how other consultants and/or consulting firms communicate their brand).
Format:
Your Consulting Brand must be presented as a PowerPoint or Webinar presentation. PowerPoints and Webinars must be accompanied by speaker’s notes. Please do not submit a pdf.
Length:
10 slides including your cover slide. For timing, prepare this presentation as if you have 10 minutes max to present. [Golden Rule of Presentations: 10 slides, 20 words per slide, 30 pt. font]
(b) The second part of this assignment involves:
submission of a 2-page summary consultant’s resume. The style is up to you. The only proviso is that it should support a professional consulting image. Also, focus on only conveying information that is relevant to a consulting career.
Format:
Your professional resume should be no more than 2-pages long. No photos or company logos should be used. Reproduce the resume on a standard white background and submit as an MS Word doc file. (Do not submit in pdf or other format). Keep it simple, but professional. Only highlight skills and experience considered relevant to a consulting career.
Length:
2 pages.
