One of the reasons expensive consulting agreements, especially those backed by strong brands, are so prized in large companies is because they offer career insu

One of the reasons expensive consulting agreements, especially those backed by strong brands, are so prized in large companies is because they offer career insurance paid for by the employer that covers the employee. If you are an employee who has decision rights you have far less to gain from 20% less cost than you do 10% more certainty and a strong name to hide behind. In most large companies, they often talk about entrepreneurial spirit, efficiency, ruthlessness innovation, and all of the other behaviors that made the company great, but the reality is that the incentives are much different once the founders have left and career managers have moved in. What’s left is a lot of people who make enough to not be hungry but are not rich enough that they will be okay if things blow up. If you want to grow in middle management your best bet is lots of headcount, a large operating budget, and lots of promises that will take years to be validated.