Management consultants study the methods, techniques and principles that guide a business towards achieving its objectives. They work independently and are approached by business to advise them on matters relating to general management, strategy, personnel, finance, marketing, sales, production and public relations.
Management consultants investigate problems and opportunities, offer suggestions and conceive action plans to be followed. They advise and guide management in overcoming problems relating to changing circumstances inside and outside the organization. They have to expose difficulties and opportunities, submit possible solutions and show how these solutions should be applied.
The nature of their activities depends largely on the nature of the business client's requirements of the consultants.
Management consultants may be asked to analyse the structure of the firm in order to rectify problem areas or to advise and guide management in order to improve one or more of the firm's functional areas such as marketing or financial control. They may be required to train clients' personnel in certain fields.
The work environment of consultants can be divided into three typical situations:
- those who are mainly office bound, such as financial consultants
- those who also work at clients' premises or on premises stipulated by the client
- those involved with training of personnel, such as industrial consultants
Requirements
Management consultants must be able to work independently. However, the ideal qualities vary according to their field of specialization:
Marketing: these consultants need to be very disciplined and able to analyse problems in an accurate and systematic way. They have to be able to communicate effectively and they should enjoy working with people.
Finance: good with figures and must be extremely neat and methodical. They should also have an eye for detail.
Personnel: these consultants work mainly with people. They thus have to be good listeners and be able to be objective in their decision-making.
Strategy: these consultants need the ability to think in terms of the long-term opportunities of the business. They have to be able to advise management on changes in strategy that need to be implemented in order to meet the objectives of the business. They thus have to be good leaders and able to think creatively in order to solve problems.
Management Advisory Services: as management advisors, consultants work with clients as business alliance partners with all aspects of their operations including Performance Management, Organizational Development, Project Management and Business and IT Strategy formulation.
Entrepreneurial Services: these consultants need to be dedicated to helping entrepreneurial growth companies succeed by offering professional advice as well as possibly managing their accounts.
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory school subjects: Mathematics
Recommended school subjects: Accounting, Economics, Business Science
Training
Degree: Various BCom degrees such as: Management and Industrial Psychology
Management and Data Processing
Management and Economics
Management and Statistics
Management, Economy and Education Management Accountancy and Finance Management Science - most universities
Diploma: N.Dip: Management or Management Practice - CPUT, CUT, DUT, VUT, UNISA.
The SA Institute of Management offers one- two- and three-year diploma courses, which can be followed full-time, part-time or through correspondence study. These courses are offered by accredited private colleges nation-wide. After the first year's basic course, students can follow specialized training in Management (for example Financial Management or Human Resources Management). Prospective students have to register at the Institute.
Employer
- management consulting firms
- businesses, as a consultant for the management of the company
- self-employment, with enough experience, can start own management consulting firm
Contact
The Head
SA Institute of Management
P O Box 31828
Braamfontein, 2017
Tel. (011) 836-5301 Fax: 0866 517 963
The SA Institute of Management Services
P O Box 693
Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (079) 497-9183 Fax: 086 558 7183
www.saim.co.za