Strategic Consultancy 2023-2034, Tilburg University: Summary of Content Video’s
and expanded slide decks of the exam materials
0. Preliminary knowledge
We speak of strategy when all four characteristics apply:
1. When making and implementing vital decisions that are difficult to reverse
2. When the aim is to increase performance
3. Acting in an environment that is characterized by high complexity and uncertainty
4. Through the rational use of scarce resources (e.g. restricted by money or people)
How do you design strategy? → By the classical strategic management process:
Examples of several steps:
- Confrontation: SWOT or TOWS matrix
- Formulate strategy: CLS, BLS or functional strategy (e.g. for marketing)
- Implement strategy: entry or exit strategy, change management
The classical strategic management process is very theoretical. A more realistic view is the deliberate vs
emergent strategy:
- Deliberate is a planned strategy
- Emergent is spontaneous strategy, so this is not formulated beforehand but can be discerned
afterwards
- In real life a strategy mostly is a combination of both deliberate and emergent strategies
1. Introduction
There are five types of strategy questions that a client can ask:
1. Corporate level strategy (e.g. to which market should we expand?)
2. International level strategy (e.g. What is the most promising country?)
3. Business level strategy (e.g. How do we position our product in the market?)
4. Entry/ Exit (e.g. M&As)
1
, 5. Implementation (e.g. change in organization structure)
Consultants need three types of skills
a. Hard skills (e.g. knowing powerpoint, general knowledge of finance)
b. Soft skills (e.g. presentation skills)
c. Attitude ( the three Cs: i. Committed ii. Courageous iii. Conscientious (= ethics))
Five pillars of consulting ethics
1. Professionalism ( do not exceed your expertise, meaning do not advice finance/ HR)
2. Independence (avoid personal conflict with client)
3. Objectivity
4. Confidentiality
5. Citizenship (e.g. being collaborative with colleagues)
2. Industry
The industry can be visualized as a pyramid:
- There are 200 different types of Consulting
- Management consulting is a form of consulting
- Strategy consulting is a form of management con-
sulting
Management consulting (= business consulting) exists out of 5 types:
1. Strategy
2. Operations
3. HR
4. Finance
5. Technology
Strategy consulting (= boardroom consulting) exists out of 8 types:
1. Corporate
2. Business model transformation
3. Economic policy
4. M&A
5. Organizational
6. Functional
2
and expanded slide decks of the exam materials
0. Preliminary knowledge
We speak of strategy when all four characteristics apply:
1. When making and implementing vital decisions that are difficult to reverse
2. When the aim is to increase performance
3. Acting in an environment that is characterized by high complexity and uncertainty
4. Through the rational use of scarce resources (e.g. restricted by money or people)
How do you design strategy? → By the classical strategic management process:
Examples of several steps:
- Confrontation: SWOT or TOWS matrix
- Formulate strategy: CLS, BLS or functional strategy (e.g. for marketing)
- Implement strategy: entry or exit strategy, change management
The classical strategic management process is very theoretical. A more realistic view is the deliberate vs
emergent strategy:
- Deliberate is a planned strategy
- Emergent is spontaneous strategy, so this is not formulated beforehand but can be discerned
afterwards
- In real life a strategy mostly is a combination of both deliberate and emergent strategies
1. Introduction
There are five types of strategy questions that a client can ask:
1. Corporate level strategy (e.g. to which market should we expand?)
2. International level strategy (e.g. What is the most promising country?)
3. Business level strategy (e.g. How do we position our product in the market?)
4. Entry/ Exit (e.g. M&As)
1
, 5. Implementation (e.g. change in organization structure)
Consultants need three types of skills
a. Hard skills (e.g. knowing powerpoint, general knowledge of finance)
b. Soft skills (e.g. presentation skills)
c. Attitude ( the three Cs: i. Committed ii. Courageous iii. Conscientious (= ethics))
Five pillars of consulting ethics
1. Professionalism ( do not exceed your expertise, meaning do not advice finance/ HR)
2. Independence (avoid personal conflict with client)
3. Objectivity
4. Confidentiality
5. Citizenship (e.g. being collaborative with colleagues)
2. Industry
The industry can be visualized as a pyramid:
- There are 200 different types of Consulting
- Management consulting is a form of consulting
- Strategy consulting is a form of management con-
sulting
Management consulting (= business consulting) exists out of 5 types:
1. Strategy
2. Operations
3. HR
4. Finance
5. Technology
Strategy consulting (= boardroom consulting) exists out of 8 types:
1. Corporate
2. Business model transformation
3. Economic policy
4. M&A
5. Organizational
6. Functional
2
