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Researching Practice Areas of Consultancy Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Williams Christopher

    (University of York England UK)

  • van Triest Sander

    (Amsterdam Business School Amsterdam Netherlands)

Abstract

We reflect on a multi-year study of practice areas within professional service firms that has resulted in impact in various ways, including research publications, class teaching, and industry dissemination. We describe the challenges in conducting academic research at the practice area level, rather than the firm level. These challenges are grouped into two camps: fieldwork challenges and conceptual challenges. While we navigated these during our project in order to achieve our goals, we believe more work needs to be done at the practice area level within the consultancy industry, especially as this unit of analysis is affected by trends in AI and ESG that were not so prominent 20 years ago. We suggest one way forward will be to utilize collaborative systems approaches through a holistic stance, rather than focus on narrow sets of variables in a reductionist stance.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams Christopher & van Triest Sander, 2023. "Researching Practice Areas of Consultancy Firms," Management Consulting Journal, Sciendo, vol. 6(2), pages 104-110, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:mancon:v:6:y:2023:i:2:p:104-110:n:7
    DOI: 10.2478/mcj-2023-0012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Namrata Malhotra & Timothy Morris, 2009. "Heterogeneity in Professional Service Firms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(6), pages 895-922, September.
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