White Papers | Further Evidence That Technology Consulting and Business Strategy Are Merging
At Rafte & Company, we have long believed that technology consulting has a firm foundation in the fundamentals of business strategy. Everything our technology consultants do on behalf of our client law firms and professional services firms takes into account the larger business considerations that command the attention of the men and women in the corner offices. So it was particularly gratifying to be contacted by Allan Hoffman, a technology jobs expert with Monster.com to serve as an expert source for a story about the need for technology experts to acquire business skills in order to deliver value.
As Hoffman wrote, today's globally competitive market has led to the integration of corporate strategy and technology solutions. Other firms are now following Rafte & Company's lead by seeking technology professionals with business know-how to help their clients. Here are some excerpts from Hoffman's excellent article:
Management consulting firms frequently specialize. Some are information technology shops like IBM, while others are strategy specialists like McKinsey. But all consulting companies, from major players to niche firms, expect most employees will have solid IT knowledge, if not in-depth tech expertise, according to experts. "The demand has moved toward people who have the business experience coupled with the technology experience," says Eileen Raymond, director of talent acquisition and management at McLean, Virginia-based BearingPoint.
Rodenhauser puts it this way: "Understanding technology and how it affects business processes is fundamental to both sides."
Looking for Ms. or Mr. Well-Rounded
"We have found that you can train a smart person to fix a widget, but it's more difficult to train someone in people skills," says Dena Rafte, president and CEO of Rafte & Co., a consulting company in Houston specializing in legal technology.
Solid academic credentials are crucial. Major strategic consulting firms continue to seek consultants from the Harvards and Stanfords of the world, notes Rodenhauser. Other firms look for candidates who are among the top students at their schools.
Blending Technology and Business
IT-specific consulting firms are more likely to value tech experience over an academic pedigree. But even positions emphasizing technical expertise require an outlook that extends beyond .NET and Java.
"We look for people who have an understanding of business, an appreciation of the finer points of office culture, a focus on people and process rather than simply hardware and infrastructure," says Rafte.
Rodenhauser suggests consulting firms focusing on strategy may "be pushed to a think tank-like niche" in the future. "It behooves people to look beyond narrow technical applications and understand the underlying business problems that must be solved."
Consider the Lifestyle
Consulting firms readily concede the consulting life is not for everyone. Consultants may work on multiple projects for a variety of clients, requiring them to switch gears without much notice. And while an in-house staffer might see an initiative through several phases, consultants often leave projects behind for others to implement.
These considerations are among the reasons why it is difficult to break into consulting from another industry unless you are bringing in-demand industry expertise. Even so, consulting firms will want to be sure you can cut it.
