On roll consulting

On-roll consulting is the golden mean between niche of management consulting and a generalist employment in medium sized firms. It provides the organizations with an outsider's perspective for performance improvement, just like internal consulting groups in large corporations. The name derives from the fact that the consultant remains on the payroll of client.

Approach

There are four main steps in the process - identifying problem areas, building effective organization structure, establishing business processes and formulating strategy. The consulting process focuses on operational efficiency, rather than pathbreaking paradigm shift. As popularized by BCG during 1980s, fresh MBA graduates from premiere institutes are best suited as consultants with fresh eyes. The MBAs benefit by exposure to problems in growing corporations, whereas corporations benefit by availing management talent. The assignments run for one to three years, depending on covenants of the contract. Typically, remuneration of consultants is based on performance of the company measured at the end of contract period.

Advantages over traditional management consulting

With shorter project cycles, the traditional consultant does not get the opportunity to get first hand understanding of clients' processes.

An on-roll consultant lives the life of middle and top management and brings empathy in the recommendations.

The consultant has skin in the game because of variable pay and direct line of responsibility. Consequently, the consultant's interests are better aligned with those of the company.

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