Consulting in Uncertainty: The Power of Inquiry [Hardcover]

@Contents:PART I. Rethinking Consulting as Inquiry  1. The Changing Consulting Story  2. Shifting to an Inquiry Model  3. The Consultants Stance  PART II. Inquiry into Relationship  4. Emotional Inquiry  5. Relationship  6. Consulting in a Transcultural and Transnational World  PART III. Skills of Inquiry  7. Facilitating Inquiry  8. Learning the Organization  9. Methods of Inquiry

The traditional model of consulting places an emphasis on diagnosing a problem and finding a cure. But in todays business world of globalized organizations, rapid knowledge proliferation, and the intertwining of economies, that approach is becoming less and less viable; problems are quickly redefined, new knowledge (and ownership of that knowledge) is constantly surfacing and being challenged, and no solution is a permanent solution. Consulting in Uncertainty articulates a model of consulting that addresses the uncertainty and interconnectedness of the world in a post-industrial, knowledge era.

Emphasizing outcomes and inquiry over diagnosis, Brooks and Edwards outline this new consulting model, as well as the skills consultants must bring to the table in any uncertain and dynamic environment. Integrating practical knowledge with scholarship, this book covers skills such as:

• Relational skills and the consulting relationship
• Cultural awareness and related skills
• Contextual analysis
• Facilitating inquiry
• Collecting and efficiently analyzing data or information

Consultants and students of consulting, as well as managers, teachers, counselors, and even parentsl#)