An Undergraduate Consulting Methodology

Abstract

As a field, Management Consulting is mostly unknown to students of public universities. This unfortunate circumstance is a product of favoritism of elite, private colleges in the hiring processes of most consulting firms. Regardless of the presence or lack of intention of pursuing management consulting as a career path, undergraduates can benefit from the application of management consulting principles, especially in terms of business problem solving. Undergraduate consulting field projects help to hone analytical skills, apply course material, and serve the community. In order to more easily facilitate undergraduates participating in such projects, this thesis first outlines best practices by top firms in the management consulting industry. It then adapts these best practices to provide a broad methodology for undergraduate use in pursuing consulting projects, as well as a specific methodology for one of the more common undergraduate--‐level consulting tasks: marketing analysis and design. The thesis then applies these methodologies through a case study, a consulting engagement performed by Eller Consulting Club for a local entrepreneur. Finally, the thesis provides guidelines for securing employment in the management consulting industry, focusing on the interview process. True to consulting form, the thesis is presented in a straightforward, easily accessible slide deck.