The Consultant's Handbook

An indispensable guide to consulting with confidence.

Consulting is becoming an increasingly critical function in today's organizations, where expert knowledge translates into competitive advantage. The Consultant's Handbook introduces the essential practical skills required to consult and make sharp, well-prepared interactions in a wide range of business situations.

Based upon his 20 years of experience in international consulting, Samir Parikh outlines a set of simple practices that you can apply straight away.

Learn how to:

• Prepare for a successful consulting engagement
• Establish suitable credibility as a consultant
• Manage client projects and interactions effectively
• Overcome client-related obstacles
• Formulate and deliver compelling arguments and advice

With extensive case studies providing insights into the day-to-day requirements for consulting and actionable tips throughout, you will gain an understanding of the fundamental skills and attitudes needed to excel in the world of consuting.

• Introduction
• Part I: Consulting Fundamentals
1. What is Consulting?
2. Preparing to Consult
3. Establishing Credibility
4. Managing Client Meetings
• Part II: Case Studies
• Case Study 1: Exploring New Consulting Opportunity
• Case Study 2: Presenting a Solution Approach
• Case Study 3: Scooping a Study
• Part III: Additional Topics
5. Proposing a Consulting Service
6. Delivering a Consulting Service
7. Client Interactions and Related Obstacles
8. The Skill of Advising

Well, there is nothing new here. It is mainly a very basic book that some newly educated B.Sc. could get something out of, as a starter to the consulting business. It is not bad, it just doesn't really contain any valuable information. And a quick check of the authors company shows a small boutique shop with 7 employees that barely breaks even.

If you have never been exposed to the management consulting business (as a consultant or a consultant user) before, this may scratch the surface, but it wont do more than that. There are both better books as well as better written books out there.