July, 2015

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My Behavioral Science, Design, and Business Book Reading List

Steve Shu Consulting

As I was gathering my thoughts for my Inside Nudging project ( www.InsideNudging.com ), a project that I envision tying together the application of behavioral science in business contexts and providing more of an inside look at innovation, strategy and implementation, I wanted to take stock of books that have probably influenced (liberally interpreted) the way I look at behavioral science.

Insurance 209
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Immediately After: The 6 Steps to Take When You Win a Consulting Project

David A Fields

“Sunny day. Sweepin’ the clouds away.” These opening words to a classic TV theme song are an apt description of how we feel when a client says “Yes” to a project. (Extra points if you name the TV show.) The moment a prospect turns into a client is affirming, a vote of confidence, and a signal that we’ll soon engage in what we enjoy most: applying our experience, expertise and skills to help others succeed.

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Thinking Like a Consultant: People Skills

Management Consulted

One of the best things about strategy consulting is that you get to work across a broad spectrum of industries , giving you exposure to a lot of the wonderful variety that exists around us in the business world. However, one of the most unnerving things about strategic consulting is that you’re supposed to be able to increase productivity across this very same landscape without respect to the size, type, and complexity of the client.

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HR Metrics: How to Calculate Cost Per Hire

The Clever Consultant

Cost Per Hire (CPH) is one of the most common HR metrics used to measure recruiting effectiveness. That’s because it’s insanely simple to calculate – just add up your total recruiting costs and divide them by number of new hires for a given period. CPH shouldn’t be used in a vacuum, though, as it doesn’t […].

Metrics 149
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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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The New Philanthropy: The Push For A Renewable Capital Innovation Fund

Tom Spencer

This post is a collaboration between BROSO™ and Tom Spencer , and was originally posted on Truth Has No Temperature. Why is the Australian venture capital industry almost non-existent and irrelevant on a global scale? Three reasons: A massive misallocation of capital, particularly when it comes to Australia’s $1.7 trillion superannuation bolstered capital pool, the fourth largest capital pool in the world.

Industry 111

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What Are The Best Management Consulting Books?

Steve Shu Consulting

There are four books that I recommend as core to the generic practice of consulting. These are: The McKinsey Way by Ethan Rasiel. Process Consultation by Edgar Schein (dry read). Flawless Consulting by Peter Block (optional and highly recommended for those coming from engineering versus consulting backgrounds). The Pyramid Principle:Logic In Writing and Thinking (for managers & consultants especially) by Barbara Minto.

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How to Win More Follow-On Business [Part 1]

David A Fields

This is Part 1 of a seven-part series in which I show you how to win more follow-on and pull-through business by consulting at the “enterprise” level. In each article (other than this one), I discuss how to adapt one of the “Six Pillars of Consulting Success” from winning individual projects to winning an ongoing string of lucrative projects.

eBook 200
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Job Hub: Virgin Group Jobs and Culture

Management Consulted

Today we highlight tremendous business analyst and post-consulting leadership jobs at Virgin Group. Virgin Group, a leading international group, is one of the most recognized and respected brands in the world. This group has a startling 300 companies in its portfolio in sectors ranging from travel, telecommunications, health, financial services, leisure, music, space travel, and renewable energy.

Groups 122
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Managing People on Projects and Programs

The Clever Consultant

Update 7/15: This is one of my favorite posts. Maybe its because I wrote it while 30,000 miles over Topeka. Or, I just like the way my early writing looks. Either way, I added #7 below. A few months back, somebody asked me what my favorite People Management Theory was. My first response: Is People […].

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PowerPoint Best Practices for Creating Stellar Presentations

Mastering data visualization in PowerPoint will help accelerate your career because it positions you as someone who can present data that drives business decisions forward. think-cell's PowerPoint Best Practices eBook was created specifically for professionals aiming to master the art and science of data-driven storytelling. What’s inside: Practical Insights: Uncover valuable tips for crafting engaging and persuasive presentations.

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You, Humans and Life

Tom Spencer

When a baby is born it knows nothing about the world. So little, in fact, that it has no concept of self. The baby, its mother, and the world are one. As the baby grows it discovers the world for the first time. Hands, feet, pee, poop, mumma and dada. . The baby’s mother whispers “you are special!”, and the baby establishes a sense of self.

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Organization Design Fundamentals (Nov 2015)

Kates Kesler

Tickets available here.

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The Consulting Apprenticeship: A Valuable Resource for Starting As A Consultant

Steve Shu Consulting

Resources 150
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Should You Play “Hard to Get”?

David A Fields

A consultant called me with the following question: I was advised by some professional salespeople to never say you’re free on the day the prospect suggests a meeting, even if you are free that day. Instead suggest a day a week or two later. That way you don’t seem too eager or available. Do you agree with that advice? What do you think about the advice this consultant received?

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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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Duke University undergrad prepares for BCG Interview Superday

Management Consulted

Ramit is a junior at Duke University who successfully aced his on campus interview. However, he did receive some puzzling feedback from his interviewers, leading him to contact Jenny Rae to guide him through how to use the input constructively for his final interview on site at BCG. Read on for some insightful answers as to how interviewers perceive your answers, how to communicate personality and relatability without coming across too informally, and developing rapport with your interviewer.

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PMO Metrics: Simplifying Net Present Value (NPV)

The Clever Consultant

Whether you’re helping a client build a business case or, launching a strategic project, chances are you’ll need to get your hands dirty by calculating the Net Present Value (NPV) of their investment. The concept behind NPV is simple: cash in-hand today is more valuable than cash received next year, the year after that and […].

Metrics 113
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Olswang – The name says it all

Tom Spencer

I recently had the dubious honour of meeting with two partners from London based law firm Olswang. Olswang is a firm which holds itself out to the market as being an expert in technology, media and telecommunications, and so I was quite looking forward to meeting them. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. It was interesting to learn that, despite being apparent technology experts, the firm’s partners still use an old version of the Blackberry.

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Stay productive! Clear your head in two minutes with this simple technique.

Killer Consultant

Oftentimes, your head just fills with things to remember. Your client asked you for something after the meeting when you were standing in the hallway… There was that direct message on internal chat that you wanted to follow up on… Dry cleaning must be picked up on Thursday, but the store closes at 7 not 8 this week… And so on, and so forth….

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Savings Consultants Are Needed in Today's Market More Than Ever

Savings Consultants are needed in today’s market more than ever. With an increase in expenses, businesses are looking for opportunities to save. Often unknown to businesses are savings in expense reduction, specialized tax savings, specialized savings including medical underpayments, health benefits cost reduction, zero cost processing, and more. Blue Coast Savings, with over 20 years in business, assists Savings Consultants in helping these companies move toward more profitable businesses.

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Police State "Ministry of Truth" Hits Spain; Man Fined for Calling Police "Slackers" on Facebook

MishTalk

On July 1, the Spanish Government went to " Full Police State ", with enactment of law forbidding dissent and unauthorized photos of law enforcement. Spain's officially a police state now. On July 1st, its much-protested "gag" law went into effect, instantly making criminals of those protesting the new law. Among the many new repressive stipulations is a €30,000-€600,000 fine for "unauthorized protests," which can be combined for maximum effect with a €600-€300,000 fine for "disrupting public ev

Media 61
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How Do You Leverage Teaching Positions?

David A Fields

A consultant asked me the following question: “How can I leverage teaching at a university into more consulting opportunities?” Do any of you teach at a university now (I know some of you do!) or have you in the past? If so, have you been able to create business from your position? Please share your experiences below. I’ll post the answer I gave to the consultant in a couple of days.

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Abt Associates Interviews and Culture

Management Consulted

ABT ASSOCIATES. For this installment of Firm Profiles, we are taking a look at Abt Associates – a firm that is known for utilizing innovation and creativity as a means of tackling some of the most difficult social issues present today. A conscientious and research driven firm, Abt seems to have one thing on its mind; improving the lives of people worldwide.

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The Future of Management Is Teal

Strategy+Business

Organizations are ready for their next evolutionary step: a step toward self-management, wholeness, and a new sense of purpose. Companies are developing a new form of organization -- a soulful workplace where talents are nurtured and the deepest aspirations are honored.

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TOOLS and METHODOLOGIES for developing DECISION SUPPORT PACKAGES

This White Paper targets opportunities for Management to develop proficiency in the Decision Framing and Analyses element of input to Decision, & Risk Analyses for Major Project Funding Decisions.

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Culture vs Strategy

Tom Spencer

Strategy involves understanding your current position, deciding on a destination, and charting a course from here to there. Culture is about who you are, and why you do things. Culture is arguably more important than strategy because, if you look at it over the lifetime of a product or an organisation, the culture is the only thing that will really matter.

Culture 79
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Six Ways to Improve Your Creative Thinking Skills

Gina Abudi

Creative thinking skills enables us to break from the status quo and push for innovation. Creative thinking challenges assumptions which enables for organizational progress, enables for better solutions to complex problems, and for continuous improvement in the business. Creative thinking can be learned! Sometimes we just have to break away from our normal routine to [.].

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30% Bail-In Haircuts on Greek Deposits Over €8,000 Coming Up; Banks to Raid Deposits to Avert Collapse

MishTalk

30% Bail-In Haircuts Coming Up I warned countless times over the last six months that Greek citizens need to pull their deposits before it was too late. Today I report it's too late. 30% bail-in haircuts on Greek bank deposits are coming up. Banks to Raid Deposits to Avert Collapse The Financial Times reports Greek Banks Prepare Plan to Raid Deposits to Avert Collapse Greek banks are preparing contingency plans for a possible “bail-in” of depositors amid fears the country is heading for financia

Banking 61
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How Do You Discover Consulting Client Needs in Advance… and Should You?

David A Fields

A consultant asked me the following question: I’ve received an introduction to a prospect and have a meeting scheduled. How should I find out about their needs prior to the meeting? Beyond looking at their website, how do I get very specific information that will lead to a real working relationship? What advice would you give this consultant? Do you have a process for discovering needs before an initial meeting?

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Why You Need to Use Case Studies in Sales and Marketing (and How to Start Now)

Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. They persuade buyers by highlighting your customers' experiences with your company and its solution. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey. In marketing, case studies are versatile assets for generating business, providing reusable elements for ad and social media content, website material, and marketing c