Public Sector Consulting

Hi Daniel,

My approach

Public sector cases are tricky because they feasibly be any case type (Product Launch - new service for citizens; M&A - merging two departments; even Profitability - cost cutting mandate). For any public sector case, I recommend:

1. First identifying the type of case it is.
2. Second, leverage your knowledge of the public sector as constraints/considerations.

Considerations/Constraints

Regards #2, you know that public perception is particularly important to consider in any public sector move. Additionally, you can count on bureacracy/slowness in implementation. You should identify the goal/mission of the organisation as well and keep this top of mind (if it loses money, but achieves it's goal of helping the poor, no problem). Howvever, just because the government sector doesn't have profit as a target, doesn't mean you should ignore the profit tree altogether - governments are still obliged to take into costs (and sometimes revneues) in decisions (example: setting up a public transport initiative). Don't get tricked into thinking you can't consider the economics of the case!

Other items to consider include, but are not limited to:

• Politlcal landscape (i.e. upcoming elections, special interest groups)
• Sustainability
• Private-public partnerships
• International vs governmental vs state vs local partnerships/alignment
• Income = taxes/budgetary landscape
• Digitialization of government

Framework Resource

In terms of resources, the UPenn Wharton 2011 casebook has a framework for public sector. It's split into:

• Strategic rationale (Mission of organisation and stakeholder reactions)
• Deal economics (planned investment and returns, if any)
• Other (Required capabilities and risks)

Practice Cases

If you want some practice cases:

• Tepper 2008's "NGO Effectiveness"
• Colombia 2011's "MadeCasse"

Hope this helps, and please don't hesitate to ask any follow-up/clarifying questions!

I have public sector cases — feel free to message me for coaching to work through them.

Also follow The Consulting Offer Blueprint on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — launching a public sector episode shortly.

Max, 

There are indeed fewer cases in public sector but if you search around you'll find them. 

Availability is less of a problem; feedback is. 

Try and run through some public sector cases either with somebody who is in a senior consulting role or a coach. I've worked with multiple candidates for public sector consulting roles, including in Germany, so if you need any help drop me a line. 

You might also find this guide useful:

• • Expert Guide: Public Sector Consulting

Best,
Cristian

Hi Max! 

Ich hab bei McK viel Public Sector machen dürfen. Sag Bescheid, wenn du Fragen hast! Happy to help! 

LG Alessa