Academy of Business Strategy News and Gossip.

Adrian

I think the whole client partner process is explained on the web site under business development or something Adrian, but yes I can confirm that no business development activity is required. The Academy undertakes the whole process and contacts client partners directly as a business school. It is just a process of elimination really. I think that it is more of a product development process than a business development process. Do read through the client partner process online though because from memory I think that it explains everything in precise detail.

Your right - spent the last few hours reading the website. Thanks for the nudge :)

Is is pretty informative, fingers crossed now for the response on my application...

Thanks for all your assitance

Best Regards
Adrian

adrian waters in Paris, France said: Hi,

isn't the purpose of this course to setup your own consultancy practice? Agreed it maybe good on the CV but you should be looking to become an independant consultant I would have thought?

A

Hi Adrian,

Rather late in responding to your comments above. I doubt there is anyone who is doing the CPC or DPC for their CV's. The main motivation is the academy's help in getting the consultant the 10 client leads and of course the financial benefits.

TimCPC in London, United Kingdom said: I am 6 months into the CPC program but contemplating to pull out, it is just not working for me. Is it possible to claim some of the course fee back?

Hi Tim CPC,

Since its only 6 months, I suggest you reconsider your options and try and give it your best shot mate. What have you to loose except some effort and time? But then in the long run you would be successful.

Hi Sofia

Yes I didn't pass I'm afraid. I was pretty disappointed at first but then it was only a first draft and the feedback from the Academy was in fact really helpful. I scored 57% and need 75% so I am not a million miles away and the Academy provided me with a detailed list of precisely what I need to do in order to achieve a pass with merit and a pass with distinction so at least I am not sitting here wondering what to do next. I'll submit my second draft in a couple of weeks time and will let you know how I get on. The positive thing is that I am learning lots.

Good luck with yours...Ciao Sofia.

(Question to current and past students)

How long did it take you hear back from the academy regarding your application?

Cheers
Adrian

Hi Adrian,

After submitting my application through a job ad I saw on the net, I had an interview date within a week though the interview itself was dated a month away. They gave me ample time to review all the info on their website and to confirm the interview date. I also had to relay at the interview what my subject matter would be for my service proposition.

Thanks

Paul K in Oxford, United Kingdom said: AJ
Thanks AJ.
Yes, I have already booked my place on DPC, cannot afford not to really...however I have given myself 6 months grace to refresh my batteries. Thanks for your comments re- DPC, most helpful.

Larry Mac
Thanks Larry Mac.
I found that I knew which five clients I was going to work with well before graduation. I suppose it is the ones that you establish the best relationships with, the ones who put the most effort into supporting you and the ones who are chasing the hardest. I think if you were to try to manage more than five, overall quality would probably suffer. It takes a long time to establish credibility with clients, but I would imagine that you could lose it in five minutes! Be selective...

Anuj
It is difficult to say really Anuj. I worked on the basis of 12 hours per week, but some weeks I contributed much more than this and I suppose some weeks I contributed less. There is a very powerful driver throughout the course though so motivation should never be a problem. I completed within the designated two years anyway (just). I am reasonably methodical by nature and I just tend to take one step at a time so I think that this helps. The programme is without question the most difficult thing I have ever done, but the reward is tangible and is certainly well worth the effort. I am not sure I could honestly say the same about my MBA, which cost me four times as much!

Larry Mac
Hey Larry...if you don't mind me asking, what is your service and are all of your client partners located in Boston?

Hi Paul,

I understand that this is a little late but I have only just stumbled upon this blog.

Quick question if I may - You are now a CPC so are you earning the 100K + as the academy states?

Cheers
Adrian

ABS in Watford, United Kingdom said: Hi Adrian,

After submitting my application through a job ad I saw on the net, I had an interview date within a week though the interview itself was dated a month away. They gave me ample time to review all the info on their website and to confirm the interview date. I also had to relay at the interview what my subject matter would be for my service proposition.

I am crossing my fingers and waiting :)

I hope I get a positive response - if not then at least a response.

Cheers
A

Yes Adrian that is correct...You cannot graduate as a CPC without developing a full portfolio of clients. It is part of the programme. You also have five-year agreements then with these clients which commence from the day after graduation.

I think the Academy only evaluate candidate applications once every month so you may have to be patient. They only allocate 30 positions on each programme in any one year.

Best of luck with your application.

Kalai Naidoo in London, United Kingdom said: Hi Anuj,
I have also recently enrolled with the Academy of Business Strategy and it's really good to know that I'm not alone with these doubts.

I also searched extensively for people that had done the course however I couldn't find any.
It's good to know that I have some company

Hi Kalai,

How is the studying going? I am five months into CPC and am stuck on module 13. Not finding tutor support helpful and beginning to feel like giving up! Replies take two weeks and then for me raise more questions as I find the answers to be convoluted and not in plain English.Asked for an example of a service facilitation process option to inspire me, only too be told that would be plagiarism! Anyway I am so happy to find other students in the same boat and with similar doubts.
Edd

ABS in Watford, United Kingdom said: Hi John,

I found that too, the feedback from TS hasn't been too helpful, didn't really answer my questions. It was my first contact with TS and I must admit, I didn't follow the correct procedure so maybe that was why but will try again in the correct manner very soon and let you know.

Regards

Hi there,
So pleased to find other students finding tutor support unhelpful.Thought it was just me. The problem I feel is that their answeres are sometimes convoluted and raise more questions than answers.I am stuck on module 13 and don't know what to do.
Edd

Hi Edd

If it helps Ed, I too was told that I could not base my service upon someone else's but I suppose the whole point of CPC is to develop a unique service proposition based upon your own core skills and experience. I have just completed PJ13 and am awaiting feedback, but I have to say that the programme has been a really good learning experience so far and I have found the tutorial support really helpful and supportive. I would say that you do need to have a really clear vision of the service that you want t develop in order to take on PJ13 and if you don't then it may be worth looking at the short-term manuals first. But don't just give up Edd, if you contact tutorial support in the right frame of mind I am sure you will find them really helpful.

Edd

Don't give up Edd. I've just had feedback in response to my PJ13 study. I haven't passed yet but I know exactly what to do in order to achieve a pass with merit or distinction now. The tutorial support that I have received has been absolutely excellent and I received a detailed email explaining precisely what I needed to do. The fact that you can keep submitting things until you get it right is really helpful too.

I don't think that it is meant to be easy and I didn't expect it to be either. All of the best things are worth waiting for in life and the benefits of progressing here are considerable. Don't start blaming the programme or tutorial support Edd. If you do you're finished...Don't give up.

Hi, I am finding the whole program very difficult! Did any of you not have a clear idea of your consulting service process and trying to develop it from scratch? I find the whole ABS process will be great if you already have a very well developed service and use the programme to productise it. But I my case I do not a fully developed service! The ABS CPC does not help me at all with that!!!???

Hi Richard

I think that it is fair to say CPC is difficult Richard. I think that you do need a clear idea about the service that you want to develop, certainly before approaching PJ13, but then this is probably why the Academy go to so much trouble to evaluate your service proposition before offering candidates positions. I don't think that PJ13 would help you to find out what you need to develop, but it does help you to develop it once you know. If you do not have a clear picture perhaps the short-term manuals would help you. Do you not have a service process form? This should have been developed during or after your interview.

Hi Edd,

It can raise more questions and it did for me, in fact it didn't really answer my question at all, so something I'm not doing right I guess and thus it has knocked me back even further, meaning I haven't studied for the past month to be honest.

I have kind of lost my way and really need to find my "mojo" again to get this done, it's the motivation lacking in me now. But reading how others are doing on this forum keeps me going and I'm sure I'll be motivated again. I guess Edd, if TS raises more questions with their answers then do what research you can and then fire back more questions, that's what TS is there for I guess. I still think it's a great oppurtunity but it isn't going to come without without real hard work. I am also getting the feeling that if you have an idea of your service, this seems to be vital .... I know what I want to do I just need to find my way again .. very soon!

Good luck !!

Hi all

I recently graduated as a CPC and yes it is without question the most difficult programme that I have undertaken and I have done an MBA and DBA. The reason for this is because it is real! This is your service that you are developing in the real world with real clients and it is only natural that you would agonise over it.

You do need to have a clear picture in your mind regarding the service that you want to develop. I think that the programme information makes this clear. The tutorial support is really excellent, or at least that is how I found it, but I would say that the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

The hardest lesson that I learnt was time management with this. If you allow time to pass you by without making progress, then this in itself can put more pressure on you, because you will always be up against it. You should always be making progress, if not with the long-term course manuals then with the short-term ones. This helps you to keep motivated as well.

I was taking a break before progressing with DPC but you find that the more time you have available, non-productive tasks just seem to expand to fill it!

Positive breeds positive...negative breeds negative. It is probably always those with their cups half full who succeed. You don't have to look for your mojo...you just have to want to pick it up!

Go for it guys, pick it up.

Sofia Marrin in Roma, Italy said: Hi Edd

If it helps Ed, I too was told that I could not base my service upon someone else's but I suppose the whole point of CPC is to develop a unique service proposition based upon your own core skills and experience. I have just completed PJ13 and am awaiting feedback, but I have to say that the programme has been a really good learning experience so far and I have found the tutorial support really helpful and supportive. I would say that you do need to have a really clear vision of the service that you want t develop in order to take on PJ13 and if you don't then it may be worth looking at the short-term manuals first. But don't just give up Edd, if you contact tutorial support in the right frame of mind I am sure you will find them really helpful.

Thanks very much Sofia or should I say mille grazie! I useed to work in Rome by the way.

I didn't want to base my service on someone else's just understand what they meant by a service facilitation process option, that is why I asked for an example really.

ABS in Watford, United Kingdom said: Hi Edd,

It can raise more questions and it did for me, in fact it didn't really answer my question at all, so something I'm not doing right I guess and thus it has knocked me back even further, meaning I haven't studied for the past month to be honest.

I have kind of lost my way and really need to find my "mojo" again to get this done, it's the motivation lacking in me now. But reading how others are doing on this forum keeps me going and I'm sure I'll be motivated again. I guess Edd, if TS raises more questions with their answers then do what research you can and then fire back more questions, that's what TS is there for I guess. I still think it's a great oppurtunity but it isn't going to come without without real hard work. I am also getting the feeling that if you have an idea of your service, this seems to be vital .... I know what I want to do I just need to find my way again .. very soon!

Good luck !!

HI ABS in Watford,

Sorry to see you are in the same boat as me and haven't studied for a month or so and I am lacking in motivation. Having said that this forum is inspiring me to try again, How clear an idea for your service do you need though? I thought mine was clear enough and as far as research goes, what type of research are we expected to do, research into our chosen field, chosen USP, what to include in the workshops?

Prago Edd.

I think that too many consultants probably focus upon what they want their service to achieve, rather than how they intend to achieve it. We can all sit down and list our service objectives easily enough, developing a process that will enable us to achieve these objectives is a different matter of course. Understanding the objectives that you would like your service to achieve is not really enough. You need to understand more about the activities that you propose to undertake with your service in order to achieve these objectives. Once you start to see your service as a tangible product then it is much easier.

I should point out here that I have not received feedback in relation to PJ13 yet because I have only just submitted it, but I am pretty confident that I am on the right track.

A service process option is simply a process that you could incorporate within your consulting service offering. These will be different of course depending upon which part of your service process you are developing. At the beginning of PJ13 for example you need to develop the internal analysis section of your consulting service and you will need to think about the process options in relation to the internal analysis part of your consulting service. Your service process form should help you but if you really have no idea whatsoever about what you want to include in your service then go out and find some information via the internet or through book stores which feature your service subject matter and this will help you to generate your own ideas. If you are struggling with PJ13 Edd then this is most certainly likely to be the reason why.

Does this help?

Edd

If you do not mind me saying so Edd, you come across as being a very negative person by nature. I am not a big fan of internet forums usually because they just usually provide a platform for bad news. I was delighted to find this one because it was full of productive feedback from students and graduates and I find it really motivational. Indeed you have said that the forum is inspiring you too Edd. But I belive that we too have a duty to motivate others, it is what student relationship management is all about.

Out of interest Edd, what is the consulting service that you are developing?

Well said Louise...more PMA please.

Paul K
Have you started DPC yet Paul?

Louise L in New York said: Edd

If you do not mind me saying so Edd, you come across as being a very negative person by nature. I am not a big fan of internet forums usually because they just usually provide a platform for bad news. I was delighted to find this one because it was full of productive feedback from students and graduates and I find it really motivational. Indeed you have said that the forum is inspiring you too Edd. But I belive that we too have a duty to motivate others, it is what student relationship management is all about.

Out of interest Edd, what is the consulting service that you are developing?

Hi Louise,

I hope you don't mind me saying either Louise that you come across as being very judgemental given that you have only seen a couple of my postings today. I do indeed find these postings motivational as I feel being able to share experiences is important and this is how I have learnt successfully in the past. Both the positive experiences and negative ones on the forum are valuable I feel and help to give a balanced view. In your opinion, am I not meant to share my experience even though I feel it hasn't been positive up until now as others have, as I am certainly open to changing my opinion?

I have worked in the educational field for the past twenty years and know that everybody learns in different ways because we are all different and this has no bearing on whether thay are negative people or not.

I am looking at developing a consultancy service in the English Language Teaching Sector by helping providers integrate new technology like mobile phones and podcasts into their offer in order to create competitive advantage.

Edd

Be fair Edd, you must admit that everything coming from you today has been nothing other than negative. You don't really make a very good first impression I'm afraid. You accuse Louise of being judgemental but isn't that exactly what you are doing with the Academy?

You say that this forum has motivated you and inspired you, this is presumably because of the productive and progressive comments that have been made by other students. Ask yourself what have you contributed so far?

Given the fact that you have worked in the Education industry for 20 years, surely you must know how important a positive mental attitude is. It would appear that I am the third student to point this out to you in your first day on the forum. How long does it take for things to sink in?

Try to be a bit more productive Edd, it will help you as much as it will everyone else.

Hi Louise

Stay out of it Louise, its not worth it. You will always get negative people I guess. And so to change the subject everyone...

I have just received my TS response to PJ13 (quick response) really detailed too. I didn't pass at the first attempt either but was pretty close so there is not that much for me to do, although I want to achieve a pass with distinction now if possible. The service is really taking shape and I can't wait to start testing it. Have you submitted your 2nd draft yet Louise?

Sofia

Kevin/Paul K

Hi Kevin/Paul.

I have noticed with two of my client partners that some of the five people within the respective organisations that were originally allocated to assist me have been replaced already. I suppose this was only to be expected when you think about it. The enthusiasm from these client partners is still just as strong but how do you establish and nurture relationships with your service champions if they are going to change?

Thanks in advance.

Rupal.

Yes guys we do need positive vibes here. Personally I visit this site for the 'mojo' and to keep abreast really.

I am almost completing my PJ13. I am taking that little bit longer and going through everything again so as to minimise the shortcomings and maximise my passing in the first instance.

Louise and Sofia-
Great to see Louise and Sofia done with their PJ13. I would send my first draft over in a weeks time. Guys just a confirmation we need to send this through a CD? Also I have not asked for a 'tutorial service' (TS) yet. Does that matter at all?

Sofia

Thanks for the support Sofia. Thank you too Ian.

No I'm still working on the 2nd draft. The feedback received from the Academy has really opened my eyes to new opportunities with this service and I want to explore them thoroughly. I think I have enough probably to submit it now and receive a pass, but I want to make sure that my service is right for me too. It is always tempting to try to incorporate too much but I am mindful that the Academy encourages you to be as specific as possible. I'll let you know when I have submitted my second draft.

Keep in touch Sofia.

Ciao for now.

VPCPC

Glad to hear that you have found your mojo VPCPC. Can't live without it!!!

You can just send it on CD. You can always send TS a courtesy email to say its in its way. I wouldn't worry about getting anything wrong. You will have plenty of opportunities to re-submit future drafts and this is how we all learn.

Good luck.

Congrats VPCPC,

Hope things goes well!!

Anuj

Anuj Chaturvedi in United Kingdom said: Congrats VPCPC,

Hope things goes well!!

Anuj

Hey Anuj,

Its been a while. Have you been burning the midnight oil? How are you coping with the CPC?

I'm new here. I would like to know how many in here did receive scholarships?

Thankyou everyone for the valuable discussions in helping me decide with the program. I am now enrolled for the CPC program starting from June.

Dear Clam, I received 75% scholarship for the CPC program.

I am now trying to enroll in the Associate program. Could anyone advise me on how to select the industries and consulting services as I am a fresher with not much of consulting experience

Thankyou everyone for the valuable discussions in helping me decide with the program. I am now enrolled for the CPC program starting from June.

Dear Clam, I received 75% scholarship for the CPC program.

I am now trying to enroll in the Associate program. Could anyone advise me on how to select the industries and consulting services as I am a fresher with not much of consulting experience

Regards
hari

so how much that you are paying? do you mind to share?

Hi! Hari,

One more question, do you know is any other ppl receive scholarship also? Just don't know why some of them is 50% and some are 75%.

Thanks again!
Clam

I have received 50% scholarship and i am starting from May.

Hi Guys,

when you say scholarship, it means you would have to repay the balance once you graduate right?

Hi!VPCPC,

Yes. I know some ppl get 50%, so they pay 50% up front and 50% after graduate.

Scholarships:

Scholarships are explained in detail on the CPC web site. Just select scholarships from the home page, although I am informed that these may be ending soon with CPC. Be tactful guys, not everyone is awarded scholarships, like me for instance, but everyone ends up paying the same in the end when they graduate.

Congratulations to those of you who have just been offered a position and the very best of luck with your programme.

hi，everyone，
its great to find my you guys here。
i am really new to cpc as i just got an interview invitation today。
i find the abs website is unable to open，
after i click “Enter Here”，nothing shows up but a blank page。
maybe i am the only one having this problem。 i will try other computers。

Best
ken

Hi! Ken,

Try to download a firefox and open it from there.

yixin zhang in Montreal, Quebec said: hi，everyone，
its great to find my you guys here。
i am really new to cpc as i just got an interview invitation today。
i find the abs website is unable to open，
after i click “Enter Here”，nothing shows up but a blank page。
maybe i am the only one having this problem。 i will try other computers。

Best
ken

Hello
I have received the CPC courses begining of April and I have started to work on PJ13 which seems to be cery challenging. My consultancy service starts to have a shape but I had the feeling I am not on the right path. I asked for TS because it was not clear for me, how can I be specific about the date when my objectives should be achieved.
My question was like this: "PS13 at this stage, in my vision, it is more generic than specific as the consultancy is referring to a wide variety of individual projects. The SMART criteria is all clear in the moment when I have a starting date for completing the tasks and objectives. For PS13 at this point, I do not have a live study in order to commit a due date for a certain objective. I might not be on the right way regarding the SMART criteria and this is the reason I insist with the same question, if I have to give a specific date for achieving the objectives when working on PS13?" The answer was to be as specific as possible about the consultancy and to use the SMART (see PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS manual)

Then I realised I am more generic than specific. I used an academic language and I have been very long in sentences, trying to explain in details but only words and nothing exact. We need to give numbers, dates and results we expect to achieve. If anyone has any other opinion, please feel free and let us know. Thank you. Miha

Hello Mihaela

This probably is not as much of a problem as you think Mihaela. The fact is that the more experience we have the more generic we feel we are, presumably because we can do more things. A lot of would-be consultants think that their service should include everything that they know and everything they can do, but it doesn't need to. It just needs to focus upon one thing but you need to be clear about what you want it to be.

I am now developing my service with client partners and when we were going through the questionnaire process it was clear that although I thought that I had a specific offering already, it wasn't specific enough and the client partner process fine-tuned it further. I have learnt that the more generic your service is, the bigger we make the decision for clients and the more people then need to be involved in the decision. I have also learnt that the more your service includes the more difficult it would be for your clients to measure value.

When you think about it, the whole Academy interviewing process hammers home that your service needs to be as specific as possible. This is made clear before we enrol. I now understand why. It makes life so much simpler and easier Mihaela. My advice would be to keep it simple.

Regards...Kevin

Hi Kevin
Thank you for your answer. It is exactly what I have in mind. To try to be more exact about what my consultancy will offer. Still, there is so much to do when offering my service, that I can not avoid being generic. If I am specific about details then it would take me 3 PJ3s :)
There is the paradox: if I am specific then I find that the details are too many to specify and if I am generic about consultancy offer, then also that will give a multitude of possibilities. In this moment I am in a dilema and try to sort out some of the details and leave some beside, but anyway the chain reaction will include all I have in mind as consultancy in the end.
ABS is really brain storming us and makes us think more about what we can do, what we know and what we want to do. In the end, the first impression is that counts most and we should be sure and confident of what we can offer to the customer.

Thank you
Miha