Business Consulting A Guide to How It Works &How to Make It Work - 2005 publication

by Fiona Czerniawska

The economic slowdown during the early 2000s tapered the once-vibrant growth of the consultancy industry. Not helping matters, in many cases, was increasing skepticism about the true value that consultants genuinely add to the bottom line. As firms have cut back and begun to review the way they use consultants, consulting firms themselves are looking at how they need to change. People are now talking about business consulting rather than management consulting. Using real examples from a range of private sector firms, public sector organizations, and from the consultants themselves, this book explores the new business consulting world. The authors examine all elements of the consulting process to help firms make better use of consultants and to show consultants how they need to adapt. With the right relationship in place, consultants and companies can work together to arrive at mutually beneficial solutions. With 90 percent of Fortune 500 firms using consultants on a regular basis (with varying results), this book provides relevant, timely information on an important area of global business.

Genres: Business

Hardcover

First published May 26, 2005

Reviews

[Supratim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin my review, I would like to mention that the book was published in 2005, and therefore, it is a bit dated. After all, a lot should have changed in the intervening 18 years. However, in my humble opinion, there is still merit in reading the book.
The authors, Fiona Czerniawska and Gilbert Toppin, have a good job explaining the business consulting industry. They have touched upon important topics such as

• The problems facing the industry
o The perception that consultants are over-priced and rarely add real value to the project
o Lack of trust in consulting firms due to scandals involving some famous firms
• Different types of consultancy projects and firm-consultant relationships
• How consultants can really add value
• How to ensure that the consultancy project is a success
• Skills required to be a successful consultant

I am not going to elaborate on the topics discussed in the book, but would only mention one point raised by the authors that one day competing consultancy firms might have to collaborate with their rivals while executing a complex project. I wonder how the project manager(s) would handle the team dynamics in such a scenario!

[Jennifer Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to consulting

The book provides a good introductory overview of the management consulting industry. Some of the consulting trends referenced in the book are slightly outdated (this book was written pre-financial crisis). Overall this book is a good intro to the industry and a good read for anyone considering consulting as a career path.

[sbs transit · Rating 4 out of 5]

#nsreads 27

NYC rubbish bin

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read what I was interested in = about 150 pages. And it was as what expected.

The book is neither academic nor practical, but it is more to academia as The Economist series.