The Business of Consulting

The Practice of Professional Coaching Change is the life-blood of consulting just as organizations endure only through successful change. The reality of this mutual need lies at the heart of what consulting is all about. Consultants solve problems created by the powerful forces of change in an organization's environment and in so doing, create change themselves. The Practice of Professional Consulting is a comprehensive examination of what has been called «the world's newest profession.» In this practical resource Edward Verlander offers an overview of the industry and includes the most useful processes, tools, and skills used by successful consultants to produce solutions for their clients. The book also reveals why consulting is a growing and attractive career option. The best practices used by leading consulting firms are included in the book as well as the capabilities skillful consultant use in each stage of engagement. Verlander also recommends ways to ensure a consultant can solve a client's problems in a systematic, professional way. At the very heart of the book is the emphasis he puts on what is needed to become a truly trusted consultant. Filled with a wealth of must-have information from a wide range of consulting professionals, the book includes: a model of the consulting cycle; a diagnostic instrument for assessing consulting roles; ideas of how to develop political intelligence to navigate client organizations; tools for managing consulting meetings, risk assessment, and skills transfer; techniques in communications, emotional intelligence, presentations, and listening; and much more. Written for anyone wishing to start a consulting business, new employees at established consulting firms, facilitators of consulting training programs, and faculty at business schools, this important resource provides an easy way to understand the stages, roles, and tasks of consulting found in any type of consulting and it provides simple and easy-to-use techniques and templates for implementation.

Provide organized, efficient, relevant consulting with lasting value Maximizing the Value of Consulting is an indispensable, practical guide for managing, measuring, and delivering the results that make internal and external consulting a lasting value to clients and the company. Sponsored by the ROI Institute and the Association of Internal Management Consultants, this book provides a roadmap to relevance for consultants operating in the increasingly fast-paced, changing, dynamic environment. Readers will learn how to use resources properly and manage the investment efficiently, while truly connecting to the business, securing appropriate levels of commitment, and providing adequate levels of support. Detailed coverage includes guidance toward calculating the value of consulting in terms that executives understand, including business impact and ROI, and using the appropriate tools to show how things are working throughout the process. Whether organizations are using internal or external consultants, or both, consultants can provide better value to the company. Consultants are needed to provide advice, support, and insight into the processes undertaken to improve the business, and integrate the input of different functional units into a more streamlined strategy. This book is designed to help consultants provide the utmost value to clients by maximizing organization, efficiency, and ultimately, ROI. Manage for value with better organization and cost control Set objectives at multiple levels to deliver useful results Measure implementation, impact, ROI, and intangibles Use final results to drive appropriate actions, creating lasting value The skyrocketing need for internal and external consultants will continue, in almost every functional area ranging from HR and technology, to auditing and risk management. Maximizing the Value of Consulting provides a manual for relevant, value-driven consulting, with world-renowned expert insight.

The Consulting Veterinary Nurse is an invaluable source of information for all veterinary nurses setting up and conducting their own nursing clinics in small animal practice. From the basics of setting up the consulting room to running and marketing individual clinics, this book provides a comprehensive coverage of the role of the consulting veterinary nurse. A large section of the book details specific clinics run by nurses, including nutritional assessments, behavioural clinics, puppy parties, seasonal information campaigns, senior pet clinics and medical clinics for a full range of conditions from arthritis and dental problems to epilepsy and cancer. A chapter specifically on rabbit clinics is also included. Written by an experienced senior veterinary nurse, this is a vital guide for all veterinary nurses seeking to develop their consulting role and contribute effectively to the long-term success of their practice. KEY FEATURES Provides a comprehensive guide to the role of the consulting veterinary nurse Details specific nutritional, medical and behavioural clinics run by nurses Includes advice on presentation, marketing and communicating with clients Discusses client compliance and internal procedure and protocol Contains sample diet history sheets and unit conversion charts for use in practice Endorsed by the British Veterinary Nursing Association

WiMAX holds great promise for the future of broadband communications. Companies and consumers are increasingly dependent on broadband and are committed to taking broadband to the next level with mobile broadband or 802.16e, the WiMAX standard. The Business of WiMAX offers a complete guide to this exciting technology, addressing the critical issues surrounding WiMAX and its future. The author discusses the need for the technology, before explaining its architecture and deployment, modulation technology, wireless standards, spectrum issues, and network topology. Applications and the market for these are covered in-depth, and the exciting future of WiMAX is discussed. The book provides strategy and recommendations for achieving success in such a dynamic scenario. The Business of WiMAX: Offers a uniquely balanced business and technology perspective on the critical issues surrounding WiMAX and its place in the evolving broadband wireless industry. Explains the need, use, market, trends, business models, and the future road map for WiMAX technology. Provides strategy and recommendations to a variety of different players, including service providers, equipment manufacturers and chip makers. Supports practical insights with numerous examples and real-world case studies. This text is essential reading for professionals, strategists, leaders, researchers, analysts, investors and others in the IT and Telecoms domain. Managers planning to deploy wireless networked computing devices in their organisations, ICT consultants, business strategists, systems engineers and architects, and final year undergraduate and postgraduate students and academics will also find this an invaluable guide to WiMax.

This is not a 'how to' book about branding. Instead it outlines approaches that will increase the accountability of marketing spending and provide tools to support investment decisions. Drawing on the world's largest database of brand research, The Business of Brands outlines the ways in which brands are a source of value for both businesses and consumers. For businesses, it shows how brands contribute to shareholder value, both through revenue generation and by acting as a management tool. And for consumers, it shows how brands can fulfil various valuable functions – such as acting as a source of trust or a predictor of quality.

This handy resource is a ready-made toolkit of ideas, methods, techniques, and models that assist and support your work as an internal or external organizational consultant. The Annual addresses the broad range of topics that are of most interest to professionals in the field. The materials provide highly accessible means of interacting with a diverse variety of systems and processes?The Annual focuses on communication and includes information on coaching, teams, strategic learning, corporate responsibility, and technology initiatives. This important resource includes an international group of expert contributors. Purchase of an Annual includes access to an associated website which features customizable versions of the reproducible items associated with each activity included in the volume.

The new edition of the definitive guide for venture capital practitioners—covers the entire process of venture firm formation & management, fund-raising, portfolio construction, value creation, and exit strategies Since its initial publication, The Business of Venture Capital has been hailed as the definitive, most comprehensive book on the subject. Now in its third edition, this market-leading text explains the multiple facets of the business of venture capital, from raising venture funds, to structuring investments, to generating consistent returns, to evaluating exit strategies. Author and VC Mahendra Ramsinghani who has invested in startups and venture funds for over a decade, offers best practices from experts on the front lines of this business. This fully-updated edition includes fresh perspectives on the Softbank effect, career paths for young professionals, case studies and cultural disasters, investment models, epic failures, and more. Readers are guided through each stage of the VC process, supported by a companion website containing tools such as the LP-GP Fund Due Diligence Checklist, the Investment Due Diligence Checklist, an Investment Summary format, and links to white papers and other industry guidelines. Designed for experienced practitioners, angels, devils, and novices alike, this valuable resource: Identifies the key attributes of a VC professional and the arc of an investor’s career Covers the art of raising a venture fund, identifying anchor investors, fund due diligence, negotiating fund investment terms with limited partners, and more Examines the distinct aspects of portfolio construction and value creation Balances technical analyses and real-world insights Features interviews, personal stories, anecdotes, and wisdom from leading venture capitalists The Business of Venture Capital, Third Edition is a must-read book for anyone seeking to raise a venture fund or pursue a career in venture capital, as well as practicing venture capitalists, angel investors or devils alike, limited partners, attorneys, start-up entrepreneurs, and MBA students.

Chart your path in the consulting jungle! Finding Your Way in the Consulting Jungle–a book in The Practicing Organization Development series–offers OD consultants the information and guidance they need to understand their place in the consulting network, differentiate themselves from other types of consultants, and work with both clients and colleagues to make sure everyone's needs and expectations are met. Finding Your Way in the Consulting Jungle offers practical advice on how to: Differentiate and market yourself Interview prospective clients Write proposals «Transports the reader from the safety of the classroom into the complex, unpredictable and often hazardous world that they describe as 'the consultant jungle.' It is a great resource for graduate level OD programs, consultant training courses, AND corporate managers who hire consultants.» –C. Patrick Fleenor, Ph.D., director, International Business Programs, Albers School of Business and Economics, Seattle University

A comprehensive overview of investment banking for professionals and students The investment banking industry has changed dramatically since the 2008 financial crisis. Three of the top five investment banks in the United States have disappeared, while Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have converted to commercial banking charters. This Third Edition of The Business of Investment Banking explains the changes and discusses new opportunities for students and professionals seeking to advance their careers in this intensely competitive field. The recent financial regulation overhaul, including the Dodd-Frank legislation, is changing what investment banks do and how they do it, while the Volcker rule has shaken up trading desks everywhere. This new edition updates investment banking industry shifts in practices, trends, regulations, and statistics Includes new chapters on investment banking in BRIC countries, as Brazil, Russia, India, and China now account for a quarter of the global economy Explains the shift in the listing of securities away from New York to various financial centers around the world, and how major exchanges compete for the same business This new edition, reflecting the current state of the investment banking industry, arrives in time to better serve professionals wanting to advance their careers and students just beginning theirs.

The history of consulting dates back to the original ‘intervention’ of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and today's consultants have just as dubious a reputation. They are tempted by flattery and over-assessment of their abilities, and run the risks of uncertainty, responsibility without authority and loss of control. In order to steer a middle course, they must understand their own intention as consultants. Fearless Consulting clearly demonstrates that, in spite of the many risks and temptations, consultants can approach their profession and clients fearlessly, and offers a range of philosophical inspirations for readers as well as specific intervention models and practical methodologies.