Consulting Resources
Engaging with different types of resources will help you understand your industry on a deeper level. Consultants have some information resources of their own, but should also study resources for the specific industries in which they are working.
Caution
When using resources on this guide, continue to evaluate credibility and relevance for your audience. A resource can be considered credible in one situation but questionable in another, or its quality can suddenly degrade. Additionally, credible resources can still contain problematic content like content marketing, inaccurate opinion pieces, flawed research, or misrepresented evidence.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations and trade associations promote their industries and provide networking opportunities to members. Their websites offer information and educational materials for professionals in the industry.
The following examples are professional organizations for consultants:
- Association of Internal Management Consultants (AIMC)
- Institute of Consulting (IC)
- Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMCUSA)
Based in the United Kingdom
Trade Publications
Trade journals or trade magazines provide industry-specific insights, giving prospective professionals an insider’s view of the field.
The following examples are trade publications with a focus on consultants:
Why is McKinsey Quarterly not here?
McKinsey Quarterly’s coverage is broad, so it counts as a popular magazine, not a trade. However, it is also content marketing; it exists to promote McKinsey’s consulting business. Use with caution.
Why is Strategy + Business not here?
Strategy + Business’s coverage is broad, so it counts as a popular magazine, not a trade. However, like McKinsey Quarterly, it is also content marketing; it is published by “member firms of the PwC network” and may exist to promote PWC’s consulting business. Use with caution.
Popular Magazines
Popular magazines, although aimed at a general audience, can be useful for understanding an industry in a larger context or from a consumer’s point of view.
Popular magazines that might be useful to consulting professionals include:
- Bloomberg Businessweek
- Economist
- Fortune
- Harvard Business Review Digital
- Harvard Business Review Print
- MIT Sloan Management Review
Note, this publication is ending it’s print version in the fall of 2026.
Newspapers
Newspapers cover current events relevant to professionals in all fields.
Newspapers with useful coverage for consultants include:
Most recent month is embargoed
UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library
UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library
Podcasts
Most industries have reputable experts who podcast about their chosen field, providing an insider’s look. These types of information resources vary widely and require vetting, but can be credible.
The following resources may offer useful perspectives for consultants:
Books
Most industries have notable books that insiders find useful or that have had an influence on that industry. Asking insiders is the best way to find out which books are considered essential in your field.
Here are a few examples of books that might be of interest to consultants:
- Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used (Peter Block)
- Good Strategy, Bad Strategy: The Difference And Why It Matters (Richard P Rumelt)
- Pyramid Principle (Barbara Minto)
- Storytelling With Data : A Data Visualization Guide For Business Professionals (Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic)
Scholarly Journals
Scholarly journals publish in depth research, usually conducted by professors.
The following resources offer useful academic perspectives on consulting:
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Related pages
More information
This guide details strategies for effective workplace communication and approaches for research in professional settings.