Journal articles: 'Consultancy firms'

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CEBECI, UFUK, and DA RUAN. "A MULTI-ATTRIBUTE COMPARISON OF TURKISH QUALITY CONSULTANTS BY FUZZY AHP." International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making 06, no. 01 (March 2007): 191–207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0219622007002423.

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Quality consultants are used in ISO 9000 implementation projects especially by many small and medium-sized enterprises. Clients do not always appreciate differences between quality consultants. This paper aims to provide an analytical tool to select the best quality consultant providing the most customer satisfaction. The clients of three Turkish quality consultancy firms were interviewed and the most important criteria taken into account by the clients while they were selecting their consultancy firms were determined by a designed questionnaire. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process was applied to compare these consultancy firms. The means of the triangular fuzzy numbers produced by the customers and experts for each comparison were successfully used in the pair wise comparison matrices.

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Kindl, Eva-Maria, and Beatriz Casais. "Motivations and perceived opportunities for partnerships among international business consultancy firms." Review of International Business and Strategy 29, no. 4 (November 4, 2019): 315–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ribs-02-2019-0024.

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Purpose Consultancy services for internationalisation are crucial to help companies to grow and find new businesses abroad. This kind of service used to be provided by consultancy firms operating in the home country of the clients. Considering the advantages of partnerships that theory has enhanced, this paper aims to identify the motivations and perceived opportunities from consultancy firms to establish business-to-business partnerships with international consultancy companies in other countries, with the purpose of reinforcing international trading. Design/methodology/approach As an exploratory study, this paper shows the perspective of 13 interviewed German consultancy managers focused on international business about developing a partnership with international consultancy firms from Portugal. Findings Consultants indicate that with mutual benefits, partnerships are welcome. However, the study enhances the importance of signals of status and reputation for international partnerships among business consultancy firms and reveals a lack of knowledge about the market opportunities for internationalisation that might motivate German consultancy firms to establish partnerships with consultancy companies in Portugal. Originality/value The paper highlights the low motivation of consultants from a higher-status country to establish partnerships with international business consultancy firms in lower-status countries. The study addresses useful recommendations for consultancy firms, governments and international trade agencies to intensify marketing activities and enhance country reputation and positioning in international business, communicating the opportunities and potential of markets and building signals of status and reputation for international consulting.

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Matthias, Olga. "Professional Purchasing Provides Professional Projects and Removes Personal Bias. Doesn’t It?" Management Consulting Journal 1, no. 2 (December 1, 2018): 16–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2018-0008.

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Abstract Gone are the days when management consultancy projects were arranged due to friendship and networks, based on relationships between a board member and a consultant. Management Consultancy firms have themselves diluted high-personalisation by adopting a policy of commoditisation and workforce leverage in their quest for optimising profitability. Clients have diluted the one-to-one nature of buying by professionalising purchasing practices. Consulting firms nonetheless invest in relationship managers in the belief they rely on these strong relationships for their future business. Using semi-structured interviews to collect data on buyers’ triggers, validation, decision-making and selection processes, the research presented in this paper explores the changes in purchasing practices and examines what they mean with regard to what clients see as successful relationships between consultants and their clients.

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Shaw, David. "Partners and plagiarisers: dualities in consultants’ influence on organisational change projects." Journal of Organizational Change Management 32, no. 1 (February 11, 2019): 51–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jocm-01-2018-0011.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between the requirements for successful organisational change and the imperatives faced by management consultancy firms in running successful businesses, and how this interplay affects the ways in which management consultants influence organisational change projects. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews literature on management consultancy and organisational change over the past 30 years to identify insights into this issue. Findings The paper shows that business imperatives faced by management consultancy firms affect the ways in which consultants influence organisational change projects. It shows how management consultants aspire to form strategic partnerships with their clients in order to win profitable business, and to plagiarise established organising practices and change management methods in defining their services in order to manage their costs. It illustrates how these aspirations give rise to a number of dualities that consultants face in undertaking organisational change projects. Originality/value Only limited research has been carried out into the ways in which the business imperatives of management consultancy firms interact with the requirements for successful organisational change in shaping the influence that management consultants have on organisational change projects. This paper demonstrates the significance of this issue and suggests directions for future research into it.

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Samokhvalov, Konstantin. "The Transformative Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Management Consultancy Sector." Management Consulting Journal 7, no. 1 (January 1, 2024): 59–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2024-0006.

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Abstract This paper explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the management consultancy sector over the next five years. Tracing the evolution of AI from its inception in 1956 to recent language and image capabilities, the study addresses the imminent challenges posed to consultancy by AI startups. Examining global legislative approaches, including the EU’s strict AI Act, the UK’s flexible stance, the self-regulatory approach in the US, and China’s targeted regulations, it unveils the legislative ambiguity for software developers. The essay anticipates transformative implications on consultancy firms, emphasizing the war for talent, potential shifts in business models, and the evolving role of consultants as agents of thought. As AI becomes integral, consultancy firms are urged to adapt, incorporating AI into their models while navigating ethical and legal considerations. The paper underscores that while AI will automate mundane tasks, strategic decision-making remains a strength of consultancy firms, ensuring continued relevance in the evolving landscape.

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Matthias, Olga. "The ‘World’s Newest Profession’ is no Longer Dispensable; What Does it Mean for Consultancy Firms?" Management Consulting Journal 1, no. 1 (June 1, 2018): 16–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2018-0003.

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Abstract A major focus for consultants is pipeline. Generating future work is as important as delivering current projects because it provides continuity and hopefully growth of the business. This inherent uncertainty in the sales pipeline is perhaps the consulting firms’ biggest concerns. This paper seeks to demonstrate how management consultancy has actually become widespread and embedded in the economic activity of organisations. The research synthesised in this paper presents client perspectives on how consultants add value. Particular insight is given into the key features which differentiate those firms that are chosen for projects against those that are not. The findings suggest that the industry has transitioned from a dispensable service to an institutionalised one, embedded in client business cycles and operating procedures. This has implications for how individual consultancy firms develop and deliver their services, moving emphasis from market uncertainty to service design and quality.

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Shaw, David. "Aristotle and the Management Consultants: Shooting for Ethical Practice." Philosophy of Management 19, no. 1 (December 11, 2019): 21–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40926-019-00125-w.

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AbstractThe academic literature on management consulting raises many questions about the ethics of management consulting. The uncertain, emergent, and often socially constructed nature of management consultancy knowledge limits the scope both for regulating the industry in the manner of the established professions, and for evaluating management consultants’ work objectively. The character of management consultants is therefore a central issue in how far clients and other stakeholders can trust them. This paper considers three questions, using Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics as a guide. These are, first, ‘What is the function of a management consultant?’, second, ‘How should a management consultant act in order to be a good management consultant?’, and third, ‘Where does the boundary lie between the ethical responsibilities of the management consultant and those of the client and other stakeholders?’ Aristotelian virtue ethics are valuable in answering these questions. Their focus on character is well suited to the distinct ethical problems of management consulting. Aristotle’s overarching concern with human flourishing, and an ethically balanced approach towards benefiting from the good things to which a virtuous person may aspire, has more promise as an influence on consultants’ behaviour than the lists of prohibitions that typify codes of ethical practice in the industry. Aristotle’s call for leaders to habituate their people to ethical behaviour should be heard by the leaders of management consultancy firms. In accordance with Aristotle’s philosophy, this paper proposes a positive target at which management consultants can aim in shooting for ethical practice.

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Stone, Merlin, and Brett Parnell. "Business Models of Consulting Firms: What do their Leaders Need to Know?" Management Consulting Journal 6, no. 2 (May 24, 2023): 123–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2023-0014.

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Abstract Management consultants have found the business model concept to be a useful consulting tool. This article explores its application to management consultancy itself, identifies some business models used by consulting firms, and explores what information leaders of management consulting firms need in order to check whether their business models are right for their markets, and working appropriately.

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Chong, Bee-Ling, Kai-Chen Goh, and Tien-Choon Toh. "A PROPOSED THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ON STRATEGIES FOR KLANG VALLEY MALAYSIAN QUANTITY SURVEYING CONSULTANCY FIRMS TO ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY." International Journal of Law, Government and Communication 5, no. 21 (December 1, 2020): 01–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.35631//ijlgc.521001.

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There is a lack of research studies showing the specific practices that enable QS consultancy firms to achieve profitability in Malaysia’s construction industry. As firm profitability is expected to have a positive and significant impact on firm growth, this put Malaysia's QS consulting firms at risk and affected firm growth if the problem they face remains unresolved. Despite the current Covid-19 pandemic has led to the global financial crisis, weaker global growth is still a big issue to developing countries including Malaysia. Construction firms such as QS consultancy firms face a lot of challenges due to the globalisation and competitiveness of the construction industry. Quantity surveying (QS) consultancy firms need to adopt suitable strategies to survive and grow in an evolving business environment. Thus, this paper focuses on the theoretical framework of the strategies for QS consultancy firms.

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Oarue-Itseuwa, Esioze. "Artificial Intelligence’s Impact of the Management Consultancy Sector over the Next Five Years." Management Consulting Journal 7, no. 1 (January 1, 2024): 49–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2024-0005.

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Abstract This essay explores the imminent impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the management consultancy sector over the next five years. After tracing the historical context of technological innovation and societal unease with disruption, we delve into the current landscape of management consultancy, emphasizing its evolution and present dynamics. Specialized themes in the consultancy market today, such as internal consulting and data-centric approaches, highlight the industry’s dynamism. The core focus anticipates the implications of AI on management consultancy, with a shift towards AI-powered analytics and insights transforming consultants’ roles. Market segmentation deepens as specialized AI-driven consulting firms emerge, challenging traditional players. The competitive landscape witnesses the entry of tech giants, intensifying competition and prompting strategic shifts in consultancy models. A forward-looking perspective considers changes in pricing and cost structures, emphasizing ethical considerations in AI deployment. In this transformative landscape, a blended future emerges, envisioning AI-driven quick insights complemented by human consultants offering context, creativity, and empathy. This condensed exploration provides a crucial foundation for academics, industry practitioners, and policymakers navigating the evolving interplay between AI and management consultancy.

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Magaisa, Gibbet Murambiwa, and Austin Musundire. "Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Commitment of Consultants in South African Management Consulting Firms." International Journal of Applied Management Theory and Research 3, no. 2 (July 2021): 24–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/ijamtr.2021070103.

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The paper is focused at addressing lack of commitment challenges by the consultants as a result of ineffectiveness of transformational leadership and other motivation factors at the management consulting firms in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationship that exists between transformational leadership and consultants' commitment variables. The sample size of the study was 100 respondents who were randomly selected from the 50 management consulting firms in Gauteng Province. The study reflected that there is an existence of a significant relationship between transformational leadership and consultants' commitment. The study recommended that leadership in management consultancy firms should embrace the transformational leadership style in order to enhance the commitment of the consultants. The consulting firms should put relevant policies and procedures that are targeted to meet the well-being of the consultants in order to retain and establish a strong dedicated team of professionals.

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Chhikara, M. S. "Consultancy Services for Small Scale Sick Units." Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers 23, no. 2 (April 1998): 69–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0256090919980210.

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Development of small scale industrial sector and providing multiple socio-economic benefits is one of the priorities of Indian planning. Though a number of measures were introduced to sustain healthy growth of this sector⁄ a significant k -portion of small scale units have started Ming sick. Consultants from various technical consultancy organizations⁄ small industry service institutes⁄ and private firms do play a major role in preventing and curing sickness. Based on a field study of 20 problematic units⁄this paper by Chhikara evalu ates certain important aspects of the consulting profession such as hiring consultants and utilizing their services; in volvement and commitment of promoters; the role of financial institutions and banks; overall impact of consultancy services; major gaps and limitations⁄ and additional requirements needed for making consultancy services more result-oriented.

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Williams, Christopher, and Sander van Triest. "Researching Practice Areas of Consultancy Firms." Management Consulting Journal 6, no. 2 (May 24, 2023): 104–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2023-0012.

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Abstract We reflect on a multi-year study of practice areas within professional service firms that has resulted in impact in various ways, including research publications, class teaching, and industry dissemination. We describe the challenges in conducting academic research at the practice area level, rather than the firm level. These challenges are grouped into two camps: fieldwork challenges and conceptual challenges. While we navigated these during our project in order to achieve our goals, we believe more work needs to be done at the practice area level within the consultancy industry, especially as this unit of analysis is affected by trends in AI and ESG that were not so prominent 20 years ago. We suggest one way forward will be to utilize collaborative systems approaches through a holistic stance, rather than focus on narrow sets of variables in a reductionist stance.

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Lenz, Regina, Claudia Schormüller, and Johannes Glückler. "Legitimation strategies in an emerging field: family firm succession consultancy in Germany." Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsgeographie 64, no. 2 (May 26, 2020): 58–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/zfw-2019-0019.

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AbstractFinding a successor has become a severe challenge for family firms in Germany. As family firms are disproportionately concentrated in rural economies, succession has also become a considerable threat for peripheral regions and their labor markets. It therefore lies in the interest of regional stakeholders to help support family business continuity. One way to do this is by providing consulting services for family entrepreneurs, especially when searching for a family-external successor. Succession consultancy, however is still in its infancy. Applying the framework of the organizational field that centers on the concept of legitimacy, this paper examines the strategies consultants employ in order to get selected by family entrepreneurs in their succession process, as well as consultants’ strategies to match family firms with external successors. Based on expert interviews with succession consultants in the region of Upper Palatinate in Bavaria, we demonstrate the importance of geography and interpersonal linkages in establishing legitimacy in the early stages of field formation, when heterogeneous groups of actors offer their services without set rules or standards. Our content analysis sheds light on the variety of strategies based on trust, networked, and public reputation in order to gain legitimacy as consultants, depending on whether or not they can draw on existing relationships with family firms. We furthermore identify a discrepancy between these legitimation strategies and the actual ways that consultants use to match family firms with external successors. Here, regardless of their previous contact with family firms, geography plays a major role in constraining both consulting and succession: Family firms more readily accept local consultants, and the consultants also preferred to screen succession candidates through their regional networks due to the higher chances of successful succession when finding external successors from within the same region. Conceptually, our analysis contributes to institutional theory by carving out legitimacy-enhancing mechanisms in emerging organizational fields, and by demonstrating the crucial role of geography and interpersonal linkages for succession as well as field formation processes.

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Stapper, EW, M. Van der Veen, and LB Janssen-Jansen. "Consultants as intermediaries: Their perceptions on citizen involvement in urban development." Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space 38, no. 1 (June 5, 2019): 60–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2399654419853583.

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Planning consultants are increasingly hired to organize citizen participation processes for urban development projects. However, the ways in which planning consultants engage in and perceive the involvement of citizens in urban development projects remain relatively understudied. This article opens the black box of consultancy employees’ perceptions toward citizens in urban development processes. Employees from two consultancy firms in the Netherlands were interviewed, and several focus groups were organized. This research shows that consultants have wide-ranging views concerning the ways of incorporating citizens’ interests in urban development projects. With the use of Q-methodology, a typology of how consultants engage with citizens is proposed. Furthermore, we show that the different perceptions of consultants lead to a different approach in identifying the needs and problems of citizens. This finding gives insight into the context in which decisions about urban development are made.

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Muzio, Daniel, Ian Kirkpatrick, Matthias Kipping, and Bob Hinings. "Failed Professionalization and Management Consultancy’s Image Problem - a UK Perspective." Management Consulting Journal 7, no. 2 (June 1, 2024): 85–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2024-0010.

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Abstract This article reflects on the disproportionate academic and media attacks that management consultancy seems to attract and links this to the failure of developing strong professional institutions on the example of comparable professions such as law and accountancy. In particular, whilst a professional project was initially at play within this sector, it eventually lost support from key stakeholders, in particular the large firms who employed a majority of management consultants. As such professional associations in the management consultancy field engaged in a series of accommodation strategies to win back some corporate support. The result was a weaker form of corporate professionalism.

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Gan, Yifan. "Meet the AI expert." Touchpoint 15, no. 1 (June 4, 2024): 78–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.30819/touchpoint.15-1.18.

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In this interview, Touchpoint Editor-in-Chief Jesse Grimes interviews Yifan Gan, a Shanghai-based consultant working at the intersection of service design and AI, and a Guest Editor of thisissue of Touchpoint. In addition to his consultancy work assisting Chinese firms with AI strategy and implementation, he is a lecturer for TongJi University and Shanghai Jiaotong University in service design and strategy.

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Adesi, Michael, De-Graft Owusu-Manu, and Roisin Murphy. "Strategic competences for pricing quantity surveying consultancy services." Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 25, no. 3 (April 16, 2018): 458–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ecam-12-2016-0264.

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Purpose Professional quantity surveying (QS) services are critical to successful delivery of construction projects within planned budget, quality and duration. The supply of QS professional services is largely dependent on the price level of services and the willingness of clients to pay. The pricing of professional QS consultancy services has been confronted with a myriad of pricing challenges due to rapid changes in the business environment; the pervasive influence of information technology; and the complexity of clients’ expectation. It is therefore necessary for QS consultancy firms to develop strategic competences for the pricing of their services. In addition, numerous studies have not given the pricing the pricing of professional services the requisite attention. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategic competences for pricing professional QS services. Design/methodology/approach The study was positioned within the positivist tradition. As a result, the quantitative approach was adopted using a survey questionnaire to collect data from QS consultants. The sample size of the study was 79 professional quantity surveyors chosen by using simple random sampling technique from a population of 372 registered professional QS of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors. Using the χ2 test and factor analysis, the study established relationship between strategic competences and pricing of QS services. Findings The study found that strategic competences for pricing QS professional services is significantly related to the managerial and professional competence of QS consultants. The strategic competences of QS consultants identified by this study include business management, services cost management; and production capabilities. Practical implications This study provides an empirical basis for QS consultancy firms to focus on strategic direction of their contractual arrangement with clients. Practically, resource configuration and on strategic competences for professional service pricing would create price leadership. Originality/value The study advances the pricing knowledge within the QS practice by demonstrating the nexus between strategic competences and the pricing of QS professional services which hitherto this study have not been effectively investigated.

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Giazitzoglu, Andreas, and Daniel Muzlo. "Class and Masculinity in Contemporary Management Consulting Firms: Some Practical Recommendations." Management Consulting Journal 3, no. 1 (June 1, 2020): 23–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/mcj-2020-0004.

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Abstract It is relatively unusual for white, working-class men to find employment in prestigious management consultancy firms. When they do find employment in these firms, their working-class masculinity is seen as problematic, and not in line with clients’ and co- workers’ expectations. In turn, they must modify their identity, by learning and enacting what the literature refers to as “corporate masculinity”. But how does this learning process occur? And how can consultancy firms better integrate working class men, to maximise the value of their contributions? Based on empirical research we conducted (Giazitzoglu and Muzio, forthcoming), this short piece explores the experiences of a pool of white working-class men who found employment as IT specialists in a prestigious management consultancy firm. After discussing our research and what it reveals about the way professionals from working class backgrounds learn corporate masculinity, we consider some practical recommendations.

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McKenna, Brian. "Consultancy firms and the strategic future of infosec." Infosecurity Today 2, no. 5 (September 2005): 3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1742-6847(05)70311-6.

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MOULAERT, FRANK, YOUSSEF CHIKHAOUI, and FARIDAH DJELLAL. "Locational Behaviour of French High-Tech Consultancy Firms." International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 15, no. 1 (March 1991): 5–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.1991.tb00680.x.

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Rukuni, Tarisai F., Eugine Tafadzwa Maziriri, and Tsepo Mofoka. "Social Media Strategies on Brand Awareness at a Small Business Consultancy Firm in South Africa." International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM) 14, no. 20 (December 11, 2020): 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v14i20.14831.

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<p class="0abstract">Small and medium enterprises – including those in the business consultancy industry – are strategic for the development of the South African economy and for developing marginalised economies through employment creation and income generation. However, the existence of small and medium business consultancy firms is threatened by competitive pressure of multinational consulting firms such as the PricewaterhouseCoopers, McKinsey and KPMG [8]. Small and medium business consultancy firms need to adopt innovative strategies for survival. Appropriate use of social media strategies is one strategy that can be adopted by small and medium business enterprises to influence brand awareness and brand loyalty and to build a competitive edge. An inability to use social media as a business strategy results in poor brand awareness, a decrease in sales, and business closure. It is against this background that this study aimed to assess customers’ perceptions of social media strategies employed by the small and medium business consultancy firm, investigate the relationship between social media strategies and brand awareness, and evaluate the relationship between brand awareness. A quantitative descriptive research methodology, using a structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from a sample of 231 customers at the business consultancy. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 was employed to conduct descriptive and multivariate analysis, including mean, standard deviation, correlation and regression analysis. Findings indicated that customers had negative perceptions of social media strategies employed by the small and medium business consultancy firm. It was also found that social media strategies had a statistically significant positive relationship with brand awareness and brand acceptance. The research findings hold major implications for theory and practice.</p>

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Thrassou, Alkis, and Demetris Vrontis. "International strategic marketing of small construction consultancy firms: the case of Cypriot firms." International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business 6, no. 2 (2008): 296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/ijesb.2008.018634.

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Wood, P. A., J. Bryson, and D. Keeble. "Regional Patterns of Small Firm Development in the Business Services: Evidence from the United Kingdom." Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 25, no. 5 (May 1993): 677–700. http://dx.doi.org/10.1068/a250677.

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The growth of business services in the United Kingdom during the 1980s is reviewed, and especially the role of small firms. Reports the results of an intensive questionnaire survey, undertaken in 1991, of a sample of small management consultancy and market research companies in three areas; inner London, the outer south east, and north west England. In interpreting the demand and supply characteristics of these firms, emphasis is placed on their interactions with the internal labour market strategies of predominantly large client organisations. Generally, the sample firms offer consultancy and marketing expertise which such clients do not provide from their own skill resources. Their founders were also often originally employees of such organisations, especially outside London. Regional economic and social characteristics mould the activities of these firms, even though many engage in a significant degree of interregional trade. The markets served, types of specialisation, the originating process, and the ages of founders show marked differences between the two sectors and the three areas.

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Raphael, Aluko Olusola, Omoniyi Sunday Samuel, and Dipeolu Adedotun Ayodele. "THE IMPACT OF FIRM TYPE, SIZE AND EXPERIENCE ON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA." Built Environment Journal 16, no. 1 (January 31, 2019): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.24191/bej.v17i2.9669.

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Clients have expressed dissatisfaction about services of professionals as a result of poor quality of service and errors in documentations resulting into overrunning project cost and delayed completion. This study investigated the influences of firms’ types, size of firms and experience of firms on provision of professional services of Architectural firms in the process of meeting the expectations of the client. Questionnaires was used to collect data for the study through random sampling. The results of ANOVA showed that firm types had no significance on services across the stages of service, firm size showed significance while the experience of the firm showed significance across the inception and the design stages. Multiple regression analysis showed that the variables cumulatively explained 3.9% (at p < 0.05) of the variance in the overall professional services of architectural firms. Among the variables, only the firm size showed a significant impact on the overall professional services with a p-value of 0.003. The firm type and experience of firm had no impact on the overall professional services. The findings serve as a guide to the clients in making choice of consultancy firms for their project, and as a guide to the consultancy firms in order to remain competitive in the globalized industry. Keywords: Architectural firms, Building Projects, Clients, Firms’ Characteristics, Professional Services

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Rind Christensen, Poul, and Kim Klyver. "Management consultancy in small firms: how does interaction work?" Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 13, no. 3 (July 2006): 299–313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14626000610680217.

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Sporrong, Josefin. "Criteria in consultant selection: public procurement of architectural and engineering services." Construction Economics and Building 11, no. 4 (December 9, 2011): 59–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.5130/ajceb.v11i4.2297.

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The competence, commitment and attitudes of design consultants strongly influence the quality and costs of built facilities. However, in the selection of professional services it is often difficult to specify and assess non-price criteria related to both firms and individual consultants. Therefore, clients traditionally rely on long term relations or recommendations from clients or colleagues. Public procurement regulation, however, restricts the use of such informal data. This study seeks to understand how procurers act to reconcile these conflicting demands.An explorative questionnaire survey distributed to Swedish municipalities investigates which selection criteria and information sources are used, as well as perceived difficulties and shortcomings related to consultancy procurement. Results show a high focus on price or more easily measured non-price criteria. This might limit the ability of municipal officials to evaluate consultant competence, especially aspects related to design and execution of projects. Furthermore, personal information sources are widely used, indicating a conflict between procurement practice and existing regulation. Unexpectedly, procurement officials were generally satisfied with their procurement practice. However, managers and more experienced procurers tend to be more satisfied than other officials. Satisfaction also appears to be connected to the existence of a procurement policy and more advanced selection methods. Keywords: public procurement, selection, consultants, Sweden

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Obeidat, Bader Yousef, Mai Maher Al-Suradi, Ra’ed Masa’deh, and Ali Tarhini. "The impact of knowledge management on innovation." Management Research Review 39, no. 10 (October 17, 2016): 1214–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/mrr-09-2015-0214.

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Purpose The paper aims to examine the effect of knowledge management processes (knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization) and knowledge management approaches (social network, codification and personalization) on innovation in Jordanian consultancy firms. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire that targets 266 respondents resulted in 216 usable ones with a response rate of 81.2 per cent. To test the research hypotheses, a multiple regression analysis was conducted, in addition to descriptive statistics that provide a background about the respondents. Findings The analysis showed that there is a significant and positive impact of knowledge management processes on innovation in Jordanian consulting firms, as well as a significant and positive effect of codification and personalization approaches on innovation, while the social network approach has a significant negative impact with innovation. Originality/value This is the first study that examines the effect of knowledge management processes (knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization) and knowledge management approaches (social network, codification and personalization) on innovation in Jordanian consultancy firms.

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Breton, B. C., G. Chand, P. J. Howard, N. H. M. Caldwell, and D. M. Holburn. "NETSEM Collaborator - an Application in Telemicroscopy." Microscopy and Microanalysis 5, S2 (August 1999): 320–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1431927600014926.

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Telemicroscopy, sometimes called remote microscopy, is an expanding set of microscopy techniques, made possible by the advent of ubiquitous and pervasive Internet technologies such as the World Wide Web. Recently, telemicroscopy has moved from laboratory prototypes to commercially available software. This paper discusses a real-world application of telemicroscopy in terms of a microscopy consultancy service offered by ERA Technology Ltd. in Leatherhead, UK.Many organisations require microscopical services on an occasional basis. These needs are not however, sufficiently frequent as to justify the purchase and upkeep of an SEM or the recruitment and retention of a trained instrument operator Such organisations employ consultancy firms to perform the required analyses. In many such consultancies, a sample is sent to the microscopist with appropriate instructions. Once the investigation is complete, the consultant returns sample, micrographs and other results. The SEM service run by ERA has always offered its customers the opportunity for personal participation in any investigation, by attendance at SEM sessions at the Leatherhead laboratory.

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Daniels, P. W., J. H. J. Van Dinteren, and M. C. Monnoyer. "Consultancy Services and the Urban Hierarchy in Western Europe." Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 24, no. 12 (December 1992): 1731–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1068/a241731.

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A cross-national survey of the relationship between the evolving organisation and structure of consultancy service enterprises and the urban hierarchy in Europe has been undertaken. Primate cities in Europe are still the preeminent foci for business services performing strong national and international control. The relationship between markets for consultancy services and the urban hierarchy is complex, but it is possible to suggest a typology of firms on the basis of client characteristics and location. Caution is necessary about assuming that the provision of consultancy services through networks is organised along hierarchical lines that mirror administrative hierarchies.

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Marzouk, M., I. Bakry, and M. El-Said. "Assessing design process in engineering consultancy firms using lean principles." SIMULATION 88, no. 12 (September 25, 2012): 1522–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0037549712459772.

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The aim of this research is to provide a tool for assessing the impact of applying lean principles to the design process at construction consultancy firms. Through several interviews, a comprehensive model was built to simulate the design process, using data from a leading consultancy firm in Egypt. The model contains the main processes and activities that form different phases of the design process and depicts the interconnectivity of processes and activities needed to create a complete design package upon client request. The research describes how the five main lean principles are integrated in the model. A case study is considered to demonstrate the effect of using the proposed model on the design process and to illustrate how the design process performs differently when lean principles are introduced. Case study output analysis reveals 40% improvement in the lean process performance measured in terms of activity utilization rates.

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Morgan, Robert E., and Neil A. Morgan. "An appraisal of the marketing development in engineering consultancy firms." Construction Management and Economics 9, no. 4 (July 1991): 355–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446199100000028.

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Kinnunen, Heidi, Emmi Holm, Anna-Maria Nordman, and Solveig Roschier. "Academic consulting – income stream, impact and brand building." International Journal of Innovation Science 10, no. 2 (June 4, 2018): 143–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijis-08-2017-0075.

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Purpose Universities are expected to accelerate and optimize their role as economic growth engines. Technology transfer is a traditional way of expanding knowledge exchange, and it is typically used in hard sciences. This paper aims to discuss academic consultancy as a novel way to bring especially social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA sciences) knowledge into the society. In addition, it seeks practical ways to combine both university’s and individual researcher’s needs in consultancy. Design/methodology/approach A case study comprising interviews at two Finnish universities was conducted. Literature on academic consulting was used as background knowledge. International benchmarking was done through interviews and desk top studies. Some background statistics was extracted from the financial database for received research funding from businesses and ministries. Findings Corporate funding is most prominent in hard sciences, and SSHA sciences seem to get their funding mainly from public sources. SSHA researchers provide services for firms, but these relationships are generally private. According to interviews, there is will to consult firms through university, but researcher’s time limitations, remuneration and academic merit related to consultancy are important factors when consultancy guidelines are drawn. The administration view is expanded from only research staff to include the entire university knowledge production ecosystem and its members. Originality/value Acknowledging the value of SSHA sciences is topical because the respect towards humanities and social studies seems to be in decline in some developed countries. However, according to this study, academic consulting could have great potential in bringing the human perspective into the digitalized society. The quantification of knowledge exchange would benefit from formal, institutionalized consultancy sales. More studies are needed to assess the impact of academic consultancy on society.

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Lee Yee Lin, Khoo Terh Jing, Ha Chin Yee, and Lee Ray Re. "Challenges of BIM Software Implementation in Quantity Surveying Consultancy Firms: The Difference Between Large Firms and Small-and-Medium Enterprises (SMEs)." Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology 34, no. 2 (December 2, 2023): 169–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.37934/araset.34.2.169186.

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Inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in delivering construction projects had negatively impacted the industry for decades. However, the emergence of building information modeling (BIM) technology had influenced the construction process with its many benefits toward project success. BIM benefits included reduced project time and cost, improved team collaboration and communication, and improved project quality and performance. Consequently, BIM applications were claimed to provide more reliable working practices for quantity surveyors (QS), especially in establishing their cost estimates. Despite the well-known benefits that spurred BIM employment around the world, the usage of BIM software in Malaysia was still in its infancy, requiring greater deployment by the QS. Furthermore, the literature was scarce in comparing the use of BIM software by large organizations and Small-and-Medium Enterprises (SMEs). As a result, the primary goal of this study was to identify the numerous challenges associated with the adoption of BIM software in both large and SME quantity surveying consultancy firms. Apart from that, this paper identified the availability of BIM software in the construction sector as well as the use of BIM software in those consultancy businesses. A quantitative technique was used, with 393 questionnaire survey forms issued to Malaysian QUANTITY SURVEYING consultant businesses. The data was then analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to generate a reliable and valid result. According to the findings, Cubicost software was the most popular software used by QS specialists. Notably, the results revealed that SMEs face greater challenges than large organizations, particularly those connected to professional help, finance, and time, as well as technical issues. Because large corporations and SMEs differed in nature, this study could provide new insights to policymakers in aiding companies of various sizes in their BIM transformation process. The findings called for more policymakers to work together to improve practitioners' understanding of BIM-based technology. The difficulties of SMEs must be recognized, and policymakers must bridge the gap between large and SMEs to bring Malaysia's construction industry one step closer to a new era of digitalization.

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Evers, Hans-Dieter, and Thomas Menkhoff. "Expert knowledge and the role of consultants in an emerging knowledge-based economy." Human Systems Management 23, no. 2 (June 3, 2004): 123–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/hsm-2004-23207.

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In the emerging globalised knowledge society/economy, a group of professionals, namely experts and consultants gain in importance. The paper discusses the following issues: Who are these experts and consultants? Why is this group of knowledge workers strategically important and why is their importance – socially in terms of number of persons and economically in terms of output or turnover – growing? How can we explain the increasing professionalisation of consultants? How do they gain their expertise and which role does academic knowledge play in professional attainment? How do consultants package and apply expert knowledge? What are the challenges experts and consultants are facing in the new economy? Data from a survey of local consultancy firms are used to construct a profile of the Singapore consulting industry, their staff and their professional organisations. International consultants are more aggressive in advertising and selling their expertise than local consultants. They tend to distance themselves from academics as the producers of innovative knowledge, but stress their own experience. Finally we discuss the new situation under which consultants have to operate in the new economy.

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ERTEMSİR, Esin, Derya ÇELİK, Özge KOBAK, and Zeynep Sinem NALBANTOĞLU. "A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES." Kafkas Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi 13, Kongre Özel Sayısı (June 16, 2022): 232–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.36543/kauiibfd.2022.ozelsayi11.

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Businesses that dismiss employees for corporate reasons such as downsizing, merger, restructuring, or individual reasons such as poor performance use the Outplacement Services to minimise the negative effects of this difficult process. In this setting, career counseling, job placement assistance, interview coaching etc. may be provided. In this study, interviews were performed with senior HR managers from six organizations in Turkey that provide outplacement either in-house or through consultancy firms. Business-level data were analyzed using theme analysis and qualitative descriptive analysis based on the literature. The results show that this practice turned into a routine HR process by half of the participants, and the other half utilized it systematically after mass layoffs during economic downturns. Outplacement is thought to improve the business image for both internal and external stakeholders. The duration of the service is kept more limited due to the high cost when taken from consultancy firms.

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Barry, Almar M., and Mary Fenton. "University–industry links in R&D and consultancy in Ireland's indigenous high-tech sector." Irish Geography 46, no. 1 (December 20, 2014): 51–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.55650/igj.2013.263.

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Between 1995 and 2007, the Irish Government implemented a variety of measures designed to enhance the infrastructure and profile of research activities in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The aim was to foster a culture of innovation-led academic entrepreneurship and, thereby, develop links between HEIs and indigenous industry in Ireland, with particular emphasis on research and development (R&D) links. This paper analyses the barriers and stimulants to the creation and maintenance of links between HEIs and industry and focuses specifically on R&D and consultancy links. The findings indicate that indigenous high-tech firms are not the key benefactors of Ireland’s science and technology (S&T) base. Whilst firms are engaging in innovative activities, HEIs are excluded from such developments. Teaching and training links constitute the most common form of interaction, not R&D links and consultancy links, as might have been expected.

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Voordijk, Hans, Robert Stegwee, and Rogier Helmus. "ERP and the changing role of IT in engineering consultancy firms." Business Process Management Journal 11, no. 4 (August 2005): 418–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14637150510609435.

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Marzouk, Mohamed, Ibrahim Bakry, and Moheeb El-Said. "Application of lean principles to design processes in construction consultancy firms." International Journal of Construction Supply Chain Management 1, no. 1 (December 31, 2011): 43–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.14424/ijcscm101011-43-55.

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Simulation modelling and Lean principles have both been applied in the construction industry to improve work processes. The outcomes from their implementation are outstanding and have motivated construction researchers to seek means by which other aspects of construction production could benefit from this development. Therefore the aim of this research is to use computer simulation as a tool for assessing the impact of applying Lean principles to design processes in construction consultancy firms to aid in decision making at early stages of construction projects. A comprehensive model for the design process was built before the principles of Lean construction were depicted in the model. Through a detailed case study, it was concluded that applying Lean construction principles to the design process significantly helped to improve process efficiency, in terms of reduced process durations and increased resource utilisation.

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Namo, F., and R. F. Fellows. "The role of advertising in marketing civil/structural engineering consultancy firms." Construction Management and Economics 11, no. 6 (November 1993): 431–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446199300000049.

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Pow, CP. "Constructing authority: Embodied expertise, homegrown neoliberalism, and the globalization of Singapore’s private planning." Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 50, no. 6 (May 24, 2018): 1209–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0308518x18778036.

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The rise of global urban consultancy and the role of private planners in facilitating “knowledge transfer” between cities have received much critical attention in the recent years. Notwithstanding the burgeoning literature critiquing such neoliberal “fast policy” transfer, little is understood in terms of the nuanced politics of expertise and the careering practices of urban consultants in negotiating the diverse international planning fields through their embodied knowledge. Using Singapore as a case study, this paper investigates how ‘homegrown neoliberal’ urban consultancy firms from the city-state operate overseas and interrogates the unwieldy geographies and histories behind the travel of the Singapore model. To the extent that Singapore has often been held up as an exemplary urban model, this paper is interested in how Singaporean planners negotiate foreign planning cultures and assert their authority as urban experts by positioning themselves in elite policy networks to strategically exploit their liminal status as public/private planners. In doing so, the paper not only sheds light on the politics of urban knowledge and expertise but also disrupts hegemonic understanding of neoliberalism by acknowledging the diverse histories and conjunctural contexts that underpin the globalization of private planning.

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Dowuona-Hammond, Margaret, and Mavis Amo-Mensah. "Public Relations in Consultancy Practice: Empirical Insights from Ghana." Archives of Business Research 10, no. 11 (November 14, 2022): 69–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/abr.1011.13379.

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This paper presents findings of a study on the nature of Public Relations (PR) in consultancy practice. The qualitative study specifically focused on case studies of three top PR management consultancies in Ghana. Drawing on the excellence theory as framework, the study involved in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of corporate communication managers from the three consultancies and review of corporate documents. The results suggest that the nature and dynamics of PR services provided in the three consultancies were similar although there were some notable variations in practice relative to patterns of work, account processes and fee structures. There were skilled professionals in the consultancies who offer a vast range of managerial PR services, predominantly on reputation management issues both offline and online, in addition to other technical functions. The study also established that the consultancies build strategic alliances and relationships with global holding companies to improve their competitive positioning and also create a wider network of diverse clientele. There is evidence that the consulting part of PR is currently booming. However, research on PR in consultancy practice has largely been neglected in the mainstream PR scholarship. The findings of the study, therefore, have implications for consulting firms recruiting PR professionals as well as consultants focusing on PR strategies and campaigns for their clients. The study also offers critical reflections on how PR strategies can effectively contribute to consultancy knowledge and practice beyond the Western context. The findings are original since no such research has previously been explored in Ghana.

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Hou, Jia Chen. "A Review of Problems Faced by ERP Consultancy and Client Organizations in China." Key Engineering Materials 572 (September 2013): 690–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.572.690.

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Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a system designed to bring processes and resource together by sharing data and information across functional areas. The use of ERP consultancy is becoming essential to the enterprises in China. However, many issues have risen in the process of ERP implementation. This paper aims to investigate the major obstacles in the way of ERP implementation among ERP consultancy and client organisations. It has found that the quality of Chinese consultancy is far from that expected as leading ERP products were not widely mastered by consulting firms. Efficient information system is essential for companies to stay in the competition. However, transparent information flow across functional areas is hard to achieve in China. A good understanding of ERP system and business processes can help Chinese enterprises to ease unrealistic expectations from ERP implementation.

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Abuodha, Angela. "Entrepreneurial Innovations and Financial Performance of Hospitality Consultancy Firms in Nairobi County." Journal of Strategic Management 5, no. 3 (September 17, 2021): 55–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.53819/81018102t3007.

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Li, Alice Shan, Florence Yean Yng Ling, Sui Pheng Low, and George Ofori. "Strategies for Foreign Construction-Related Consultancy Firms to Improve Performance in China." Journal of Management in Engineering 32, no. 1 (January 2016): 06015001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000379.

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Plonski, G. A. "The need to reconceptualize CAD: the case of Brazilian engineering consultancy firms." IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 36, no. 4 (1989): 293–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/17.40982.

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Höner, Dirk, and Michael Mohe. "Behind clients’ doors: What hinders client firms from “professionally” dealing with consultancy?" Scandinavian Journal of Management 25, no. 3 (September 2009): 299–312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2009.05.006.

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Vincent, Peter, Elizabeth Chell, and Jean Haworth. "Regional Distribution of Consultancy Firms Servicing the MAPCON Scheme: A Preliminary Analysis." Regional Studies 21, no. 6 (December 1987): 505–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00343408712331344658.

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Ling, Florence Yean Yng, and Shan Li. "Business models for foreign firms offering construction-related consultancy services in China." Construction Management and Economics 34, no. 4-5 (May 3, 2016): 218–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2016.1189585.

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Moulaert, Frank, and Faridah Djellal. "Information Technology Consultancy Firms: Economies of Agglomeration from a Wide-area Perspective." Urban Studies 32, no. 1 (February 1995): 105–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00420989550013248.

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Journal articles on the topic 'Consultancy firms'

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