Abstract
The world of business and consultancy are undergoing enormous change at an
unprecedented rate. It is at such a time of upheaval that the values of a profession
come under increasing pressure. But it is also a time when the values of a consultant
(independence, objectivity and integrity) are never more important. This study
emphasises and focuses on guidelines for smaller MCFs to obtain a competitive
advantage in an ever changing environment.
With large companies shedding jobs and outsourcing all but their core workforce, the
consultancy industry moved into a new post industrial age in which the proportion of
smaller knowledge base service companies or the so-called Management Consulting
Firms (MCFs) is on the increase.
The essence of management consulting firms is to render independent advice and
assistance about management issues. This typically includes identifying and
investigating problems and/or opportunities, recommending appropriate actions and
helping to implement solutions.
Change brings with it new problems, the solutions to which cannot be derived from past
experience. Many changes occurring simultaneously and interacting with each other
give rise to complexity. The essence of consultancy lies in the twin activities of helping client companies develop solutions to novel problems in resolving complex issues.
Thus the greater the rate of change the greater the demand for consultancy services.
The macro, market, micro environments segmentation in which MCFs operates, is of
the most important driving forces that influence it existence. To anticipate the impact of
these forces in advance could assist smaller MCFs to manage it to their own
competitive advantage.
The findings of the study serve as a source of reference that provide practical
guidelines for a competitive strategy for smaller MCFs in an environment, best
described as uncertain, complex and subject to continuous change. To conclude, these
guidelines are formulated to practically implement a strategy to obtain a competitive
advantage for smaller MCFs.
Prof. N. Lessing