As quickly as it came, it was over. When the Global Consulting Project first started, it seemed that five weeks seemed an awful long time to spend with four people, 24-7. But alas, now that it’s done and dusted, I’m finding myself missing my team and reflecting on the unforgettable experience we had together. So for your entertainment.. um, educational purposes, here is a list of my lessons learn from my GCP in Brazil:
– Activity-based accounting is easier said than done. Case studies fail to take into account limiting factors I like to call humans.
– Humans (read: clients) are prone to make decisions based on intuition; it’s your job to show them the numbers whether they like them or not.
– Defining and sticking to scope can be a massive challenge so you always have to prioritise and you always have to remind yourselves about what you’re trying to achieve given the amount of time you have.
– You will never be able to predict all your risks in your Project Initiation Document (PID). From allergies to cracked skulls, some things you just can’t plan for.
– Your team is always greater than the sum of its parts, but its parts can be pretty fantastic too. (Thank you Belle, Natasha, Jess and Malte!)
– A good Global Consulting Project is reason enough to join the Cambridge MBA
Needless to say, our project in Brazil has left indelible memories in my mind and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.