From Shop Floor to Boardroom – A Historical Perspective on Consulting
by Markus Feigelbinder on July 19, 2011
Understanding the historical development of management consulting has implications for those wishing to understand ongoing developments that move the future of consulting. A historical perspective must be developed to provide context for the shift from the roots of the profession to the modern iterations of consulting practice.
The History of Management Consulting in no more than 320 Words
by Markus Feigelbinder on July 13, 2011
I promised you the historical development of management consulting in no more than 320 words – here we go.
Read the rest of this entry »
Moving Home Region Bound Japanese Multinational Enterprises to a Global Market
by Markus Feigelbinder on July 1, 2011
As the world’s economies become more intertwined, many firms are raising up to the challenge of expanding their market around the world. However based on a study conducted by Collinson and Rugman (2008), one can find that out of the largest 500 firms in the world, there are only 3 (Honda, Sony and Canon) Japanese multinational corporations (MNEs) that truly operate on a global scale. Read the rest of this entry »
Part V: What European Consulting Firms Can Learn from Canada
by Markus Feigelbinder on June 27, 2011
There are many lessons that European consulting firms can learn from Canada’s historical experiences and from its efforts to transform in the new marketplace.
Following a list of my top 9 lessons, leaders of European consultancies should consider.
Read the rest of this entry »
Part IV: Managing Canadian Consulting Firms Into the Future
by Markus Feigelbinder on June 16, 2011
Naturally, the success of the Canadian consulting industry in the post-recession knowledge based global economy will rely on its ability to effectively manage itself. One of the interesting characteristics of the consultancy industry is the fact that 30% of firms are actually unincorporated firms. The nature of the business and stable profit margins of 20% encourage independent consultants and small consulting firm formation.
Read the rest of this entry »
Part III: The Question of Globalization
by Markus Feigelbinder on June 14, 2011
The third part of this series discusses the impact of globalization on the Canadian Consulting Business.
Read the rest of this entry »
Part II: Canadian Consulting Business Success Factors
by Markus Feigelbinder on May 27, 2011
The second part of this series on Canadian Consulting Business describes the business drivers of this national market. Read the rest of this entry »
Canadian Consulting with the right to exist? (Part I)
by Markus Feigelbinder on May 16, 2011
Some weeks ago I had a great discussion with the head of the consulting industry’s professional group and the founder and CEO of a private boutique consulting firm about the questionable future of the Canadian Consulting Market.
In a series of short articles with the title ‘Canadian Consulting with the right to exist?‘, I’ll try to best-possible summarize his forward thinking analysis.
Read the rest of this entry »
Can Creative Problem Solving Hold The Key To Leadership Success?
by Markus Feigelbinder on February 3, 2011
It’s no secret that professional service firms as e.g. management consultancies are continually searching for the differentiating behaviors of leaders. One component of leadership that is garnering increased attention is the concept of Creative Problem Solving (CPS) skills. Researchers are beginning to posit that CPS may be the essential element that separates entry level workers from those at the top of the organization.
Read the rest of this entry »
Photo Slide of Week 4/2011
by Markus Feigelbinder on January 26, 2011
The State of Japan
Thanks to Joshua Libatique for this weeks photography. He tries to show how technologically introverted many Japanese became within a new society of satellite socialism.
Air Traffic Control – this time it’s personal.
by Markus Feigelbinder on January 18, 2011
After I’ve been affected so many times now (most recently last Thursday in Düsseldorf, Germany) by strikes and other countless shortcomings of European Air Traffic Control, I had to take a look into this..
Read the rest of this entry »
Photo Slide of Week 1/2011
by Markus Feigelbinder on January 3, 2011
New Year’s dish “お節料理”
O.Shin made a nice photograph of a modern variant of Osechi-ryōri (御節料理 or お節料理), the Japanese New Year’s dish.
Does Asia Have A Future In The Creative Age?
by Markus Feigelbinder on December 19, 2010
“Japanese aren’t very creative, are they?”
A long-standing assumption held around the world is that the West is more creative and innovative in business, while Asian cultures value rote learning, hierarchical structures, and efficiency in business execution. Once established, this assumption hasn’t been re-visited, taking on an almost canonical role in business education and interaction.
Ever thought about Integrated Management Systems?
by Markus Feigelbinder on November 16, 2010
A primary goal of any management consultancy group is to make knowledge productive. In this sense, they are following the path laid out by Peter Drucker Read the rest of this entry »
Free Market Entry Study for Japan available
by Markus Feigelbinder on October 20, 2010
Cologne University of Applied Sciences and our Growth & Internationalization team at ABeam Consulting Europe conducted a study to investigate the challenges and success factors for a market entry of German companies to Japan.
Charts, Graphs, Japanese Business Culture, And Western Surprise
by Markus Feigelbinder on October 17, 2010
.. or why Japanese love Charts.
Data drives business decisions
The way that this data is presented and discussed prior to making a decision differs sharply depending on your training, background, and location. Eastern business leaders from Japan show a marked preference for data presented in charts and graphs, while Western business people, such as those from Europe like me, have a preference for Word documents and Powerpoint presentation.
Praise for MIT SMR’s free iPhone app
by Markus Feigelbinder on October 13, 2010
A new free iPhone app for managers in town!
The website Bright Hub recently chose MIT Sloan Management Review’s iPhone app as one of the five best iPhone apps for managers.
Value Based Pricing for Consulting – When And How To Use It?
by Markus Feigelbinder on October 11, 2010
The concept of value-based pricing as a business strategy is neither new nor ingenious, yet its prevalence in the marketplace remains low. Industry articles question “Why Are Consultants Choosing To Starve?” as hourly rates and one-time project fees remain the cornerstone for most firms.
Boosting consulting revenues
Making the switch to value-based consulting can boost revenues and ensure fair value for work if it is implemented properly.
Event: HYPER JAPAN London 2010
by Markus Feigelbinder on October 1, 2010
There is much, much more about Japan than just Sushi & Sashimi! ;-)
Go and visit HYPER JAPAN London 2010, a brand new Japanese pop culture event that will be held in London on 1-3 October.
Milky Holmes - © Akihiki Hirama
Cool things to do there
- Exclusive UK Pre-screening of animes
- KIKKOMAN Sushi Challenge (Four sushi challengers learn how to make great sushi)
- Discover Sake: An Introduction to Japanese Rice Wine
and much more…
Where?
Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL, London
Tube: Liverpool Street
Business Inside :: Performance Management at London Underground
by Markus Feigelbinder on September 21, 2010
During my trip to London last week (what a great city!!), I were invited by London Underground to discuss with them the service and maintenance processes of their organization.
It’s easy to imagine that there are loads of challenges when you have to maintain a complex metropolitan underground infrastructure of one of the largest cities in the world. The importance of an appropriate performance management system can’t be underestimated.
Turning Global Virtual Teams Into A Competitive Advantage
by Markus Feigelbinder on September 20, 2010
Ten years ago there were few global virtual teams, and their rapid rise many companies are left with a skills gap. Though now almost every major organization has teams dispersed across countries, cultures, and time zones, making them into a competitive advantage is still something of a challenge.
It takes an ability to eliminate ambiguity, build trust in the absence of face-to-face contact, and create a unified viewpoint and culture despite physical remoteness.
Native Tongue: Prison, Prism, Or Point In Common?
by Markus Feigelbinder on September 8, 2010
The notion of national language impacting business relationships is once again in the news. No one working in an international environment doubts the importance of finding a common tongue for business, but behavioural scientists can’t stop investigating just why our mother tongues make us think and act differently in response to the world around us. Even when speaking the same language, our linguistic backgrounds continue to influence our interactions.
Is Strategy Consulting Doomed?
by Markus Feigelbinder on August 30, 2010
Over the last decades of management consulting, the strong upward trajectory of firm development has been something of a given. From the moment the original players in the marketplace such as Arthur D. Little appeared, both the industry itself and the individual firms have prospered. There seemed to be few limits to the size, span, and pricing power of the top management consulting firms.
Recently, however, the firm upward trajectory of management consulting has faltered. This has been hitting some of the premium management consulting firms such as Bain & Company, Booz Allen Hamilton and McKinsey hard, both reputationally and cumulative financially. As a result, the accustomed fiscal models on which such firms have been built are in question with margins narrowing and growth rates slipping.
Siemens to Phase Out Use of Management Consultants
by Markus Feigelbinder on February 1, 2010
Bloomberg reported that Siemens AG, Europe’s largest engineering company, plans to phase out the use of management consultants as part of recent cost reduction programs:
