Preparing Better Consultants

A volume in Research in Management ConsultingSeries Editor Anthony F. Buono Bentley UniversityThis volue focuses on a relatively neglected area of managementconsulting the education of consultants. In today's business world we findtraining programs provided by consultancies certification programs provided byprofessional organizations on-the-job training of consultants with formal orinformal supervision self-taught professionals and some academic programs andcourses. Is that enough? No better consultants are needed to handle the complexity and changing nature ofbusiness. Academe is in the best position to provide the critical thinking preparation necessary. Yet academicinstitutions have been slow in embracing this challenge. The role of academia needs to grow in magnitude and incertain directions that educate consultants beyond industry training practices. Chapter authors provide examplesof innovative programs topical approaches for courses and thoughtful reflections on the role academia can playin preparing better consultants. There are lessons for business schools consultancies and aspiring and practicingconsultants.