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Consulting Approach to Problem Solving
  • Level Foundation
  • المدة 7 ساعات hours
  • الطبع بواسطة Emory University
  • Offered by

عن

This is the #3 course in the specialization on management consulting. Management consultants excel at solving difficult and complex business problems. How do they do this? Shouldn’t clients know more about their situation than external consultants? Consultants are trained to systematically break down problems into logical pieces, then aggressively pursue answers with data: • Think about the problem broadly; strategy, operations, people, technology • Define the problem clearly; articulate “what does success look like?” • Break the problem into “buckets” so it is easy to understand • Use hypotheses to “guess” your way to the potential answer(s) • Find and clean up messy data; convert the data into useful recommendations

الوحدات

Getting Started

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Optional: meet and greet

1 Videos

  • What will you learn in this course?

1 Readings

  • Course outline for note taking

Open Up the Problem Slowly

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • 3.1 Think broadly about the problem
  • 3.2 Scope should be both broad and narrow

2 Readings

  • Consulting Fundamentals: Skills, tools, tips (2023)
  • Scope creep is scary, avoid it

Use Frameworks to Organize the Work

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Breaking the problem down

1 Discussions

  • Optional BCG reports: Loose dogs

2 Videos

  • 3.3 Breaking the problems into "buckets"
  • 3.4 Using “logic trees” to connect the “buckets”

Hypotheses Means "Guessing Your Way to the Answer(s)"

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Hypotheses and data analysis

2 Videos

  • 3.5 Hypothesis-based consulting
  • 3.6 Developing confidence in your solution(s)

1 Readings

  • Bulletproof problem solving (Conn and McLean), 2019

Working with Data is Difficult AND Worth It

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Why is data so important?

4 Videos

  • 3.7 Why do consultants love data?
  • 3.8 Messy data is an opportunity
  • 3.9 Data lends credibility
  • 3.10 The journey from data to insights

1 Readings

  • GenAI: It's a terrible time to be average

Consultants Excel at Data Collection and Cleansing

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
Show info about module content

2 Discussions

  • Optional: How much excel do you use?
  • Optional: Do you have a "data challenge" story?

3 Videos

  • 3.11 Data request
  • 3.12 Client follow up (data request example)
  • 3.13 Data cleansing and structuring

2 Readings

  • Data Analytics Basics for Managers (HBR, 2018)
  • Exceljet.net a great way to learn Excel

Performance Improvement Project Approach

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Data requests and DMAIC

1 Peer Review

  • Create a 1-page example of DMAIC

3 Videos

  • 3.14 DMAIC: A key tool for process improvement
  • DMAIC example: Losing weight
  • Congratulations on finishing course #3

1 Readings

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Auto Summary

Learn to tackle complex business challenges with the "Consulting Approach to Problem Solving" course on Coursera. This foundational course, part of a management consulting specialization, teaches you to systematically dissect problems, define success, and use data-driven hypotheses for solutions. Ideal for business and management enthusiasts, the course runs for 420 minutes and is available with a Starter subscription. Join instructor-led sessions to enhance your strategic, operational, and analytical skills.

John Kim
Instructor

John Kim