Consulting in Europe

Management consulting covers a wide range of services and can be defined as independent advice and support on management issues. In a world that is constantly becoming more complex, but also faster, the need and requirement for neutral, expert advice from outside is more important than ever. The management consultant is therefore a provider of help, a supporter, a spokesperson, but also a seizer of opportunities, a problem solver and a decision maker.

The tasks of a management consultant can be very diverse. Opportunities, challenges and problems for corporations, companies, SMEs, entrepreneurs, the self-employed, but also public authorities, municipalities or associations exist in very many constellations and variations. Sometimes it's about growth in the digital environment, sometimes a company has to strategically reinvent itself, sometimes it has to consider entering a new market, product or spatial environment. Or employees of client companies have to be talked up, taken along in change processes and, unfortunately, when a company is on the brink of collapse, also dismissed with social responsibility. Many consulting firms therefore have their individual focal points where one can build up special know-how as a consultant. The focus of a consultancy can, for example, relate to the end clients' sectors, to their divisions, to regions or to certain forms of organisation.

Management consultants can specialise in many professional fields. These include, for example:

• Process consulting
• Organisational consulting
• Strategy consulting
• Succession consulting
• Reorganisation consulting
• Start-up consultancy

What the consulting profession has in common is that the consultant has to familiarise himself with topics quickly, but in a well-founded way. He or she must be able to recognise even complex interrelationships, to unmask apparent causes for problems as such, to get to the bottom of real causes, to recognise and develop perspectives and ways out and to check their feasibility.

Management consultancy is an attractive career, which attracts individuals from varied backgrounds, across all ages. It offers a variety of projects, constant challenge and opportunities for personal development. In a large practice, this may involve working all over the world with multinational clients.

For all those who are interested in a career as management consultant the Feaco provides a brief overview of this profession. You will find some explanations about the profession and the industry and tips for starting a job in management consultancy or setting up your own consultancy company.

Our member WKO from Austria has defined the role of managements consultants.

Functions of business consultants encompass comprehensive analysis of organizations and their surroundings, development of resolution recommendations and their concrete implementation through counseling, realization and intervention. Further, guidance counseling and communications processes are provided within the organizations and as well as for their external market operations.

The following job profile is based on historical perceptions and expectations of companies that had retained consultants, as well as current consultants’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in business consulting. The job profile illustrates responsibilities, roles and the scope of functions along with reference to legal and ethical standards. Of course this is a snap-shot of the present-day and will dynamically evolve just like the rest of the business world.

Independent Management Consultancies Network IMCN

The foundation of the IMCN in 1994 is rooted in the feaco and pursued the goal to establish a competitive network of qualified management consultancies. The IMCN Members commit to follow the feaco guidelines and comply with the Code of Conduct. Today, IMCN represents over 200 management consultants from more than 10 countries in Europe with global assignments and experience.