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- All Subjects: Law
- All Subjects: Supply Chains
- All Subjects: Consulting
- Creators: W. P. Carey School of Business
Suitcases packed, armed with a PowerPoint presentation of matrices and frameworks, and an eloquent vocabulary of “synergies” and “core competencies,” another consultant prepares to deliver million-dollar advice to some of the leading executives of Fortune 500 companies. We all know who they are, but we have no idea what they do. In 2019, over 20% of the graduating MBA class from Harvard university chose to pursue management consulting, a number that has been progressively increasing from years prior. With over 300 million people in the United States, and another 8 billion across the globe, a decision is being made every nano-second. From which stock to buy to which color socks to purchase, to every innovative (and incompetent) decision made, consultants have a hand in it all. While consultants contribute a healthy service in stimulating the economy and keeping big business, in business, there are a multitude of pitfalls that can occur in the profession and have drastic legal and ethical implications. <br/> To further examine this dichotomy of theoretical versus applied consulting, I decided to put my consulting skills to the test. By partnering with the New Venture Group, we delivered consulting services to Marni Anbar, the founder and creator of the DiscoverRoom, a hands-on, self-directed initiative allowing students to explore their curiosity in fields ranging from evolutionary studies to geology and astronomy. In response to the DiscoverRoom’s increasing demand and capacity to grow, New Venture Group consultants engaged with Marni Anbar in an attempt to analyze the important question of “what steps (from a business perspective) should Marni consider to further the DiscoverRoom (in a way that can make it both profitable and continue to serve as a creative space to further child development)?” <br/> This project was a hands-on way to examine the fundamentally complicated relationship that exists between consultants and their clients, and whether or not it was possible for college students to advise an initiative to remove the disparities that exist in STEM education in one of the worst-rated states for public school education in the country. By applying the research and findings uncovered when analyzing the theory of management consulting to this real life engagement, several parallels were discovered. As in the case of many consultants, our solution was never implemented due to external factors, which further creates a gap in allowing us to analyze whether or not our proposed solutions contained any value or not. As seen in our case, consultants often fall victim to not having their solution implemented due to a variety of external environmental trends and factors. This “incomplete” understanding of the picture further creates an aura of skepticism behind consultants and the work they do.
Music streaming services have affected the music industry from both a financial and legal standpoint. Their current business model affects stakeholders such as artists, users, and investors. These services have been scrutinized recently for their imperfect royalty distribution model. Covid-19 has made these discussions even more relevant as touring income has come to a halt for musicians and the live entertainment industry. <br/>Under the current per-stream model, it is becoming exceedingly hard for artists to make a living off of streams. This forces artists to tour heavily as well as cut corners to create what is essentially “disposable art”. Rapidly releasing multiple projects a year has become the norm for many modern artists. This paper will examine the licensing framework, royalty payout issues, and propose a solution.
To help the readers better understand the industry, the researchers provide a detailed analysis on the retail coffee industry from both macro and micro levels. The Coffee Break House aims to be the leader of the retail coffee industry by delivering consistent, fast and superior service, providing high-quality beverages, being the most inviting store, and having the friendliest staff in a relaxing and welcoming environment. The coffee shop will be owned and operated by four equity investors. The business plan, which includes six major sections, shows investors’ vision and strategic focus.
• Market Situation Analysis
• Marketing Strategy
• Supply Chain Strategy
• Financial Strategy
• Expansion Plan
• Risks
The researchers believe that the Coffee Break House has the potential to become a successful business and provide lucrative returns to potential investors. This is due to the company’s aggressive marketing strategy, establishment of the company as a unique entity in the industry, careful development of its products, a well developed supply chain strategy, and a profitable revenue model.