What is it that consultants do?
I’ve been asked that question many times — and the only answer I have is that we do whatever is needed to help solve management’s problems. But that’s always felt like a cop-out to me — because realistically speaking, everything we’re doing is either to make or edit some sort of Powerpoint slide.
This isn’t to be completely dismissive of the job — far from it. A great source of value that consultants add is to help dig through the information that a client already has (or knows exists) and then to repackage it in a way which is actionable to its management.
Of course, you can take a different view (hat tip: Dilbert — who else?)
Cha-ching!