Management Consultancy Services Research Articles

Exploring Companies Perceptions in Employing Supply Chain Management Consulting Services: A Qualitative Study

Demand of supply chain management consulting services in Indonesia can be considered high due to several factors such as the continues development related with SDGs, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were severing supply chain globally, and the inefficiency in supply chain activities in Indonesia compared with benchmark countries. Based on those factors, Indonesian government underscored the strong needs to accelerate supply chain management through collaboration with the third party’s consultant in order to provide systematic approaches to the supply chain challenges. However, despite the high demand for supply chain consulting services in Indonesia, securing projects remain challenging for supply chain consulting companies. This research is aiming to define the factors influencing Indonesia companies’ preference in using supply chain management consulting services. Qualitative descriptive design was conducted in this research in order to conduct customer analysis and gaining comprehensive understanding of factors influencing Indonesian companies’ preference in using supply chain management consulting services. The results showed that Indonesian companies’ preference in using supply chain consulting services were influenced by several factors, which includes client’s business views, policy, and company culture; supply chain consulting company branding and reputation; supply chain consulting company competency and services; and current business trends, governmental regulations, and international standard. The results of this study resonated how the current disruptions call for business model innovation and digital transformation in supply chain management consulting business, and therefore, the results of this study could be implied to further define the suitable marketing strategy for supply chain management consulting companies operating in Indonesia and other countries with similar sociocultural dimension.

Sales management. Methodology of Improving the efficiency of the company’s sales system

The unyielding efforts to develop a methodology for building a sales management system are yet another proof of its relevance. These efforts will continue, as the business community needs a sustainable and consistent operation model. The last 7 years have seen a general economic downturn and a slow recovery. Such topics as improvement of business effciency and investment performance, validation of costs, enhancement of management quality and cost controls have been gaining in relevance. Efforts to improve effciency of businesses, primarily of those which are associated with high costs and risks are becoming increasingly important. Since 2015, the author has been receiving an ever-increasing number of client enquiries on the subject “Sales Management”. The research described was started in 2010 and it is still ongoing. The bulk of the research work and experiments, the results of which are described in the article, were completed in 2016. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in its systemic analysis of the entire managerial paradigm governing the corporate sales system. It does not offer a description of feasible operation methods but it does offer a logically consistent chain of managerial decisions following the “if…, then…” principle. The proposed methodology is logically complete and organised in a hierarchical pattern where decisions made are arranged in a graded order according to their importance. The proposed research approach relies in part on the principles of holistic thinking and it is focused on the analysis of the hierarchy of managerial decisions made and their interplay. The research was conducted while working with the clients who sought sales management consultancy services. The study results proved the effectiveness of the developed model and its high reliability for the analysis of different sales systems when one has to make managerial decisions designed to improve the sales system (though the study results are to a lesser extent applicable to retail sales). The prospects for the practical application of the results generated by this study are encouraging: modern companies need a sustainable model to analyse and streamline their sales management system. The research methodology and conclusions form the basis of the education programmes and training courses offered at the Graduate School of Corporate Management at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and Moscow Business School.

Open Innovation Strategies and Appropriability in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: Evidences and Implications in the Brazilian Context

This paper analyzes open innovation strategies and their implications on appropriability and performance in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) firms which operate in the Brazilian market. This is cross-sectional research relying on the survey method. Data was collected through a questionnaire applied to 345 firms that provide Information Technology (IT) and Business Management Consulting services. Cluster analysis was the main technique employed for data analysis. The results showed that KIBS firms, whose inbound and outbound flows difference is small, eventually use appropriation mechanisms to a greater extent and adopt the selective revealing strategy more intensely. It is concluded that Brazilian KIBS firms adopt inbound knowledge flows more intensely, and that firms herein labelled as “neutral” presented greater appropriation and innovation performance than “externalizing”, “internalizing” or “very internalizing” firms.

The management consultancy effect: Demand inflation and its consequences in the sourcing of external knowledge

AbstractThe growing use of external management consultancy services by public sector organizations has generated controversy. Some claim that users have become overreliant on, or even addicted to, this source of knowledge. However, our understanding of this phenomenon and the precise nature of its risks is underdeveloped. In this article, we address these concerns by focusing on whether using consulting services inflates future demand and on its consequences for efficiency. This is examined in the context of the English National Health Service and the adoption of New Public Management practices such as outsourcing and private finance initiative contracting. Based on an analysis of four years of data, the results suggest that using consulting services is associated with demand inflation and has negative implications for client organizational efficiency. These findings reveal a strong management consultancy effect, emphasizing the risks associated with demand inflation, with implications for both theory and policy.

Exploratory Research on Management Consulting Needs and Adaptations in Very Small Companies

This exploratory research is aimed at identifying the specific needs of very small companies (VSCs) on Management Consulting (MC) and sketching MC services and processes adapted to VSCs. By using SEAM action-research, we have analyzed a sample of 4 management consulting projects conducted in VSCs located in France and in Spain. This paper contributes to enriching the very scarce literature on MC in VSCs. Drawing on these 4 case-based exploratory analysis, the proposed conceptual framework in this study offers a basis for future studies to extend the analysis to broader recognition of the distinctive characteristics, more countries, more MC methods, and to compare VSCs with other larger enterprises. The implications for practitioners are important; by exploring the adaptation of consultation methods, we offer some insights into the roles, skills and strategies available to the consultant in order to be successful in VSCs.

Fluor to provide project management consultancy services for BPCL's polyols project

Fluor to provide project management consultancy services for BPCL's polyols project

A Historical Study on Management Consulting Services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Power Shift from the Governmental Sector to the Private Sector

A Historical Study on Management Consulting Services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Power Shift from the Governmental Sector to the Private Sector

Impact of International Standard for Management Consultancy on China’s Consultancy Service Industry

Management consultancy services are an important part of modern service industry. European and American countries enjoy a very mature management consultancy service industry, while China has also witnessed rapid development of the management consultancy industry and increasing market capacity in recent years. However, there still is a large gap between Chinese management consulting enterprises and those in developed countries. Poor services and unregulated competition are major problems in China’s management consultancy service industry. An important reason for such problems is a lack of corresponding standards in the industry. The upcoming ISO20700 Guidelines for Management Consultancy Services will have positive effects on the management consultancy industry. China should take this opportunity to actively implement standardization of management consultancy and develop relevant standards for management consultancy, so as to raise the overall level of the management consultancy industry.

Knowing the price of everything? Exploring the impact of increased procurement professional involvement on management consultancy purchasing

Much of the estimated $554 billion annual expenditure on management consultancy services is accounted for by projects with a direct link to client profitability. As such, it is critical for clients (and arguably the wider economy) that the purchase process for such services is managed effectively. For many within the management consultancy literature, this requires close, bilateral buy-side service end-user/supplier engagement. In recent years, however, this bilateral engagement has been modified by a significant increase in procurement professional involvement. This has caused concern within the management consultancy literature as it is believed it will inevitably lead to a cost-focused approach that disrupts close end-user/supplier engagement and causes sub-standard service outcomes. In this paper, we explore, via qualitative research, whether this concern is justified. In the event, the analysis suggested partial justification. However, examples of positive procurement involvement were also reported, suggesting that existing models and assumptions within the management consultancy literature regarding the impact of increased procurement involvement require modification.

IBKIK JASA KONSULTANSI TALENT MANAGEMENT

Abstract The business unit developed called IbKIK Talent Management Consultancy Services (IbKIK JKTM) with main activities as a provider of research and development services in business and economics. Short-term goal is to meet and support the needs of the community, partners and businesses of of consultancy and training services in business and economics field. While the long-term goal IbKIK JKTM is the creation of a system of good governance, among others: a data base of research results and superior technology, a data base of client needs, index of client satisfaction, guidelines for unit activities of IbKIK, the working mechanism of IbKIK, creation of favorable cooperation between the UWP Surabaya with industry, local government and the community, an increasing number of new entrepreneurs of lecturers and students. The method applied is to maintain the existing condition of raw materials or clients and maintaining good relationships with customers or clients, especially clients remain. The production had a very adequate instrument assets, production process starting from understanding the client's needs until the implementation of the consultation as well as feedback and supervision to maintain good relationships with clients. The management is still not good so it need improvement, the marketing is done by segmenting and targeting strategy, pricing, promotion and maintaining good relationships with clients (developing relationship). While human resources are adequate to the needs of training and development, the existing facilities dedicated space business unit, but the ingredients are still to be developed. From the financial side, the financial return in 2016 are projected to reach Rp. 500.000.000, -. Accountability income and expenditure of money is managed independently by the management. The next steps to operate the business are improving organizational management especially in financial management, improving marketing strategy, developing products, increasing human resource competencies, maintaining existing clients and increasing public training.

Records management consultancy service in Zimbabwe: The consultants’ view

This article reports the results of a study aimed at establishing the records consultants’ views on records management consultancy services in the Zimbabwean information society. The participants included three records consultancy companies and nine archivists who were purposively sampled. Using a qualitative exploratory study design data were gathered through interviews. The results suggest that there are a plethora of records management problems in both public and private sectors and concludes that the prevailing economic situation is hampering records management consultancy such that organisations’ executives are not allocating resources towards records management and as such consultancy work is adversely affected due to prioritisation of company resources. The study recommends that organisations need to recruit professional records managers and utilise consultants’ expertise to solve some of their records management problems.

Comparative Position of Business Studies in Bimstec Region

Business – industry, trade and commerce – has become highly technology oriented and sophisticated. Information technology revolution has made the world a global village. Information technology is influencing every walk of business. Corporate are adopting new strategies. Accounting standards are evolved internationally to be used in the preparation of financial statement. New financial statements are being introduced in the capital market. There is a growing need for improving the curricula of business studies. The main aim of this paper is to improve course curricula of business studies with international bench marking to cope the turbulent business environment of the seven contiguous countries of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand and Myanmar (BIMSTEC). The study addressed the need for change in the course curricula of business school. The potential impact of the paper is to keep pace with the challenges and to equip our students to face the challenges of tomorrow’s business; there is a definite need for such an approach. Due to the advent of information technology, maintenance and control of financial records, management of commercial organizations has undergone a sea change. Corporate Governance, Office Automation, Enterprise Resource Planning, Information Systems Audit, E-Commerce, Effective Communication, Management Consultancy Services and Social Science Research Methodology may be included and concentrated in view of their increasing importance and relevance in the changing scenario. The study reinforces that improvement in business school curriculum should be a necessary step in order to realize BIMSTEC’s Business – industry, trade and commerce potential.

Development and Patient Satisfaction of a New Telemedicine Service for Pain Management at Massachusetts General Hospital to the Island of Martha's Vineyard.

Patients in remote areas lack access to specialist care and pain management services. In order to provide pain management care to patients remote from our center, we created a telemedicine pain clinic (telepain) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, MA to extend services to the Island of Martha's Vineyard. Over 13 months, 238 telepain video clinic evaluations were conducted. A pain physician visited the island 1-2 days per month and performed 121 interventions. Given the novelty of telemedicine clinics, we surveyed patients to gauge satisfaction and identify perceived weaknesses in our approach that could be addressed. Forty-nine consecutive patients answered a 14-question, 5-point balanced Likert-scale survey with 1 (no, definitely not) being most negative and 5 (yes, definitely) being most positive. Patients on Martha's Vineyard referred for pain management consultation services via telemedicine. Forty-nine consecutive patients evaluated via telemedicine. Likert-scale survey administered. Questions measured patient impressions of video-based visits with their doctor, convenience of the visit, concerns about privacy, and whether they would recommend such a visit, among other items. Mean respondent scores for each question were >4.3 indicating a favorable impression of the telepain clinic experience. Lowest mean scores were found when respondents were asked to compare the care they received by telepain versus an in-person visit, or whether they were able to develop a friendly relationship with the doctor. The results suggest an overall positive reception of telepain by patients, yet highlight the challenge of building a patient-physician relationship remotely.

Government Agencies' Hiring of Management Consulting Services in Sweden - An Explorative Study

The current paper investigates the use of management consultants in the Swedish public sector. Based on an analysis of the use of management consulting services in 55 Government agencies (GAs) in the years 2004-2011 the paper makes a number of contributions. First it confirms an overall growth of the use of consulting services in the public sector. However, it also shows that the use of consulting services and its growth are unevenly distributed across organizations, where GAs with a highly professionalized work force are less heavy users of consulting services than regular GAs. The study also points at temporal variations in GAs use of consulting services. Here changes in top management, especially the CEO, are identified as initiators of temporary reductions of the use of consulting services.

Caught in a Snow Daze

Caught in a Snow Daze

Investors and the weather

Investors and the weather

A knowledge-based risk mapping tool for cost estimation of international construction projects

Abstract Effective risk assessment and management is critical for success in international construction projects. This paper proposes a knowledge-based risk mapping tool for systematically assessing risk-related variables that may lead to cost overrun in international markets. The tool uses an ontology that relates risk and vulnerability to cost overrun [1] and a novel risk-vulnerability assessment methodology [2] to estimate potential risk paths that may emerge in international construction projects. The tool has been developed in collaboration with an industrial partner, a construction management company that gives risk management consultancy services to Turkish contractors working in international markets. The tool has been designed by using the previous projects of the partner firm as test cases and preferences of company professionals are taken into account while determining the functions of the tool. As the reliability and usability of the tool significantly depend on the subjective evaluations of users about level of vulnerability and magnitude of potential risk events, a lessons learned database has been incorporated into the tool so that decision-makers may refer to risk event histories of previous projects to make estimations about forthcoming projects. In order to evaluate the usability of the tool, a usability test has been conducted by eight construction experts. Usability test results demonstrated that the tool can be utilized for prediction of probable risk paths and their impact on cost. Results of a case study, a building project in Serbia, have also been reported in this paper to demonstrate the functions and the performance of the tool. Although the usability and reliability test results are satisfactory, the tool should be seen as an initial platform which should be improved by increasing its “intelligence” by high quality and enough number of risk event histories, and also customized according to user preferences as well as company policies.

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard

Because of the continuously growing elderly population and annually declining birth rate, the population structure faces major changes, creating problems regarding medical care and healthcare. To address these problems, this study proposes a tele-homecare system that combines wireless sensors and transmission technologies to provide simple physiological data analysis and remote health management consultation services. This system collects measured data, including heart rate, blood oxygen level, blood pressure, and electrocardiograph results from various physiological measuring instruments using Bluetooth wireless technology to transmit and save these data via the Internet to a remote database. The tele-homecare platform is designed with Web architecture of Smarty modular and provides services to users of all levels. The health management interface of the personalized service-oriented architecture (SOA) provides real-time physiological monitoring and analysis of physiological parameters, allowing users to inquire about their health information using mobile devices or personal computers. This study anticipates that by using Health Level Seven (HL7) as the unified and standardized electronic medical record and Extensible Markup Language (XML) as the data conversion format to provide expandable and integrated medical information services on the Internet and exchange medical histories with other medical institutes, medical resources can be shared. The combination of this system and information from medical institutes allows the integration of the patients' medical records with their daily physiological measurements. The integrated data can be used as a diagnosis reference for physicians, reducing the time required to modify prescriptions and enabling the nursing staff to fully understand the patients' physiological conditions. This reduces burden on medical personnel and family members providing long-term care, and ultimately improve the quality of medical services and reduce costs.

Extent and types of management consulting services to SMEs in Vojvodina

This paper highlights the importance of management consulting for growth and development of SMEs. We have researched and analyzed the extent of use of management consulting (MC) services, separately in the micro, small and medium enterprises. In addition, we learn which types of MC services are most commonly used by companies of different sizes. In the study was used the method of surveying by questionnaire with questions of closed and mixed type, in order to determine the possible existence of causal relation between size or age of SME on the one side, and volume of use of MC services on the other side. It was observed that, with growth of the SMEs, comes the increase in volume of use, and sophistication of services used. Micro enterprises use fewer MC services, those with more general character, in the field of sales, state support projects, bussiness plans, etc., while small, especially medium enterprises, need more complex MC services, such as participation on exhibitions, finance, quality management systems, information systems and technologies, import-export, etc. The results may be useful both for small and medium enterprises, as well as for institutional and private providers of management consulting services.

Supply-Side Aggregation: How Collaborations via Professional Clusters Could Impact on the Freelance Management Labour Supply Market in the UK

The objective of this study was to answer the following questions: “What are the factors that would promote effective supply-side aggregation of professional freelance managers, in order to ensure successful collaboration that will lead to more effective routes to market and a continuous flow of suitable assignments?”Conversely stated: “Will the quantitative research indicate that by its very nature freelance management is a ‘solitary’ profession that does not lend itself naturally to collaborative models such as partnering and clustering arrangements?”The specific factors under investigation include, trust, personal branding and marketing, organisational structure, compliance and taxation costs and cost of being in business. This links to collaboration and the findings indicate an attitude towards seeking collaborative arrangements. Chi-square result for cross tabulation between attitude towards taking part in collaborative arrangements and previous negative experience in collaborative networks indicates a significant differentiation when collaborating for purely marketing and brand-building. The more negative the freelance managers experience of trust violation is, the less likely they seem to be to collaborate for marketing purposes only. It also would appear that marketing and personal branding is a less significant driving force for collaborating than collaborating for other reasons. Macroeconomic factors may have played a role in the data collection and outcomes of various dimensions such as the number of new entrants to the fields of Interim Management and Independent Consultancy services. Other data of the survey indicates a dissonance between the need to build trust and collaborate and the lack of commitment to spend time in building trust amongst fellow Interim Management and Independent Consultants.