Introduction: Portfolio Ideas
Shifting your career from operations to strategy can be very rewarding. However, prospective employers will want more than a review of your operational experience. In many cases, you’ll need to demonstrate and explain the skills relevant to strategy consulting and business analysis.
A portfolio is an excellent tool to highlight your qualifications, skills, and competencies. More specifically, strong examples of your analytical and project management skills can be used to support your application for strategy jobs.
Portfolio Ideas for Operations Managers Targeting Strategy Roles
1. Operations Improvement Case Study
An operations improvement case study is one of the easiest portfolio projects to prepare. Most operations managers are familiar with corporate operations from their work experience. Select an operation you’d like to improve and describe what’s wrong with the current state, what you think the root causes are, and what options you have for improvement.
You can use this case study format to demonstrate project management abilities and operational skills:
- Describe the operation
- Identify the problems
- Gather and analyze the relevant data
- Brainstorm and evaluate possible options
- Recommend a course of action
- Specify the expected benefits of the proposed action
You should avoid using any sensitive information from your organization. If necessary, you can anonymize the data or analyze a publicly available operation (e.g., a publicly traded company).
2. Cost Reduction Project
The main objective of many strategy consultants and analysts is to increase profits or reduce costs. You can demonstrate similar actions you’ve taken in your operations experience to show that you have the requisite skills for a strategy job.
For example, you could develop a cost reduction case study based on reducing delivery costs, employees’ overtime, inventory costs, or other regularly occurring expenses.
Describe the current state of affairs, the options, and the pros and cons of each. Conclude with your recommendation and the expected benefits.
3. Data Analysis Dashboard
Strategic decision-making typically involves data analysis. This is an area where operations managers can demonstrate their skills, since they routinely analyze operational data (e.g., productivity, delivery, customer satisfaction, inventory, employee performance).
Create a simple dashboard using Excel, PowerBI, or any other data analysis software. Make sure to describe the assumptions behind the calculations (e.g., the monthly revenue, costs, employee productivity, customer satisfaction, delivery time, error rate, and other relevant metrics). You can analyze the performance of your operations team using this dashboard.
The key is not to make the dashboard too complex; a few simple calculations will suffice. Below the dashboard, add a brief description of what the data shows and what recommendations you have based on this information.
4. Market or Industry Analysis
Operations managers typically perform their work within the context of a single company. Strategy consultants and analysts, by contrast, typically have a broader understanding of the wider industry.
You can use a brief industry analysis to bridge this gap. For this project, you’ll want to highlight the most important aspects of the industry based on the needs of a strategy analyst or consultant. For example, your analysis could include elements such as the major players, industry trends, and the threat of new entrants.
5. Business Expansion Proposal
Another option is to prepare a business expansion proposal based on a hypothetical scenario. For example, you could determine whether a particular company (real or fictional) should expand its operations to a new city, target a different customer segment, or enter a new market.
Research the conditions of the proposed market, the potential customers, and the costs and risks of entering the market. Based on this information, prepare a recommendation and a justification for your proposed course of action.
Conclusion: Portfolio Ideas
Operations managers have the skills and competencies to succeed in strategy consulting and business analysis. However, merely listing these achievements won’t impress most employers. Instead, you should tailor your projects to reflect the specific requirements of the advertised position.
In general, cost reduction, data analysis, and process improvement projects are ideal for demonstrating your qualifications for a strategy job. They don’t require extensive prior knowledge of the field and can help you to demonstrate your ability to conduct a basic analysis.
If you’re an operations manager seeking a new job in strategy consulting or business analysis, consider using a portfolio to demonstrate your qualifications. Thorough but concise projects will help you to stand out from the competition and impress potential employers.
Ready to turn your operations experience into a strategy-focused career? Build a portfolio that highlights your problem-solving, analytical thinking, and business impact, then showcase those skills to the right employers. Explore Best Job Tool to discover strategy roles and new career opportunities that match your experience and goals.
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