Although consultants influence the outcome of major endeavors in the
fields of management, finance, government, and engineering, few attempts
have been made to establish the tenets and techniques of consulting. In
Principles and Practices of Professional Consulting, author Steven C.
Stryker outlines the basic tools required of this critical skill. In
doing so, he looks into the history of consulting, the consulting
process itself, and the key practical skills and techniques that are
needed for successful consulting. Case examples based on real-life
situations aptly demonstrate the applicability of the material to
current consulting activities. After introducing the topic and
presenting some background information, this book goes through the
process of consulting from meeting and securing clients, to planning and
implementing a proper strategy, to terminating and evaluating
assignments. It provides techniques and principles at each stage of the
process which are sure to improve one's consulting practice. This book
presents much crucial information that can be immediately used by
professionals and students in various disciplines. It is both
comprehensive, covering all the essential aspects of professional
consulting by uniting theory and practice into a single resource, and
accessible, presenting this information in a clear-cut manner that
allows it to be easily used by anyone wishing to learn more about the
important art of professional consulting.
