Brown Bag Seminar April 4, 2007
MANAGEMENT

 

"New Ways of Work"

A textbook in development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MGTC19 - Course Description

The "Introduction to Consulting" course introduces students to the "consulting" model of work, as an increasingly probable career option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale for the Course

With the changing nature of employment, students are increasingly likely to find careers involving: a series of short term contracts or project-related assignments.

 

The manager of the future will not have a traditional "job" with its steady flow of work, predictable schedule and predetermined career path.

 

The course argues that tomorrow's managers will need to be more opportunistic and entrepreneurial in structuring their own career path.

 

Succesful managers of the future will need to develop a portfolio of adaptable and transferable skills.

 

The key skills include:

networking;

personal selling;

opportunity identification;

proposal writing;

contracting and negotiating;

team joining and team building;

written and verbal communication;

and

project management.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why The Book Should Exist

Dramatic growth in university and college-level courses on
consulting, and on entrepreneurship and self-employment, in
both the USA and Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Wrong With Existing Texts

Virtually no consulting texts aimed at the academic market.

 

Most consulting books are aimed at the trade.

 

Most texts on entrepreneurship aimed at starting a company, virtually none have an interest in self- employment and personal entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topics Covered

The book will examine:

The changing nature of the world of work. Downsizing, right sizing, outsourcing and "business process re-engineering" are all elaborate ways of saying that white-collar, middle-rank, professional managers will have less job security, shorter job tenure, and a greater variety in their careers. They will need to take a more entrepreneurial approach to career and personal development.

 

The entreprenurial model of managerial work. With the demise of the traditional psychological contract between employers and managers, future managers will increasingly need to become contractors, consultants and free-lancers.

 

The rise of the contingent worker. Examines the many reasons why employers are increasingly hiring contractors, consultants and free-lancers, on a part-time, short-term or per project basis.

 

Consulting skills - finding work. Looks at the importance of networking, and personal selling

 

Consulting skills - defining work. Looks at project specification, proposal writing, responding to Invitiations to Tender (ITTs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs)

 

Proposal Writing - Frequently, a written report is the most significiant - sometimes the only - permanent evidence of the consultant's presence. A consultant's Report should document what you were asked to do, what you did, why you did it, and report on the actual or likely outcomes. We examine the style and content of Consultants' Reports.

 

Understanding Contracts - In lieu of "jobs for life" employment will be secured on a contractual basis. It will be important for managers to understand the legal nature of non-disclusure agreemnts (NDAs) and Contracts.

 

 

 

 

Learning Outcomes

The purposes of the course, and the textbook, are to:

Get students challenging their conventional ideas of "the job" and "career".

Encourage students to think about self-employment or non-traditional employment as an increasing probable career option.

Provide an understanding as to why firms, increasingly, are down-sizing and outsourcing much of their operations to contractors, consultants and free-lancers.

To examine the key skills required by consultants in order to locate and secure, to manage assignments and successfully manage client relationships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

What's the purpose of this Brown Bag seminar?

 

1. To share with you some thoughts, ideas, notions and opinions.

 

2. To get feedback, advice, suggestions.

 

3. To justify my sabbatical leave.