- Level Foundation
- Duration 7 hours
- Course by Emory University
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Offered by
About
This is the #4 course in the specialization on management consulting. Management consultants are quick learners. When you first join a generalist consulting firm, you are expected to learn core consulting skills and will likely be staffed on projects across industry and functions. You might be on a chemicals pricing project, then a retail cost-reduction project. It’s critical that you learn “how to get smart quickly” and ask smart questions. At the same time, you should develop an armory of tools to create data through client interviews, surveys, benchmarking, and observations.Modules
Getting Started
1
Discussions
- Optional: meet and greet
1
Videos
- What will you learn from this course?
1
Readings
- Course outline for note taking
Researching Companies and Industries
1
Discussions
- Optional: What did you research recently?
2
Videos
- 4.1 Top 5 ways to get smart on a client’s business
- 4.2 Top 5 ways to get smart on industry trends
3
Readings
- Consulting Fundamentals: skills, tools, tips (2023)
- Example of investor relations presentations: Lowe's
- Watch CEO interviews
Analyzing Financials and Using Proprietary Research
1
Assignment
- Research on client, industry, and competitors
1
Discussions
- Optional: Let's practice using Finviz.com
2
Videos
- 4.3 Finviz.com: A free way to analyze stocks
- 4.4 Paid research is expensive, and may be useful
Strategy is How you Cope with Competition
1
Assignment
- Strategy and industry dynamics
1
Peer Review
- Your turn to do a company / industry analysis
3
Videos
- 4.5 Michael Porter's five forces framework
- 4.6 Application of the five forces framework
- 4.7 Creating barriers to entry
1
Readings
- Interview with Michael Porter (13min)
Not All the Data is Found in IT Systems and Reports
1
Assignment
- Creating new data
3
Videos
- 4.8 Sometimes you need to create new data
- 4.9 Surveys are useful, and take a lot of time
- 4.10 Observations give a glimpse of reality
1
Readings
- More survey tips? Ask Survey Money
Benchmarking Tips and Warnings
1
Assignment
- Benchmarking, competitive intelligence, Excel models
1
Discussions
- Optional: Have you benchmarked?
3
Videos
- 4.11 What is benchmarking? Why is it important?
- 4.12 How to stay out of (benchmarking) trouble
- 4.13 10 tips for competitive intelligence
1
Readings
- How many jobs require "benchmarking?"
Learn Excel Hygiene so Your Models are Easy to Review
3
Videos
- 4.14 Use Exceljet.net to learn the Excel basics
- 4.15 Excel models vary from simple to fancy
- Congratulations on finishing course #4
1
Readings
- Please take 2 minutes and leave a review
Auto Summary
This course, "Consulting Tools and Tips," is perfect for aspiring management consultants. Offered by Coursera, it equips learners with essential consulting skills, focusing on rapid learning and smart questioning across various industries. Participants will gain proficiency in data creation through client interactions and other methods. With a duration of 420 minutes, it’s available through Starter and Professional subscriptions. Ideal for those at a foundational level in business and management.

John Kim