Higher Ed. firings and resignations

[Steve19]

Maybe the time is right to start a consulting firm that helps companies select the right consulting firm.

Actually, that is a service provided by many consulting firms, but independents seem to be a growing cottage industry, at least to me.

 

[Jagdaddy]

Hiring consultants is just a way for boards to deflect blame later when things don’t turn out well. “We hired XYZ consultants and followed their recommendations. It’s not our fault the 100 billion dollar investment is now worthless.” Maybe the time is right to start a consulting firm that helps companies select the right consulting firm.

 

[calibuck]

What's interesting about the above comment is that indeed, most companies have the in-house expertise to solve the problem. Unfortunately, 'those in power', want an 'expert' to come in, recommend a path, and then exit the relationship. Fewer have the consultant stick around for the implementation (and few consultants want to be around when that happens). Have seen (and have been), the in-house person doing most of the work for the consultant, really giving them the nitty-gritty on the problem. The consultant then writes up the issues, lays out the game plan, and exits to their next gig. And you're absolutely correct, that way management can blame the consultant when the solution goes blooey (technical term). BCG, McKinsey, and a dwindling number of big consulting firms make outrageous sums doing this. Many of these players in the consulting firms do get hired (at VP level or better), to come on board and oversee the implementation of said solutions. Worked at a company (steel mill), where these fuzzy cheeked youngsters were telling the 30 year grizzled veterans 'how to' run their company. Obviously, this rankled the old-timers, and one offhandedly threw out a comment, 'well, we'll see what they say when they get a truckload of steel dropped on them'. Kinda chuckled at the time (I was the company-consultant liaison), but the more I thought about it, the more I believed it. Was hoping for a job offer from consultants, but my Ohio State MBA wasn't the Harvard, Stanford etc level to 'join the club'.