Great student turnout at the BCG ELP event.

Amit started the session with some gyaan about the process of consulting. One of the most important things is getting the framework correct. A suitable framework allows you to ask correct questions and stress test the methodology. For example, one can check if the information gathered covers the different focus areas of the framework adequately.

He also stressed on consulting being all about team work. The team is not just the consultants, but also the clients. The mantra is to work with the client to define the problem, gathering data, and ultimately solving the problem.

Mr Suresh Subudhi explains the softer aspects of consulting

Suresh covered another important part of consulting profession, the client relationship management. He emphasized on the need to align your success with the client’s and to create a trustworthy relationship between the two parties. He went on to describe some of the interesting techniques to gain the respect of the clients, while maintaining that the best way to do it was to be prepared.

This session on the softer aspects of consulting was an eye opener for most of the students. The session was followed by lots of interaction with the BCG team.

To different people, the end of terms signifies different things. For many, the immediate priority is to prepare well for the exams. Term 2 continues to be a roller-coaster ride in terms of academics; on one hand the Marketing simulation game had kept us engrossed for hours on multiple occasions, and all the strategy discussions and decision making we went through is going to be as much a part of the preparation for the exams as the concepts taught in the class.

On the other hand, Competitive Strategy classes, which have been a treasure-trove of learning about clever strategies that firms ought to employ, are leading up to a full-blown 4 hours examination consisting of a complete case study. (And guess what, we won’t be allowed to write anything for the first two hours… now isn’t that interesting!)

Meanwhile, many people are busy working on a number of other activities, including pitching for their Experiential Learning Program projects to prospective clients (there are almost 20 projects available in the 1st Round), helping out with the PACIS conference, planning the professional and personal club activities for the rest of the year, working out their own entrepreneurial plans or just planning a trip to one of the several interesting places such as Goa. And a few, such as me, are planning to visit family for the first time since joining the college. Yay!

All the while, interesting activities continue to happen on the campus. Today my section wore blue and pink to observe the last day of the term, and took snaps with our teachers. It was heartening to see Prof. Lahiri, who teaches us Marcoeconomics, sharing a joke or two in his trademarked style.

Student Village 4 is on its way to completion – the huge chessboard in the middle of the Village is ready and a mini-basketball court is going to come up soon. I am eager to get to see a few games from my window; reminds me of how ancient kings played chess in stadia, sitting high up on their thrones.

Let me take the liberty of reminding you to keep checking the blog (also possible through RSS or Twitter) and keep looking out for constant updates from the class of 2010.