Modern types of consulting in the management system of an educational organisation

Abstract

Introduction. In market economy, the internal and external processes of educational organisations are becoming more complex. There is a need to identify managerial practices, which can be delegated to external consultants. The process of defining such practices is not completely studied. The application of expert support from leaders and management teams is often situational.The aim of the present research is to identify the range of managerial problems of educational organisations, which cause the need to resort to external consulting support.Methodology and research methods. The application of the method of cluster analysis of text data of periodicals allowed the authors to investigate a potential market for consulting services, to identify the modern management needs of educational organizations and the experience of their solution by external organisations. The analysis of open data of consulting organisations was carried out to identify real practices.Results. The main management problems of educational organisations and the types of consulting services necessary for their solution are considered and classified. The main approaches to defining the framework of educational consulting are highlighted. The authors have developed the method for monitoring the prospective market for consulting services. It was determined that the growing demand for consulting services and the expansion of the range of these services are associated with the formation of a market environment in the education system and the desire of management of educational organisations to provide a competitive advantage. The cases of Russian and foreign consulting organisations were analysed and grouped in accordance with the proposed typology.Scientific novelty. In academic literature, the study of this issue is mainly limited to defining the boundaries of educational consulting. The authors have made an attempt to identify typical situations, in which managers of educational organisations need to request the services of external experts.Practical significance. The results of the current research can serve as a guideline for the management of educational organisations, when making managerial decisions. It will allow the managers to determine the cases, in which it is possible to turn to external consultants according to the supply conditions on the market, and to identify the issues, regarding which it is desirable to rely solely on internal resources.