Best Management / Strategic Consultant

portcrap

Hi,

Just wanting to know, who is considered to be the best business or strategic consultant in Ireland?

where can you find a list of the best consultants?

Cheers

PC

jetsonx

There is not really a culture of pure strategic consultants in Ireland as a lot of large companies are foreign owned.

The "consultancy divisions" of large accountancy firms such as PwC in Ireland have filled this void to a certain extent. But these are really, bean-counters with
with extra ego.

In the US, ranking of strategic consultants is taken seriously.

http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/rankings/individual?rankingId1=248&rankingId2=248&rankings=1&rankingYear=

portcrap

Thats what I figured jetsonx, and you hit the nail on the head....bean counters with ego.

Looking for someone on top of their game, even if its in the area of management consultancy, and even if they're a glorified ben counter.

Anybody springs to mind?

antoinolachtnai

Well, if you want to talk about 'best' in global ranking terms, I suppose you would have McKinsey and Booz and Co. These are obviously fine firms, with global reputations and resources, and a presence in Ireland.

In practice, the result you will get with any firm will depend on the problem you have and the person you meet. I have seen work lately from one of the large global firms, in two separate areas (transport and telecommunications). My view was that the work wasn't really good enough, the talent wasn't strong enough for what had been taken on and that the consultant wasn't honest enough with the client.

It also depends on you being in the right commercial ball park. I really think that you will not get much at all out of McKinsey, say, unless you have the a million euros or more to put into the engagement. You will get a lot of information from them on a smaller budget, for sure, for sure, but in terms of actual specific analysis and advice, that's what you're looking at. That's the scale where they really operate well.

If I were actually looking for business advice myself, there is a good chance it is in relation to the market and the positioning. I would look to the marketing/design agencies (for example Image Now). There are also specialists in market research that you would have to consider. The problem with these firms is that they have limited resources - they can't deliver 'consultants on tap' the way the biggest firms can. There are also local sectoral operators who I would consider. For example, Prospectus seem to do an awful lot of work in the health area. Vision is a firm that would be worth a look if there is a big IT aspect to things. I used to know those last two firms better, but I am sure they are still pretty good.

You could also find someone good in the accounting firms. One of the big-3 has a very strong consultant/analyst team in the digital media area, for example. I would broaden out from the big-3 to the likes of Mazars and Farrell Grant Sparks.

(None of the above should be construed as a recommendation, it really depends on what you are looking for.)

I am sure you will find a list of strategic consultants in Ireland and maybe even one with a ranking, but I would treat it with a great deal of trepidation!

ezspeeder

Portcrap, can you be a little more specific - are you looking for consulting firms, or individual consultants? Why not post your consulting need here and get the wisdom of the crowd?

portcrap

Well actually. I was looking for a mentor that I could discuss a project I am doing for my masters. I am doing a consultancy project mainly on strategy and I was hoping there would be an altruistic strategic consultant out there that might be willing to give me some advice on the direction and industry best practice etc.

If anyone knows of such a person, who is well and truly on top of the strategic consultancy game, I would be very very grateful!