Management Consulting -A Complete Guide to the Industry

The complexities involved in taking up a career in management consulting would be mitigated with a comprehensive resource that would guide aspirants through every step and help allay their fears. Management Consulting: A complete Guide to the Industry, by Sugata Biswas and Daryl Twitchell, does precisely that for wannabe management consultants.

The book dissects every aspect of management consulting in ample detail. The authors have done an excellent job of presenting a thorough analysis of the industry as a whole by painting a realistic picture of the consultant's lifestyle, introducing the reader to valuable insider perspectives on the industry, and providing essential strategies to plan a career effectively.

Biswas and Twitchell have also provided a game plan to overcome the hurdle of case interviews by providing 15 business frameworks and reading the section with sample questions and answers (though it is worth noting that many of the most prestigious firms frown on memorized, or "canned," framework-oriented answers). The authors have also included a directory of 50 of the most sought-after consulting firms and provide advice on how to negotiate an offer.

The book's main strength is its objective analysis of the management consulting industry. Years of association with the field have not biased the authors to exaggerate the positive aspects of the field or underplay its negative aspects. Their effort to present a wide variety of perspectives on consulting from major players in the industry is very useful, and provides an opportunity to the novice to assess the field from these various points of view. In addition, the authors have been pragmatic when it comes to communicating their ideas by not resorting to an esoteric style of writing.

Biswas and Twitchell have done an excellent job by providing a handbook on management consulting for novices of all ages. Management Consulting is indispensable in many respects to consulting hopefuls and is a must-read for anyone interested in launching a consulting career.

Nandhini Rangarajan is a doctoral student whose area of concentration is Organization Behavior and theory. She is particularly interested in organizational change and development and sees herself as a future change management consultant. Her e-mail address is NR7505@cnsvax.albany.edu.