Small Business Consultants
Businesses usually employ a consultant to identify problems within a business and recommend changes that will either solve a problem or improve performance. In some cases, the services of a consultant may be retained to implement effectively the changes recommended.
Consultants are used because they have specialist skills and are able to provide objective and impartial advice, particularly where radical changes need to be implemented which could prove to be a source of conflict within the business.
Consultants are also able to advise on future projects while in the planning stages and increasingly consultants are used as facilitators to advise management and staff who are working through new processes.
Management consultants come from a wide range of backgrounds, although popular qualifications within the industry include accountancy, engineering, marketing, personnel, computing or social sciences. There are also a number of related qualifications which may be useful including a Diploma in Management Studies, a standard Degree in Business Administration or a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
Types of Consultancy
Management consultancy practices are involved in the following areas of work:
- Strategy
- organisation design and development
- organisation design and development
- organisation design and development
- organisation design and development
- financial management
- project management
- information technology/information systems
- human resource management
- marketing
- design and creativity
- transport management.
Within these types of consultancy there are also different methods of consulting. Each of the following three methods is distinct and, provided they are appropriate for the circumstances, are all equally valid:
Expertise Consulting
This method is often described as a 'surgical approach'. It is an operation that provides an immediate solution to a defined problem, although in the long term the solution may not be a permanent cure.
You will usually define the problem and then hire the consultant to fix it. You may decide that you require a full upgrade to your existing computer system. You would then hire an IT consultant to advise on the appropriate system and software requirement which they may then help to install.
It is possible that they may then run a training course on the use of the new system for your employees. Once this is completed they are unlikely to have any further involvement with your business. It is only to be hoped that the employees take in and understand the training offered and are then able to put it to good use within the business.
Process Consulting
As opposed to the expertise method of consulting, process consulting takes more of a 'therapy' approach. It transfers the skills of the consultant to the client to enable them to solve their own problems.
The consultant acts as a sounding board to talk through ideas and perhaps different ways of running the business. Interaction between the parties enables the client to become more confident in running their business.
Contingency Consulting
The final method of consulting is alien to some consultants and businesses because it effectively requires the services of the consultant to be made redundant as soon as possible. Using the surgery and therapy examples, contingency consulting can be likened to a short course of medicine.
It effectively involves the consultant as a facilitator, taking the issues within the problem and redefining them to create a solution. In many cases you will find that you have solved the problem yourself purely by using the consultant to ask the right questions.
