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‘Knowledge Management’ and the Consulting Industry
The Consultant
Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
The Consultant
Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
贝恩(Bain)咨询公司的知识管理课程(PPT 30页)
“Knowledge” is a critical capability for consulting firms
NY Infotoday preez 1
4
Knowledge example in consulting
Hale Waihona Puke You’re working in the PC Industry
Data
Market size Market share Competitor prices
World class KM programs manage & share both
NY Infotoday preez 1
5
Overview of Bain and Company
SaLnoFsraAnncgisecleos DCahlilcaasgoTAotrlaonnNBttaeoowstYoonrkLMoBnarPuddasroMirsndiesillasnStoZcRukMorhmuiocnehlmichMoscow Mexico City
NY Infotoday preez 1
1
Why KM Often Fails
Not properly defining KM for the organization Viewing KM as a separate function, versus
just a part of business strategy Not enough thought before technology Misguided focus on people and process
A lean, value-added KM team that
- makes the process work - fits into existing company structures
《咨询公司知识管理》PPT课件
What is ‘consulting’?
The Collins English Dictionary reveals that to consult is to
make oneself available to give professional advice, especially at scheduled times and for a fee. The term ‘consult’ originates in the medical profession. There a consultant is a physician who is asked to confirm a diagnosis; or it is a physician (or surgeon) who holds the highest appointment in a particular branch of medicine or surgery in a hospital. The consultant is therefore someone
– mostly a specialist – who is asked to give expert advice
or information.
பைடு நூலகம்
The management consultant
The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. Personification of the knowledge economy; Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not
咨询公司知识管理29页PPT
Automotive / Engineering
Utilities
Operational Processes
•CAs
Information Management
•CAs
People • CAs
Disciplines
Internal knowledge management involves a number of actors at all stages of the project life cycle
September, Capabilities
Councils and other leadership meetings
In the case that the PM identifies a KS other than the GMT KS, please refer to
Panel 16 to see how the KCapture process changes.
at project end, hands over project archive to local Info Centre
updates KBase
updates KBase
finalize knowledge
capture report, copy to PKC, PM, GMT/Disc, CoE, CA,
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
《咨询公司知识管理》
What is ‘consulting’?
• The Collins English Dictionary reveals that to consult is to make oneself available to give professional advice, especially at scheduled times and for a fee. The term ‘consult’ originates in the medical profession. There a consultant is a physician who is asked to confirm a diagnosis; or it is a physician (or surgeon) who holds the highest appointment in a particular branch of medicine or surgery in a hospital. The consultant is therefore someone – mostly a specialist – who is asked to give expert advice or information.
The management consultant
• The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. • Personification of the knowledge economy; • Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. • Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not manual, not
咨询公司知识管理-PPT精选文档29页
KBase Maintenance
Define and communicat
e the strategic knowledge managemen t objectives and set expectations at all levels
e.g. at yearly KM
conference in
identifies PKC and accountable
KS
Contacts PM to identify
PKC and KS
sends “KC Pack” and GMT KBase CD-ROM
define and communicat e knowledge
capture approach and set concrete capture expectations with team
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
咨询公司知识管理(英文PPT 28页)
identifies PKC and accountable
KS
Contacts PM to identify
PKC and KS
sends “KC Pack” and GMT KBase CD-ROM
define and communicat e knowledge
capture approach and set concrete capture expectations with team
at project end, hands over project archive to local Info Centre
updates KBase
updates KBase
finalize knowledge
capture report, copy to PKC, PM, GMT/Disc, CoE, CA,
leads, identify ‘Best
in Class’ GMT
documents
abstract and sanitize best documents and send to
KS
review documents and allocate
to the relevant (GMT, CoE, CA, Disc.) KBases
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
KS
Contacts PM to identify
PKC and KS
sends “KC Pack” and GMT KBase CD-ROM
define and communicat e knowledge
capture approach and set concrete capture expectations with team
at project end, hands over project archive to local Info Centre
updates KBase
updates KBase
finalize knowledge
capture report, copy to PKC, PM, GMT/Disc, CoE, CA,
leads, identify ‘Best
in Class’ GMT
documents
abstract and sanitize best documents and send to
KS
review documents and allocate
to the relevant (GMT, CoE, CA, Disc.) KBases
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
咨询公司知识管理(英文PPT 28页)
‘Knowledge Management’ and the Consulting Industry
The Consultant
Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
The Consultant
Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
咨询公司知识管理29页
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, internationll-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
‘Knowledge Management’ and the Consulting Industry
The Consultant
Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
‘Knowledge Management’ and the Consulting Industry
The Consultant
Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
咨询公司的知识管理课件
Knowledge
The best way to segment the consumer market
How to streamline the supply chain
Impact of supplier consolidation on OEMs
A commodity
A differentiator
Knowledge “Needs”
Knowledge “Outputs”
New industry
insights
Update to Bain’s point of view
New approaches (and solutions) to
problems Insights on managing the case and client
Beijing
Seoul
Tokyo
Hong Kong
Sao Paulo
Singapore
Johannesburg
Sydney
26 offices; working in 9 languages Over 2;500 consulting staff; generalist model Strict conflict and sharing standards
Rating (1 to 5)
4.0 3.55
3.0
2.96
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
0.0
Average of Knowledge 31 Tools Management
0.0
Average of Knowledge 31 Tools Management
Source: Bain Management Tools & Techniques Survey 2001
咨询公司知识管理-29页PPT资料
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
The management consultant
• The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. • Personification of the knowledge economy; • Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. • Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not manual, not
The management consultant
• The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. • Personification of the knowledge economy; • Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. • Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not manual, not
贝恩(新Bain)咨询公司的知识管理课程(PPT 30页)
NY Infotoday preez 1
2
Why KM Often Fails
Not properly defining KM for the organization Viewing KM as a separate function, versus
just a part of business strategy Not enough thought before technology Misguided focus on people and process
World class KM programs manage & share both
NY Infotoday preez 1
6
Overview of Bain and Company
SaLnoFsraAnncgisecleos DCahlilcaasgoTAotrlaonnNBttaeoowstYoonrkLMoBnarPuddasroMirsndiesillasnStoZcRukMorhmuiocnehlmichMoscow Mexico City
Knowledge
The best way to segment the consumer market
How to streamline the supply chain
Impact of supplier consolidation on OEMs
A commodity
A differentiator
Trends:
Generic frameworks and data are commoditizing Industry life cycles shrinking More MBAs, low entry barriers competition! Global service is required
咨询公司知识管理-29页PPT精品文档
PoA KC
A joint conference call for small projects and an on-site knowledge
capture session for large projects is suggested
GMT, CoE, CA and Disciplines KC and experts play a key role in assessing innovations and best in class contributions.
leads, identify ‘Best
in Class’ GMT
documents
abstract and sanitize best documents and send to
KS
review documents and allocate
to the relevant (GMT, CoE, CA, Disc.) KBases
InterCon
• German subsidiary of a global management and technology consulting company
• The IKM project • Virtual project team • IT
Organisational Structure of InterCon
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
A joint conference call for small projects and an on-site knowledge
capture session for large projects is suggested
GMT, CoE, CA and Disciplines KC and experts play a key role in assessing innovations and best in class contributions.
leads, identify ‘Best
in Class’ GMT
documents
abstract and sanitize best documents and send to
KS
review documents and allocate
to the relevant (GMT, CoE, CA, Disc.) KBases
InterCon
• German subsidiary of a global management and technology consulting company
• The IKM project • Virtual project team • IT
Organisational Structure of InterCon
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
咨询公司知识管理
Involvement of all project team members is critical to achieving our objectives
Contacts PM to identify PKC and KS
sends “KC Pack” and GMT KBase CD-ROM
review KCapture report and together with stream leads, identify „Best in Class‟ GMT documents
Project Knowledge Capture Before Project End
KBase Maintenance
identifies PKC and accountable KS define and communicat e knowledge capture approach and set concrete capture expectations with team fills in KCapture report and sends to KS completes P&P form and forwards to KS updates P&P Database
In the case that the PM identifies a KS other than the GMT KS, please refer to Panel 16 to see how the KCapture process changes.
Strategic Direction
At Project Start
Define and communicat e the strategic knowledge managemen t objectives and set expectations at all levels e.g. at yearly KM conference in September, Capabilities Councils and other leadership meetings
咨询公司知识管理
PoA KC
A joint conference call for small projects and an on-site knowledge
capture session for large projects is suggested
GMT, CoE, CA and Disciplines KC and experts play a key role in assessing
Key Roles
GMT KC GMT
Knowledge Champion
PM Project Manager
PKC Project Knowledge
Champion GMT KS
GMT Knowledge Specialist CoE, CA, PoA, Discipline Knowledge Specialist CoE, CA, PoA, Discipline Knowledge Champion
Automotive / Engineering
Utilities
Operational Processes
•CAs
Information Management
•CAs
People • CAs
Disciplines
Internal knowledge management involves a number of actors at all stages of the project life cycle
InterCon
• German subsidiary of a global management and technology consulting company
• The IKM project • Virtual project team • IT
A joint conference call for small projects and an on-site knowledge
capture session for large projects is suggested
GMT, CoE, CA and Disciplines KC and experts play a key role in assessing
Key Roles
GMT KC GMT
Knowledge Champion
PM Project Manager
PKC Project Knowledge
Champion GMT KS
GMT Knowledge Specialist CoE, CA, PoA, Discipline Knowledge Specialist CoE, CA, PoA, Discipline Knowledge Champion
Automotive / Engineering
Utilities
Operational Processes
•CAs
Information Management
•CAs
People • CAs
Disciplines
Internal knowledge management involves a number of actors at all stages of the project life cycle
InterCon
• German subsidiary of a global management and technology consulting company
• The IKM project • Virtual project team • IT
咨询公司知识管理(1)
The management consultant
• The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. • Personification of the knowledge economy; • Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. • Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not manual, not
InterCon
• German subsidiary of a global management and technology consulting company
• The IKM project • Virtual project team • IT
Organisational Structure of InterCon
monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
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monotonous, not de-skilled, not de-humanized, not badly paid; but flexible, creative, international, demanding, cross-cultural, well-paid, technologically advanced, fun. • The idol of today’s working world; it is one of the main ‘drivers’ of the business of business education • Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., The Boston Consulting Group and Mercer (to name but a few) are the archetypal companies of today’s global ‘informational’ capital, which attract the ‘highest calibre’ graduates.
‘Knowledge Management’ and the Consulting Induste upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
The management consultant
• The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. • Personification of the knowledge economy; • Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. • Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not manual, not
What is ‘consulting’?
• The Collins English Dictionary reveals that to consult is to make oneself available to give professional advice, especially at scheduled times and for a fee. The term ‘consult’ originates in the medical profession. There a consultant is a physician who is asked to confirm a diagnosis; or it is a physician (or surgeon) who holds the highest appointment in a particular branch of medicine or surgery in a hospital. The consultant is therefore someone – mostly a specialist – who is asked to give expert advice or information.
‘Knowledge Management’ and the Consulting Induste upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Mustang screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerrutti shoes, Oakley glasses, TAG wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, ‘If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?’ The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says, ‘Okay.’ The young man parks the car, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says, ‘You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.’ The shepherd answers: ‘That’s correct, you can have your sheep.’ The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: ‘Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?’ The young man answers: ‘Sure.’ The shepherd says, ‘You are a consultant.’ ‘Exactly! How did you know?’ asks the young man. ‘Very simple,’ answers the shepherd. ‘First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business ... and I’d really like to have my dog back.’
The management consultant
• The management consultant is a special breed of consultant. • Personification of the knowledge economy; • Anti-thesis to Ford’s assembly-line worker. • Symbolises the ‘future’ of work: not dirty, not heavy-duty, not manual, not
What is ‘consulting’?
• The Collins English Dictionary reveals that to consult is to make oneself available to give professional advice, especially at scheduled times and for a fee. The term ‘consult’ originates in the medical profession. There a consultant is a physician who is asked to confirm a diagnosis; or it is a physician (or surgeon) who holds the highest appointment in a particular branch of medicine or surgery in a hospital. The consultant is therefore someone – mostly a specialist – who is asked to give expert advice or information.