Strategy specialists forced to amend their offering
Clients have become better educated and more sophisticated
Mind does matter when it comes to generating trust
Consultants are looking at brain chemicals to help analyse leadership and workplace trust
Hunt for ‘bike and jeans’ brigade is the new priority
Staff need to combine digital skills with business savvy to gain clients
More clients question whether firms deliver value for money
But some customers still lack clarity about what they expect consultants to be able to achieve
Truth behind the ‘vainies, brainies and Bainies’ labels
Founders’ influences run deep in the big-name consultancies
In-house consultancy teams challenge industry business models
Companies can solve many problems themselves, but independent advice can still be helpful
Hybrid consulting firms feed off digital fear
Threat of disruption from new competitors is driving growth
Big Four see new opportunity after Enron retreat
Technology is driving change as traditional firms tackle threats to their business models
Politicians put brakes on government work for consultancies
Projects tend to be smaller and more specialised
Tie-ups offer a quick fix where in-house skills are in short supply
Firms are making up for gaps in their expertise by forming alliances with outside talent
Engaging the next generation of talent is the big challenge for consultancy firms
Tech-savvy millennials are in demand but they have their own priorities
Boutique consultancies give headhunters a run for their money
Competition for the middle of this lucrative market is pushing top recruitment groups to focus on the high end
Dissolving of boundaries lets in more consultancy competitors
The industry is having to adapt as technological changes redraw the landscape
The ‘Goldilocks paradox’ gives a role to mid-tier consultancies
It is vital to develop expertise and not diversify too much
Opinion divided over consulting firms’ dedicated online teams
Some companies see ‘digital’ units as innovative, others dismiss them as marketing hype with little strategic value
Consulting fees based on results begin to challenge old-style bills
Businesses can now mix and match models for a tailor-made solution
Social media: Firms warm to LinkedIn but find benefits hard to quantify
There has been a pause for thought after heavy spending on the site – and Twitter and Facebook
Organic growth and alliances promise more than mergers
After a takeover, talent can always decide to walk
Schemes aim to promote more females to partner
Firms are finding it challenging to achieve a better gender balance
UK market: Fresh wave of rules brings opportunities
Clients need more advice on managing risks such as fraud
Change ripples through fish tank
Firms are finding that it is not just clients that must adapt to disruptive forces
Shake-out due in China after heady growth
Smaller homegrown advisers will find it hard to survive
‘Big data’ work keeps hackers out in the cold
An opportunity that turns a potential liability into an asset
Talent management: Pay is not the only incentive for employees
Employers do well to pay attention to the working environment
Advisers in demand as high street big names suffer
The upheaval in the stores sector presents a big opportunity, but clients are driving a hard bargain
