14189

WiSe 18/19: Consulting Field Study

Genia Kostka

Information for students

Please note: The language of the course will be English. The course takes place during October till December – all coursework will be squeezed into those months. Students attending this class need to make sure to have sufficient time available to complete the tasks during those months. close

Comments

In this course, Master students work jointly with Professor Kostka to advise a ‘client’. The client for this course will be the China Team at Stiftung Wissenschaft and Politik (SWP). SWP advises political decision-makers on international politics and foreign and security policy. During a kick off session in October 2018, the China team at SWP will present students with a complex ‘real-life’ problem related to China. Students will be asked to apply the research methods and consulting skills learned in class to an actual case. They also learn to work together in teams and will receive feedback from SWP during a mid-term feedback session in November and a final presentation in early December.

The goal of this seminar is to use a variety of research methods to help SWP in their advisory work on China. Students will conduct desktop research, read Chinese sources (if majoring in Chinese Studies), and use other possible research methods. This course also introduces numerous consulting skills and introduce valuable tools used by and required in the consulting industry. In particular, basic consulting frameworks will be taught, such as the 80-20 rule, the elevator speech, 2-2 matrix, issue trees, and top-down communication. By working in a group to address SWP’s questions and tasks, the course will focus on further advancing students' research skills, problem solving skills, presentation skills, and Chinese reading ability.