16/06/10
It is good that management consulting in central government is under scrutiny. The effective use of consultancy is key to the achievement of the Government’s current objectives. It is important to distinguish it from staff substitution or interim management.
A recent Treasury document says that ministers are now aiming for a ‘step change in public sector productivity’ in order to reduce the deficit and improve public services. Management consultancies are ready to help; after all, many of the most successful projects in the public sector have been implemented with the help of consultants, right from design through to delivery. And we have also put forward some ideas for reform which will help drive up still further the value of engaging with consultancies.
The MCA’s new publication – 21st Century government: Adding value, cutting the deficit – sets out all the facts about central government’s use of management consultancy. It will explode a lot of myths. More importantly, it will help policy-makers and buyers of consulting to understand the real value of genuine management consulting.