BAC2694 MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY

TUTORIAL 1
1. What is the definition of management consultancy?
Management consulting is a management activity. A consultant goes into
an organisation and undertakes a specific project. Consultants offer their
management abilities, expertise and insight to create value for the client.
Consulting should be seen by the client as an investment. The consultant
must have the skills of a general manager as well as specific abilities. A
management consultant provide service to either non-profit organization,
governmental and non-governmental (private) organization. The types of
project - proffering of technical expertise development of information
technology systems, generating cultural change within the organization,
resolving internal conflicts within the organization or helping the
organization to build relationships with outside parties. Time frame - time
scale say weeks or at most, a few months.

2. What does adding value entail?

Mean consultant use their knowledge to help client to be more
effective in running and developing their business, public
administration agency or other non-profit organization.
3. Why would a consultancy want to be seen as a generalist in terms
of marketing its services?
Generalist are large consultancy firms that offer a wide range of
services. Operates in different market and industries. Have pool of
experts from various areas. Looking for opportunities for
improvement in various areas and feeding the client with new
information and ideas.
4. What is the difference between a generalist firm and a niche or
specialist consultancy?
Generalist are large consultancy firms that offer a wide range of
services. Operates in different market and industries. Have pool of
experts from various areas. Specialist firms operate in a variety of
different markets. Only concentrate on one particular area. Grow as
a result of consultants leaving the larger firms and setting up their
own consultancy practice sole trader. Different specialists combine
to form a niche company.
5. Do specialist firms operate in the same market as the generalist?

No, Specialist firms operate in a variety of different markets. Only

concentrate on one particular area. Grow as a result of consultants
leaving the larger firms and setting up their own consultancy
practice sole trader. Different specialists combine to form a niche
company.
6. How may a oneperson operation expand its service offering to
target larger contracts?
Reduces the amount of time spent on acquisition work and ensures
regular income
7. What is the one main reason that the public sector needs
management consultants?

To reduce workload in the organization.

To provide increased knowledge or competence due to the
lack of this expertise existing in the organization.
To provide a third party, independent perspective on an issue
or problem.
To use consultants as change agents bringing in public sector
reform.

8. What are the challenges of working with large corporations?

The consultant need to know the entire picture of the situation to
avoid making mistakes. The consultant need to use more than one
source of information when collecting data to ensure a broad base
of knowledge about the corporation is developed.
9. Is it possible to use western management practices in the
international arena?
No, It should be about applying the proper techniques into
organizations and recognizing their differences in terms of culture
and politics.