Handbook of Management Consulting: The Contemporary Consultant, Insights from World Experts [Hardcover]

Larry E. Greiner (Author), Flemming Poulfelt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0324290411 | ISBN-13: 978-0324290417 | Publication Date: March 5, 2004 | Edition: 1

This book provides a thorough examination of a variety of specialties within the broad range of management consulting. A book of such scope and depth could only be written by a large number of experts. Each chapter is written by a leading expert in one of the many specialties related to management consulting. Together, all 27 contributors take the reader through an industry that is currently undergoing significant change. While covering all the major practice areas of consulting, the book also offers new insights into change processes and addresses compelling management issues now facing consulting firms. Every practicing consultant and firm needs this bookÂ's broad perspective and its treatment of specific areas of content in order to prepare them for a successful future in a highly competitive business environment. Presently, there is no book on the market that takes such an advanced look at both the complexity and multiple aspects of consulting. Ideas presented by the many consulting experts are thoughtful and provocative. Their sage advice on future developments in the field is not to be missed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book on consulting is a first for the profession - written by a combination of world experts who provide deep insight into a fast changing industry, its various specializations and the management of consulting firms. This is not just another "how to do it book" but a bible of wisdom and perspective that every consultant should read again and again."

This Handbook of Management Consulting is appropriately title The Contemporary Consultant, providing and excellent overview on the status of the consulting industry and the challenges it is now facing. The bookÂ's strength is that it analyzes the consulting business in all its dimensions, and I recommend it strongly to all executives and decision makers within the business community, consultants and clients alike.

For this book, Greiner and Poulfelt have assembled a veritable "whoÂ's who" in the world of management and organizational consultants, including themselves. One could not ask for better coverage - comprehensive and broad yet with depth and very current. I know of no better compendium on todayÂ's consulting world.

About the Author

Dr. Larry E. Greiner is Professor of Management and Organization in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He serves as Academic Director of the highly ranked U.S.C. Executive MBA Program where he is responsible for its curriculum and faculty. His degrees include the D.B.A. and M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School, and BA from the University of Kansas. Professor Greiner is the author of numerous publications on the subjects of organization growth and development, management consulting, and strategic change. Among his many articles is the Harvard Business Review article, 'Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow,' which was recently reprinted in 1998 by the Harvard Business Review as an all time classic. In 1999, he and Professor Arvind Bhambri won the McKinsey Prize from the Strategic Management Society for their paper on "New CEOs and Strategic Change. Across Industries." His books include Power and Organization Development (with Dr. Virginia Schein), published by Addison-Wesley, Consulting to Management (with Dr. Robert Metzger), published by Prentice-Hall. Professor Greiner has acted as a consultant to many companies and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad, including Coca Cola, Pacific Bell, Olivetti, Merck, Times-Mirror, Red Lion Hotels, U.S. Forest Service, Internal Revenue Service, Cadence Design Systems, ChipSoft, Korn/Ferry International, Andersen Consulting, KinderCare, Health Systems International, Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts, and American Golf Corporation.

Flemming Poulfelt, is Professor of Management at the Department of Management, Politics & Philosophy and Director of the LOK Research Center at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. His degrees include a PhD. in management and a Master from Copenhagen Business School. Flemming Poulfelt has served at the faculties at University of Southern Denmark, Lund University, Sweden and Cranfield School of Management, UK. He has been a visiting senior researcher at the University of Southern California and Stanford University. He is a former chair of the Department of Management at CBS. Flemming Poulfelt has been actively involved in the Academy of Management. He has been Division Chair of the Management Consulting Division and is now Program Chair of the International Theme Committee.

Flemming Poulfelt is the author of numerous articles and books on the subjects of professional service firms, knowledge management, management consulting, service management, and strategy. He has published in Scandinavian Journal of Management, Journal of Management Consulting, Consultation, Business Ethics: A European Review, Journal of Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations, The Finnish Journal of Business Economics, Nordiske Organisasjons-Studier, and Ledelse & Erhvervsøkonomi (Journal of Management & Business). He has published several books on consulting (Konsulentlære - om den professionelle konsulent, 1982 published by NNF) and the use of consultants (Ledelsen og konsulenten - om brug af konsulenter, 1989 with Jørgen Brask published by NNF and Brug af konsulenter - når samarbejdet skal lykkes, 1999 with Jørgen Brask and Per Thygesen Poulsen published by Copenhagen Business School Press).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: South-Western College Pub; 1 edition (March 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0324290411
• ISBN-13: 978-0324290417
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #997,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book and service, February 22, 2009

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Ioana "Ioana" (Canada) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Handbook of Management Consulting: The Contemporary Consultant, Insights from World Experts (Hardcover)

Easy to read and understand with a focused content. I'm using it for my consulting class and I declare it the best textbook ever! Excellent resource for both clients and consultants.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good coverage!, August 27, 2006

By 

Donald Hsu (NYC, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Management Consulting: The Contemporary Consultant, Insights from World Experts (Hardcover)

This book provides detailed descriptions of management consulanting firms. Companies covered: McKinsey, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cresap, Robert Heller, Arthur D. Little, Boston Consulting Group, Bain and Company, and many others. McKinsey started in 1930s, hired the best MBAs from Harvard, MIT, other Ivy League schools, moved them up the corporate ladder. They either became partners at McKinsey or they were out. Other firms followed suit. Many of them landed as CEOs later in their careers. Lou Gerstner is a good example, turned around IBM in the 90s.

Jeff Skilling was the other extreme. Armed with the Harvard MBA, 10 year McKinsey experience, drove Enron to the ground. Sarbanes-Oxley Act soon followed. Even the best can fall.

I recommend this book. This book will be better, if it placed less emphasis on the historical timelines of each firm, and more on the success/failure of the profession.