Which IT course best suits consulting

[RyanMB]

Hi everyone

I'm wondering which IT course I can do that will best suit me for the purpose of consulting. This being because I am forced into a situation where I need to be self employed so I'm really looking for suggestions.

 

[paul5186]

A degree in business and IT I think

 

[Nod]

What do you want to consult on?

 

[dequadin]

What do you want to consult on?

+1 that's the million dollar question right there...

 

[RyanMB]

I'm looking at consulting on business solutions for small businesses, possibly suggesting what type of software to run, advice on whether they need a website, the costs involved.

 

[Conradl]

If you want to be a network consultant then do a Cisco course. If you want to be a dev consultant do a dev course; etc....

OK, so knowing a persons requirements usually comes from experience. You could a MS course in a desktop OS and SBS, along with a few Linux courses. Everybody likes free ****

 

[dequadin]

Sounds like you need a Business + IT qualification...

BCom IT, or BBusSc IT or similar...


EDIT:
The BBusSc IT is what I believe Mark Shuttleworth did, if that means anything...?

 

[Nod]

If you want to consult SME's on their IT infrastructure, you'll need a broad knowledge-base that will cover a wide variety of software, hardware and proven solutions (combination of products). That knowledge you will only get with experience, and keeping up to date on different technologies.

Getting a good name in the business is hard, but getting a bad name is very easy.

 

[bsntombela]

I am in the IT Business Solutions consulting industry myself.

Currently, our company only hires graduates with a B.Com honours degree in Information System / Informatics or a B.Sc honours in Computer Science.

The best institutions for these courses are (in order of credibility in IS):
- UCT
- Wits University in Johannesbur
- Rhodes
- University of Pretoria
- UKZN
- UJ

 

[Conradl]

I am in the IT Business Solutions consulting industry myself.

Currently, our company only hires graduates with a B.Com honours degree in Information System / Informatics or a B.Sc honours in Computer Science.

The best institutions for these courses are (in order of credibility in IS):
- UCT
- Wits University in Johannesbur
- Rhodes
- University of Pretoria
- UKZN
- UJ

I don't think a degree is necessary to consult for small business. These guys normally require tactical solutions and don't usually require the type of offerings provided by a grad....

 

[dequadin]

The best institutions for these courses are (in order of credibility in IS):
- UCT
- Wits University in Johannesbur
- Rhodes
- University of Pretoria
- UKZN
- UJ

Not to start a big argument, but do you have source for this?

 

[bsntombela]

I don't think a degree is necessary to consult for small business. These guys normally require tactical solutions and don't usually require the type of offerings provided by a grad....

The man wants to do an IT course in business solutions consulting. You need a credible qualification from a credible institution, regardless how big or small your client is.

There are various courses he could do, e.g.

- Business Analysis / Process engineering course
- Project management certification in PmBok or PRINCE 2 (need the experience though)

Well that's my 2c worth.....

 

[bsntombela]

Not to start a big argument, but do you have source for this?

Ooops ....

Sorry mate, purely based on my opinion from working with grads from the institutions.

UCT has all the experience behind them, that's why you'll find their best IS graduates being recruited by reputable companies such as BSG, Accenture, Mckinsey and co., KPMG, Deloitte, etc.

Due to the recent merger with WITS Tech, UJ is still quite struggling to get it's image right...

WITS has a great IS dept, not enough research though..

 

[Nerfherder]

If you want to consult you need to get a lot of exp in a field where there is a lot of demand but only for short periods of time.

Studying the right thing is a start but you need to find a niche.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

I don't think a degree is necessary to consult for small business. These guys normally require tactical solutions and don't usually require the type of offerings provided by a grad....

I disagree.

A BSc covers much ground and I would never take a consultant seriously if he did not do the equivalent courses. Understanding the difference between computer architecture vs computer organization when making suggestions is just as important to a small business as a large corp.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Hi everyone

I'm wondering which IT course I can do that will best suit me for the purpose of consulting. This being because I am forced into a situation where I need to be self employed so I'm really looking for suggestions.

Whatever you decide on just take note that your going to be investing a lot of money and most important time. No credible course can be completed over night so do not be put off if it might take 3yrs (or even 6) to complete.

Also contact the relavent institutions and sit down with them.

 

[dequadin]

Ooops ....

Sorry mate, purely based on my opinion from working with grads from the institutions.

No problem People normally just post these things somma, but if you're speaking from experience that's awesome.

 

[Nerfherder]

Ooops ....

Sorry mate, purely based on my opinion from working with grads from the institutions.

UCT has all the experience behind them, that's why you'll find their best IS graduates being recruited by reputable companies such as BSG, Accenture, Mckinsey and co., KPMG, Deloitte, etc.

Due to the recent merger with WITS Tech, UJ is still quite struggling to get it's image right...

WITS has a great IS dept, not enough research though..

Re UJ: You have no clue what you are taking about.

If you want to work at one of the BIG players Standard Bank, ABSA etc you should go to UJ, I work in the industry and an insane amount people I studied with graduated from UJ. Your comment is not fair at all, UCT churn out some great candidates but all the work is up here in JHB and the big guys can take their pick from the local candidates.

 

[bsntombela]

Re UJ: You have no clue what you are taking about.

If you want to work at one of the BIG players Standard Bank, ABSA etc you should go to UJ, I work in the industry and an insane amount people I studied with graduated from UJ. Your comment is not fair at all, UCT churn out some great candidates but all the work is up here in JHB and the big guys can take their pick from the local candidates.

Well i have not necessarily concluded that UJ is a KK institution, I just think that the UJ brand still has negative connotations to it following the merger with WITS Tech, hence it has/had to prove that the quality of education has not been compromised.

The man did say he wants to be in consulting, ABSA, Standard Bank, etc are not consulting firms. These grads from UJ you talk about occupy all sorts of IT positions (BAs, developers, etc) within the Banks, however Banks such as Standard Bank and FNB are currently involved in projects that are aimed at enhancing the skills of their internal IT staff.

I for your information, graduated from UJ and did my post grad at WITS, so to a good extent I do know what I'm taking about.

 

[dequadin]

Re UJ: You have no clue what you are taking about.

This is what I was worried about Hence I asked bsntombela for source...

I think the issue here is the OP asked what to study and not where, and lets be honest you're going to get a good education if you go to any of the places on bsntombela's list...