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Small consultants, like me, are a world apart from what is otherwise an accurate depiction of big consulting. My firm and many of my friendly competitors, work

Small consultants, like me, are a world apart from what is otherwise an accurate depiction of big consulting. My firm and many of my friendly competitors, work on specific questions or projects - do it cheaply, quickly and within scope. Sometimes you need the resources size brings to the project, but absent mergers, migrations and enterprise software launches - small consulting is probably the better choice. Also, the same can be said of big law and big accounting - albeit on the legal side senior partners often bring more value.

extr 3y ago
Small consultants can be worth their weight in gold, it's unfortunate the stereotypical experience with big firms colors the perception of the entire engagement model. Particularly for niches where you have no experience or existing best practices. Simply having someone in the room who has seen a half dozen solutions to XYZ and knows the common pitfalls is worth the cost, let alone the actual labor/execution.
- datavirtue 3y ago
  I'm a partner in one of these firms, clients know they can hire a small team of us and turn us loose (literally their secret weapon). We will gather requirements, apply our domain knowledge to refine processes, and build a complete product before the business can even work out the high level agreements. If this is even possible with a body shop, it is not, then you need to tell them every single thing that needs considered and implemented. We just run with it and get it done. Our rate is too low...about 20-30% higher than the "body shops."
ImaCake 3y ago
This is absolutely true. I am essentially a graduate in a company of 5 people. I bring solid knowledge in data analysis and statistics but no expertise in air quality (our specialty). But with the guidance from those who are actual experts and my own skills we are providing real value and insight to clients. There’s no BS, we turn down clients or tell them they dont need more constantly.

extr 3y ago

Small consultants can be worth their weight in gold, it's unfortunate the stereotypical experience with big firms colors the perception of the entire engagement model. Particularly for niches where you have no experience or existing best practices. Simply having someone in the room who has seen a half dozen solutions to XYZ and knows the common pitfalls is worth the cost, let alone the actual labor/execution.

datavirtue 3y ago
I'm a partner in one of these firms, clients know they can hire a small team of us and turn us loose (literally their secret weapon). We will gather requirements, apply our domain knowledge to refine processes, and build a complete product before the business can even work out the high level agreements. If this is even possible with a body shop, it is not, then you need to tell them every single thing that needs considered and implemented. We just run with it and get it done. Our rate is too low...about 20-30% higher than the "body shops."

ImaCake 3y ago

This is absolutely true. I am essentially a graduate in a company of 5 people. I bring solid knowledge in data analysis and statistics but no expertise in air quality (our specialty). But with the guidance from those who are actual experts and my own skills we are providing real value and insight to clients. There’s no BS, we turn down clients or tell them they dont need more constantly.