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Description

The Business Consultant’s Role: Scoping, Diagnosis and Delivery

Structure a consulting assignment from the initial request through to the presentation of recommendations

  • 3 days — 21 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

A consultant who accepts a request exactly as it is worded often ends up working on the wrong problem. The assignment drags on, the scope drifts and the final presentation meets a sponsor who expected something entirely different. Conversely, a sound diagnosis that is poorly presented triggers no decision at all.

These three days set out the fundamentals of the consulting role. They cover scoping the request, building the proposal, running the diagnosis, formulating recommendations and delivering the final presentation. Participants work on a simulated assignment which they scope and then investigate through to a formal presentation before a sponsor played by the group.

Learning objectives

  • Reframe an assignment request into a workable problem statement
  • Draft a proposal that commits to clear deliverables and a defined scope
  • Conduct diagnostic interviews and make use of the data collected
  • Build well-argued and prioritised recommendations
  • Present to a sponsor and secure decisions on the options put forward
  • Support implementation and safeguard the ongoing client relationship

What makes this programme different

A simulated assignment is run end to end through to a formal presentation before the group
Diagnostic interviews are role-played and then reviewed on the quality of the questions asked
A complete commercial proposal is drafted and critiqued during the session

Programme

1The consultant's stance and scope of intervention

Understanding what the client is actually buying

  • Distinguish between consulting, technical expertise and outsourced delivery work
  • Clarify your position towards the sponsor and the operational teams
  • Manage confidentiality and conflicts of interest
  • Set the boundaries of your intervention
  • Identify the attitudes that cause assignments to fail

2Scoping the request and building the proposal

Turning a vague request into a committed assignment

  • Run the scoping meeting with the sponsor
  • Reframe the request into a workable question
  • Define the scope, the deliverables and the validation milestones
  • Estimate the workload and set the assignment fee in AED
  • Draft a clear and defensible proposal

3Running the diagnosis

Collecting what is needed to decide

  • Select the sources and build the data collection plan
  • Conduct an interview without leading towards the expected answer
  • Use the quantitative data already available within the organisation
  • Observe a process on site
  • Cross-check findings and identify bias

4Building and framing recommendations

Moving from findings to decisions

  • Prioritise findings and identify root causes
  • Build action scenarios together with their consequences
  • Quantify expected gains and set out the conditions for success
  • Structure a message that opens with the conclusion
  • Prepare for the sponsor's objections

5Presenting findings and supporting what follows

Converting the assignment into a decision and then into action

  • Design an effective final report
  • Facilitate the closing presentation and obtain decisions
  • Handle disagreement and resistance during the session
  • Organise support for implementation
  • Review the assignment and prepare the next stage of the relationship

Who is it for

Junior consultants · internal consultants · organisation and transformation officers · professionals moving into a consulting career.

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge required

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.